Part 19 (2/2)

The island upon which they were camped was only a couple of acres in extent but rose high above the water. It was barren of timber, except for a large live oak and one lonely palm which Walter noted with an increasing interest. Some attempt had been made to cultivate the loamy soil, and flouris.h.i.+ng little patches of yams, sugar-cane, gourds, and Indian corn testified to its fertility.

”Well, Captain, it doesn't look as if we ran much risk of starving to death,” remarked Walter, approaching the old sailor.

”No, thar ain't much danger of that, I allow,” said the captain with a heartiness from which all depression of the night before had fled.

”Over thar is the place you come in at, Walt,” he continued, pointing to the distant fringe of cypress.

Walter looked long and earnestly in the direction indicated. ”I can see a thin line of smoke above those tree-tops,” he declared finally.

”Aye, I noticed it too,” agreed the captain. ”'Pears like them friends are going to hang at our heels until they get another chance at us. I wouldn't borrow any uneasiness if it weren't for that Injin bein' in the party. I warrant he's found out already that the Injins are all gone, an' is layin' his plans accordingly.”

”Well, they can't get to us without boats,” said Walter, hopefully.

”No, but they can make one if they are determined enough,” observed the captain, gravely. ”I sorter calculate to paddle up near enough to them to-day to learn what kind of mischief they are up to.”

”I'll go with you,” said Walter, eagerly.

”No, you ain't strong enough yet. Jes' keep quiet for a day or two, I reckon that will be a plenty to keep you busy. Wall, I guess this stew is done an' we might as well have breakfast.”

The kettle with its contents was carried into the wigwam, and from a cake, made of pounded Indian corn, and the stew, our hunters made a hearty breakfast.

After the meal, a council of war was held. The captain outlined their situation in a few simple words. ”We are fairly comfortable here at present, lads, but it's goin' to be a week or ten days before Young Tiger gets back with his people. We've got plenty of food to last a good while, but I reckon this swamp is about the most unhealthy place on earth an' we run a good big risk of being sick with fever before the Indians come. On the other hand, it's risky to try to get out of here any way but the one we came in. We'd be about sure to get lost in the swamp, an' there's no tellin' what might happen to us. We can't get out the way we come in as long as those fellows are standin' guard outside waitin' for us.”

”I vote to stay where we are,” said Walter, promptly. ”We may be able to escape the fever if we take good care of ourselves.”

Charley and Chris quickly agreed with Walter.

”I guess it's the wisest thing to do,” admitted the captain, ”although I will be mighty glad to get out of this creepy place. I tell you this ain't no place for white men, lads. But I've got to leave you now, boys. Make yourself as comfortable as you can, an' keep out of the sun during the heat of the day. I reckon I'll be back long before sundown.”

Walter accompanied the captain down to the canoe and begged hard to go with him, but the old sailor was firm in his refusal and Walter watched him paddle out of sight with a dim foreboding of evil at his heart.

On his way back to the wigwam, Walter paused a moment on the island's highest elevation to take a more careful survey than he had yet done of the surrounding country. He discovered nothing new, however, save what was apparently a large island lying some two miles to the west of their own. It seemed to rise far above the surrounding swamp and was evidently very heavily timbered.

Pa.s.sing on into the wigwam, he was greeted with an exultant cry from Charley.

”I've solved it,” he shouted.

”Solved what?” demanded Walter in amazement.

”This,” cried his chum excitedly, extending the square of doe-skin with its red ink tracings. ”It's really absurdly simple,” he continued.

”According to the captain, the chief talked about leaving me riches of some sort. I took that circ.u.mstance for my key and tried to think what a race as poor as the chief and his people would consider as riches.

The picture of that bird answered the question. Plumes are their only form of wealth, hence plumes must be the treasure of which he spoke.”

”Reasoned like a detective,” approved Walter, scarcely less excited than his chum.

”The rest was simple. The picture of the tree was to show where it was hidden and the object at its base is intended as a shovel to tell that I would have to dig for the treasure, but,” and his face fell, ”how are we to find that identical tree?”

”There's only one palm on the island,” Walter a.s.sured him.

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