Part 20 (1/2)
The man on the bank shouted again. In less than two minutes the hydroplane was level with him. He knelt on one knee, lifted his rifle, and fired.
”Through the wind-screen,” said Will, not turning his head. ”No harm done. I'll make it fifteen.”
The hydroplane swept round the first ”twist” in the stream, and pa.s.sed from the sight of the look-out. Another shot rang out, and half-a-minute later two more.
”A waste of ammunition,” said Will, smiling.
”Stop, senor!” cried Machado in terror, from his place in the bottom.
”We shall all be killed. His Excellency will be shot.”
”Hold your tongue,” growled Ruggles, ”or we'll set you and his Excellency up as targets.”
From some spot down-stream came the crack of another rifle, and then a second. Half-a-minute later there seemed to be an echo from a point still lower, and Azito declared that he heard two more shots even farther away.
”They're signals,” said Ruggles. ”Confound 'em, why are they so careful?”
”I daren't go any faster yet,” said Will. ”The stream's too narrow. We shall get to the tributary directly, and then I'll make her go.”
A few minutes brought them to the broader stream. Then Will opened the throttle further, increasing the speed to twenty miles an hour. More shots sounded faintly in several directions. Ruggles turned his head and glanced up-stream.
”There's a canoe after us,” he cried. ”Indians paddling like mad, and half-a-dozen fellows with rifles.”
”They can't hurt us,” said Will, and laughed as he heard the rattle of an ineffective volley behind.
”It'll be a near thing, though, if they've got other canoes waiting for us down-stream. Is she going all right?”
”Perfectly. Twenty-five now, and planes beautifully. They won't hit us unless they've had practice with partridges, and if they get in the way they'll come off no better than the jaguar I ran down.”
The vessel was skimming along as lightly as a bird. Ruggles gripped the side; he had no experience of this kind of navigation.
”The canoe's out of sight,” he said, looking round. ”We're level with the hacienda now. Two shots again. They've put a chain of lookouts all down the river.”
”Thirty,” replied Will, his eyes fixed on Azito, his hands firmly gripping the steering-wheel.
”A canoe putting off from the bank, senor,” cried Azito. ”Four men in her.”
”Right bank?”
”Yes, senor.”
”We'll go straight at her. Revolver ready, Ruggles?”
”For goodness' sake be careful!” gasped Ruggles. ”She may capsize us.”
”Thirty-five,” said Will.
On flew the hydroplane.
”Are we near the canoe, Azito?” asked Will.