Part 42 (1/2)
”What are you going to do?” asked the former bully of Oak Hall.
”I am going to try to climb up those rocks.”
”They are terribly steep!”
”I know it, but those vines look strong and we can use them as ropes, Link. But you need not try it, if you don't want to.”
”Oh, if you try, so will I, Dave.”
After that but little was said, both lads saving their breath for the task before them. Dave went up first, testing each vine with care as he advanced. Twice he slipped back, and once Merwell came to his aid and held him. It was a little thing to do, but it pleased our hero, and his face showed it.
At last they were out of the hollow and each threw himself on the ground to rest. Then Dave walked to a near-by hill and gazed in every direction. Not a human being was in sight anywhere.
”Well, we've got to find them somehow,” he said to Merwell. ”Come ahead.” And side by side they set off through the forest in the fast-gathering darkness.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Dave went up first, testing each vine with care.]
CHAPTER XXVI-THE COLUMN OF SMOKE
”Well, we are lost, that is all there is to it. And I am so dead tired I can't walk another step.” And thus speaking, Link Merwell sank down on a tree-root to rest.
He and Dave had been plunging along through the forest and across several clearings for the larger part of an hour. They had found what looked to be a trail, but it had suddenly come to an end in front of a small cave that looked to be the lair of some wild animal, and they had gone on once more. Now the darkness of the tropics shut out the surrounding landscape.
Link Merwell certainly looked the picture of misery. His clothing was much tattered and still wet, and his forehead was swollen from contact with the rocks. One of his shoes was so cut that his bare foot was exposed.
”It looks as if we were lost,” replied Dave. ”In this darkness it will be difficult to go much further. But I had hoped, by keeping in a straight line, that, sooner or later, we'd reach the sh.o.r.e of the island.”
”I reckon we didn't walk in a straight line-most folks that get lost in a woods don't.”
”You are right in that, but I kept as straight as I could, Link.
However, that is neither here nor there. If we have got to stay here all night we may as well try to make ourselves comfortable. But I wish the others knew I was safe.”
”Can't you fire your gun? It ought to be dry by now.”
”I'll try it.”
Dave sat down and commenced to work over the fowling-piece. In a few minutes he tried it. Bang! went the gun, the shot echoing far and wide through the forest and among the rocks. Then both boys listened for a reply.
”Nothing doing,” muttered Merwell, after a minute of utter silence.
”I am sure the others would fire a shot in return if they heard that,”
said Dave. ”We must be further from them than I expected. Well, I don't see what we can do excepting to try to make ourselves comfortable. We might climb one of these tall palms and take a look around.”
”Yes, that's it!” exclaimed the other youth, eagerly. ”Why didn't we think of that before? But it will be hard work climbing one of those trees,” went on Merwell, gazing up at the straight trunk with the first of the limbs many feet above their heads.
”I'll do it native fas.h.i.+on,” answered Dave.
He had seen the natives of the South Sea Islands climb tall trees by means of a vine-rope cast about the waist and the tree-trunk.