Part 33 (2/2)
They soon found theh which it was a hard matter to round was covered with a profusion of flowers; and birds of gay plue flew amid the trees, and monkeys of various sizes leaped from branch to branch Occasionally they had to make their ith their cutlasses, but it was a soain In h than they were, and they were also constantly afraid that they ht come suddenly upon so to a brook, froue they were compelled to halt and eat the re After resting they again pushed on, but their progress was not etting a sight of the ocean, clilass, he could see to a great distance
”How far off is it?” inquired Desht?” asked Billy
”Not for a week if we do not ,” answered Tom ”I could make out the sea in the distance, and I fancied some huts and plantations between us and the shore Wediscovered by the inhabitants”
The heat had been excessive, and theDuring the night it was utterly ih the wood As no huts had been seen near, they ventured to light a fire, watching carefully that it should not spread, when, as Billy observed, their provisions would have been verythey had to do was to look out for food
The parrots, for some reason or other, were rather shy, but a troop of inquisitive ers were about
Pipes, who accoood,” he said
Toh he had never tasted ht doho were sitting together grinning at hihs close above his head, and began to thron sticks and nuts, so, and to spit at him in the most furious fashi+on
”Kill ain fired, and two others fell to the ground, when the re possession of the game, marched back to the camp with a well-satisfied air
”You do not mean to say we are to feed on these creatures?” exclai else, and better eat them than starve,” answered To better than an empty stomach”
By the time the monkeys had been cooked the appetites of all the party had considerably increased Although the midshi+pmen made some wry faces at first, after a fewmonkey as if they had been accustomed to it all their lives Nick and Pipes advised that they should keep up the fire all night, as otherwise they e species of tiger which they said infested the woods and forests of their country Their advice was followed, and all hands took it by turns to re that he saw the head of a huge tiger peering from between the bushes, but he did not fire, as he was afraid ofroused up, it was proved that Billy was right by the ot far the next day when their scouts ca the shore without being discovered, they said that it was impossible, as the country was thickly inhabited and open, their only chance being to pass through it at night Should they advanceseen
After searching about Pipes and his co-place, very similar to the one in which they had before concealed the of the wind in the trees and the appearance of the sky, that there was a change in the weather
”I am sure the boats won't leave us while there is a chance,” observed Tom ”I will make my way alone, with the help of Pipes, and see what has becoht, and I would advise you to try and get to the southward, where you may perhaps find the inhabitants et across to Australia”
Deso instead; but Tom had made up his mind to undertake the excursion, and as soon as it was dark he set off with Pipes, who had agreed to go, although he evidently did not like the work To distance to go, and detours to hts in the s of huts; but they kept clear of theress They had one or two narrow escapes; and on one occasion both tuain, with only the inconvenience of a wetting, which, considering the warreat consequence, even to Tom; and Pipes had only to rub hiain in a few ht, however, before the beach was reached, when they hunted about and found shelter under so seen by the people on shore
Here they waited until daylight, when Toerly looked out for the shi+p
”There she is!” he cried out, as the gloo in towards the land, though at soun was fired, followed shortly afterwards by another He was about to set off to try and uns were fired as signals to soh his telescope a boat pull out from behind a point and make her way towards the shi+p, which at the same time swept round until her head was off shore He had no nal Even should he fire his rifle, it would not be heard
To shout would be of no avail He watched the boat until she was alongside, when she was hoisted up and the shi+p steaet off the shore, for a heavy gale had sprung up, sending the heavy breakers with fury against the rock-bound coast
”There is no chance of our getting off if this continues,” said Tom to himself; ”we are left to our own resources, I see that The best thing would be to start to the southward, as Pipes recoer to return and consult with Desmond, but Pipes earnestly entreated hiht there would be but little difficulty intheir way back to their companions
It was a melancholy day, as he sat on the sea-shore under the rocks, watching the departing shi+p A few shell-fish was the only food he and Pipes could procure As soon as night came on and the inhabitants had returned to their huts, he and his faithful co a tre discovered