Part 28 (2/2)
I thought long on the curious disappearance of Duran, leaving no trace to point the way he had gone. I looked at that rock wall and wondered if perhaps he could have had a rope ladder hanging there, up which he had gone, pulling it after him. I had read of such things. But the cliff was too high, and there was no landing-place on that sheer wall that would have given foothold even to a mountain goat. It was very certain that he could not have climbed from the water out on the bank anywhere above that spot where his path went into the stream, without leaving unmistakable marks on the ground. So that the only surmise left me was that he had waded down the stream, and climbed out on the opposite bank.
When Carlos and Robert should come we would see. But it was chagrining to have followed Duran so far, and then to have lost him just when we had reason to believe we were coming near to the hidden mine.
CHAPTER XXI
WE SEEK IN VAIN FOR A LOST TRAIL AND DISCOVER A LONE MONKEY
The sun's rays were coming down almost perpendicularly through the interstices in that green canopy over my head, when Robert and Carlos appeared, wading in the stream.
”Did you get the boat over?” I asked.
”Yes,” said Robert, ”and it's hid in the high gra.s.s not far from that canoe.”
”And you left a note on the top of the hill?”
”Yes,” he answered. ”I told them to wait for us.”
I explained the situation to Robert, showing him where we had lost the trail of Duran. And while we made a meal on food brought by the two, we discussed our situation and determined our movements.
”Well, then, Bob,” I concluded, ”if you'll stay here and watch, Carlos and I will have a look down stream, and then, maybe, along the cliff.”
We two had soon got to the other bank, and in a few minutes had pa.s.sed a point opposite the spot where the path entered the water. We kept to the water as we scrutinized the soft dirt banks. The brook soon widened, and it became more shallow, till finally--some mile or more toward the bay--it emerged from the forest and spread out to diffuse itself into a number of bayous, taking slow movement among the gra.s.ses and reeds.
Nowhere along that course were there any signs of anyone having climbed out over the banks. So now Carlos and I retraced our steps, and picked our way through the forest till we came to the foot of those high cliffs. For above two miles we searched for a break in that great wall, and the forest continuing all that way. Then we went back to where Robert kept watch by the stream. We stopped to report our failure, and again set off, this time skirting the cliffs to the west.
We must have covered three miles this way, when the cliffs melted into more sloping ground, till finally we came to where it should be possible to climb to the heights. But nowhere did we see any path, or any mark to show that others had trod the region before us. The afternoon now was nearly gone, and I turned to Carlos.
”Well, Carlos,” I said, ”the only thing left for us is to camp back there where we lost Duran's trail and wait for the _Pearl_.”
”Yes,” returned Carlos. ”Duran he sure to come back sometime--maybe one week--maybe little more.”
Night was nearly on us when we had joined Robert again.
”Isn't it about time for the _Pearl_?” asked Robert.
”The moon will be up about half-past-two,” I answered. ”Then two of us might go and have a lookout for her.”
Taking two-hour watches turn about, we slept till morning. Then Robert and I started, leaving Carlos to keep the watch for Duran. Crossing the west end of Crow Bay, we made landing at the end of the trail that led from the sea side, and by half-past-four of the morning came to Twin Hills.
On the peak of that hill which stood nearest the beach, we came upon a figure stretched on the ground, sleeping peacefully. It was Ray Reid. It was good to see the dear lad.
I shook him gently.
”Don't, Wayne,” he said. ”You'll shake the gas out of the balloon. We've got to make the other side of the mountain--that's where the gold mine is.”
He was either dreaming or pretending. I lifted him by the shoulders.
”Ray! We're here,” I said.
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