Part 40 (1/2)
”Who ever heard the like?” shouted a companion; and thereat the Brownies began to guy the discoverer, and ran into the thicket to get a closer view.
”Well, well!” they exclaimed as they got quite near, ”it truly is a bird's nest of some sort. But what a weenie one! And what bird could have built it?”
”Come, let us explore it!” said a little Brownie who by a well-known rule of contrariness was called Jumbo. So saying, he began clambering up the sides.
”Good for Jumbo!” his comrades cried, and followed close at his heels.
It was easy climbing, and the Brownies having quickly reached the top were amazed to find no bottom to the nest! They looked down into a deep crater that pierced the ground below the surface, and led into depths hidden in darkness.
”I'm bound to solve this mystery!” said Jumbo. ”Who'll go with me into the hole?” He swung over the edge, and his comrades were about following, when they were stopped by a sharp cry from Jumbo: ”Look out there!”
”Look in, you mean,” said Filip. And they all looked into the burrow.
They saw a row of gleaming eyes that sparkled like jewels as they slowly moved upward into the light. Then came into view a claw; then another, and another, and next the brown head of a great Pixie!
”Whew!” cried Jumbo. ”Somersault all, and out of this, instanter!” He swung himself back over the outer edge of the nest and rattled down the rugged side in such haste that he tumbled in a little heap upon the gra.s.s, and was presently buried under the sprawling limbs of his comrades. When the Brownies got to their feet they saw a huge ground Pixie of the clan Lycosa, glaring at them over the edge of the nest, and plainly getting ready to spring down upon them.
”Cut and run, lads!” shouted Jumbo, and away the squad scurried out of the thicket, leaving Lycosa perched upon the crest of her nest-like tower. When they told their story to Captain Clearview, he bade two of the Natties remain in the path, and keep watch upon the nest-building Pixie lest she might sally forth and attack the party on flank or rear.
Then he bade the squad move on. They had gone but a short march when the Captain called a halt.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FIG. 138.--The Tower or Surface Nest of a Lycosid Spider.[BM]]
”See,” he said, pointing toward the lake, ”yonder is the boat! It is tied to the sh.o.r.e, without any attempt at concealment. Plainly, the crew has no suspicion of our presence here. Their camp can't be far away.”
The scouting party was halted, and Clearview and True stole through the young willows that fringed the sh.o.r.e.
”Hist! there they are!” whispered True, who had caught the sound of voices. ”Do you see them?”
”No, but they are just beyond this fallen sapling. Here, we can climb upon the trunk and overlook the bivouac safely.”
In a small open s.p.a.ce, near the point where the boat lay, the camp had been pitched. A large tent with a tubular entrance had been built over the hole made by the uplifted root of an overthrown oak. Another tent was pitched above this on a platform made of earth which had adhered to the projecting roots; and a third was woven over the top of a clump of weeds, its tubular entrance or hall running straight down to the ground.
A bridge of silken ropes stretched from the camp to the tops of the willows that skirted the sh.o.r.e, and from the tents to the edge of the water. It was a snug and pretty retreat.[BN]
True and Clearview climbed into the branches of the fallen tree, crept along the trunk, and found themselves near enough to overlook the entire camp and overhear the conversation which had first attracted their attention. They were themselves hidden among the leaves. A sentinel stood in the circular doorway of the tent which occupied the hole below the roots. Just beyond, two Pixie officers walked to and fro, talking loudly and earnestly.
”Do you know them?” whispered True.
”Yes; that fellow in black is Halfway the son of Hide; he is one of the princ.i.p.al Stygian chiefs. The one in the brown uniform with broad whitish band is Agalena Ringster; he is one of the Tubeweaving Pixies, a tricky fellow and captain of the marines.”
”Softly,” said True, as the Pixies, having reached the limit of their promenade, turned and walked toward the tent. ”We shall find out now what they talk about.”
”You are sure you understand your father aright?” asked Ringster.
”Quite; he said that the cave was at the head of Aranea Isle--head, I think it was; it's the only point about which I feel uncertain. I am positive of all the rest.”
”But,” said Ringster, ”there is no such cave, for we have explored every inch of ground thoroughly. Pity the old man was cut off so suddenly! But we must act on your uncertainty, and try the foot of the island. There's nothing else for it; you can't go to Spite about this matter; that would spoil all.”
”There's the trouble. We have wasted too much time already. Our absence will be noticed. We can't do much to-day, and--but will to-morrow be clear?”
”Aye. Look at my marines yonder. Do you see them putting up a new tent?”
Ringster pointed to the tall gra.s.s near the willows, over which a fresh silken canvas was being rapidly spread. ”They never do that in threatening weather. You can rely upon it more certainly than our fine Governor does upon his Old Probabilities.”[BO]