Part 12 (2/2)
”I hurried on ahead till I saw the hill,” said Robert. ”It was a ridge that ended right at the road, and all covered with the woods. I turned off and climbed to the top of the ridge pretty well back; and I moved toward the road cautiously. Then I saw those black fellows--I guess there was near a dozen--right at the end of the ridge. They had a screen of brush toward the road, but on my side it was all open. They had some big bowlders all ready to push over. I slipped back a little and climbed into a tree. I got a good seat in a crotch, from where the view was good.
”Pretty soon I heard the wagon. And those fellows heard it too. They peeked through the brush, and--”
”And they licked their chops,” struck in Ray.
”I had my magazine full,” continued Robert, ”and I had my peep-sight set. One black's pants were tight with stooping to look--and I gave him the first little bullet.”
”Right on the '_spank_,'” said Ray.
”Yes,” continued Robert, ”I got the idea from Ray. Well that one let out a howl. And then I peppered the next one in the leg, and he howled.
Another one got it in the shoulder. They were mightily puzzled--not hearing anything--so they couldn't use their guns. They didn't wait to look round very long, but hiked out, running by right under my tree.
Before they got away I hit six or seven--some of them limped as they ran.”
”When we heard the stampede,” said Grant Norris, ”we didn't need Bob's whistle to tell us to come on. There were no voodoo skunks going to hang back for any more, after all that 'whoop-er-up.' We got into town without any more accidents, and--”
”That was mighty fortunate for the voodoos,” drawled Ray. ”But where's the pickaninnies?”
”Melie here, turned them over to a priest,” said Norris. ”We lost some time finding him.”
Carlos had edged up, and I could see he wanted a word with me. So I led him toward the schooner's bow; and he told me his news, leaning on the rail.
”Duran, he is in the city,” he said.
He had touched on the thing that was in my mind; for during Norris's and Robert's recital of their adventures, I was wondering where this white voodoo should be all that while. I was conscious that it was this man--or fiend--that was to continue to be the center and spring of all our interest to the end of the chapter.
”Have you seen him?” I asked.
”No, I have one friend in the city who see him,” Carlos said. ”He buy new picks, an' he buy pack-straps, for to carry things on thee back, and new rope an' pulleys.”
It developed that this friend of Carlos had long been of help to him, in keeping an observant eye on Duran when in his city haunts; and it came out that this friend's home was on the very street on which Robert and I had first encountered Duran.
”Well, Carlos,” I said, ”if we are to find this gold mine of yours, we'll have to keep an eye on Duran.”
”Yes,” he nodded. ”And he kill' my father, an' my brother.” And Carlos smiled a smile with his teeth set, and that gave him a sinister look. In spite of the night I could see so much of his face. It was more l.u.s.t for vengeance than love of gold that showed there then.
”I can speak for us all, Carlos,” I said; ”We will see this thing through. And we all want to see this man brought to justice for his crimes.”
”Ah, I glad for to hear you say that!” he said. ”Maybe we can find for you much gold. I hope that.”
I called the others into conference; and we made plans for our next move. We would turn in at once for a good sleep; and before daylight we would go ash.o.r.e and into the city and pick up Duran's trail. Carlos's friend had promised to keep his eye on Duran's movements, which he had learned to interpret in limited measure.
Before taking to our pallets, on the deck, we bade goodbye to the Cambons, who were to take steamer for home on the morrow. Little Marie made me promise to come to her home some time soon, said she would adopt me for her brother, so that I could have a good mother, too, in the place of the good mother I had lost.
CHAPTER X
<script>