Part 39 (1/2)

”The boss was a bit dumpish tonight,” he said. ”'Ee was bloomin' tired, an' 'ee's sleepin' sixty mile to the minute right now.”

While we feasted on the bird, Norris pumped Hawkins for details of Duran's doings; and it was indeed little that was enlightening that he got out of the fellow. But he got loquacious with reminiscences of his own past life as a pickpocket; and while Norris pretended to get much amus.e.m.e.nt out of that poor, misguided human's escapades in crime, we were not sorry when he made his way off to the huts to seek his bed.

On the morrow we began the day with much the same employment. But the day was not far gone when things suddenly took on a changed aspect.

Norris, who (true to his nature) found the suspense unbearable, determined on a bold move. It was when Duran was returning from his first trip with a load, Norris followed him into that jungle on the far side of the clearing. He meant this time to see where Duran went for his gold. The rest of us lay in the shelter from which we had watched Duran the day before.

It was not ten minutes after Duran, and Norris on his trail, had been swallowed up in the growth over there, that Duran suddenly appeared again, this time without his pack. And he seemed to be in excitement.

And he made off, running down the path, directly disappearing from our

sight in a turning.

”I'll bet he saw Norris,” said Robert.

”Come,” I said.

And I set off, followed by Robert. When we got across that ridge, of which I have spoken, we got a view down the open s.p.a.ce. And there, nearing the top of his rope ladder, we saw Duran climbing.

In another moment he was hauling up his rope ladder; and quickly he got both ladder and halliard on the cliff-top.

CHAPTER XXVIII

WE ARE TRAPPED--THE BATTLE

We turned back, when Duran had pa.s.sed out of our view on the cliff-top.

Lest he should be watching, we still kept ourselves within the edge of the wood, till we had recrossed the ridge where the trees covered all of the ground. And there on the path we met the others and Norris, looking a little embarra.s.sed, I thought. Doubtless, he was conscious that he had in his impetuosity discovered himself to Duran, and so spilled the soup, as it were. He did not mention it, and no one taxed him with it; but I know the thought punished him, and made him for a time a bit humble.

”He pulled the ladder and all up with him,” I reported.

”And where is the polecat running to, do you suppose?” queried Ray.

And no one had an answer to that which he thought fit to give voice to.

I doubt not, each one of us had pretty much the same thought, one that he dreaded to hear echoed by some other.

We were properly immured in this sink, of that we were all well a.s.sured.

For we had Andy Hawkins' story of the times--in the two years--that he had made the round of those craggy walls in search of a possible escape.

It was a silent cavalcade that marched back to the clearing, and up to where Hawkins and the black boy were busy in the diggings. We gave them the news of Duran's precipitate flight, and Hawkins gave it little more thought than to ”'ope 'ee didn't carry hoff the brown stuff,” (meaning the opium) and ”Hi'd give my 'and to know where 'ee keeps it.”

Carlos, I noticed, had some private word with the black boy, and the two soon were gone into the brush together. The lad soon came back, and I egged on Jean Marat to question him as to what Carlos might be up to.

For answer he led the two of us to where we found Carlos kneeling beside the skeleton of a human--it was in a patch of vines.

When finally Carlos discovered us, looking on wonderingly, he beckoned us. ”My father,” he said, in explanation. And he held up a gold cross that was on a chain that still hung on the ghastly figure.

And then Carlos got to his feet. ”Duran--” he began, but the rest of the speech stuck in his throat. And I saw a look in his face that I had seen there before, and which boded ill for Duran.

With the black boy's help he had at last found the grave of his father.