A WELCOME CHANGE.
While they were on the mountain where no shade could be found the boys thought that it would be a wonderful relief to gain the shelter of the forest; but after traveling an hour they realized that the heat was nearly as great in one place as another.
Among the trees the rays of the sun did not beat directly down upon them; but to balance this every breath of wind was shut out, and the atmosphere seemed stifling.
The perspiration rolled from their faces in streams, and so great was the humidity that it seemed as if it would be a positive relief to be in the sunlight.
"I reckon you've got a better opinion of mountain travel by this time," Cummings said laughingly, as Neal involuntarily halted. "In such a climate the shade of the trees is a positive discomfort."
"We can stand it," Teddy replied bravely. "Every step takes us just so much nearer the coast, and one glimpse of the sea will repay us for all our exertions."
It seemed as if even Poyor was affected by the heat. He no longer strode forward at such a rapid pace; but lagged from time to time as badly as either member of the party.
Cummings urged first one and then another on until about eleven o'clock in the forenoon, and then he said, coming to a full stop by the side of the stream they had been following:
"We can now afford to indulge in a siesta, and shall probably travel all the better for frequent halts. Later in the day one of us will do a little hunting, and the march need not come to an end until it is no longer light enough for us to see the way."
To this very welcome proposition no one had any objections to offer, and in the shortest possible space of time only the sentinel, which on this occasion proved to be Teddy, was left awake.
It was dull work sitting there listening to the droning of the insects; but no member of the party could have kept watch more conscientiously than did he, and when it seemed impossible to hold his eyes open any longer he paced to and fro to prevent them from closing.
With the exception of the usual noises of the forest, it was as if all nature slumbered, and he had just begun to think that standing watch was a useless precaution when an unusual rustling among the foliage caused him to start in surprise.
His first thought was that the Chan Santa Cruz had followed them over the range; but an instant later this was shown to be a mistake, as four copper-colored men, bearing no resemblance to the inhabitants of the Silver City, however, passed through the forest a short distance away without apparently being aware of the proximity of the white party.
To arouse Poyor was but the work of an instant, for it was only necessary to touch him gently on the shoulder when he sprang to his feet.
"There are some men over there," Teddy whispered as he pointed in the direction taken by the strangers.
The Indian started through the underbrush as noiselessly as a serpent, and as he disappeared the boy awakened Cummings.
"Were they armed?" the latter asked, after the short story had been told.
"I didn't notice. My only idea was to arouse you and Poyor, and there wasn't much time for an examination."
"It can't be that they have followed us over the range," Cummings said, half to himself, as he seized his weapon and made sure it was loaded. "It won't do any harm to be prepared, therefore you had best get the others on their feet; we may have to trust to our legs."
It was not an easy matter to awaken the remainder of the party without causing an outcry; but by first covering the mouth of each with his hand Teddy finally succeeded, and then stood on the alert with them as Cummings made his way in the direction taken by Poyor to assist in the investigation.
One, two, three minutes of suspense followed, and then came a cry which set all their fears at rest. It was the salutation of friends, and an instant later Cummings shouted:
"Do not fear; we have found acquaintances."
"It is time something of the kind was discovered," Jake said in a tone of relief. "I was beginning to think we should never meet one again."
"They looked like Indians," Teddy said doubtfully, and Neal added:
"I fancy we can take Cummings' word for it. Here they are, and it will soon be possible to know why they were so foolish as to come into this part of the country where wild beasts are not the least of the dangers to be encountered."
The strangers appeared, escorted by Poyor and the white man, and the latter said as they came into the opening selected as a halting place:
"These are acquaintances of ours from Merida, who have visited this section of the country in search of bird skins, which find a ready sale among your people. They have a canoe, and report that a dozen miles below here the stream widens until it can be navigated by reasonably large crafts."
"Since we haven't so much as the smallest kind of a boat I can't see how that information will be of any use to us," Neal replied laughingly.
"It won't take long for me to explain. I propose to hire them to carry us to the sea-shore, and thus save just so much labor of traveling on foot."
"Is their canoe large enough?"
"It will carry a dozen."
"Then our troubles are indeed over," Teddy cried joyously; but Cummings dampened his ardor somewhat when he added:
"There will then remain the journey around the coast, and with such a load it would not be safe to put to sea in their craft. But let us enjoy the blessings which come to us," he added, on observing how quickly his companions' countenances fell. "Half a loaf is decidedly better than no bread at all, and when a tramp of six days can be set aside we have good cause to feel pleased."
The strangers had not waited to be welcomed by the other members of the party. Without stopping to be invited they began preparations for cooking on rather an extensive scale, using the contents of their well filled game bags, and the savory odor which soon arose brought Jake to a full realization of the good fortune that had come to them.
"With those fellows to hunt the game it will be a regular feast from here to the coast," he said approvingly, "and I think this is the first piece of good luck we've had since leaving the Sea Dream."
The newcomers could not speak the English language, consequently all the conversation on the part of the fugitives was carried on by Cummings and Poyor; but these two interpreted such portions as they thought might be of interest to the boys.
From the middle of what is known as the "dry season" until the period of almost incessant rains is well advanced, these hunters spend their time on one or another of the streams leading from the coast, and they consider themselves well paid when a year's work nets each an hundred dollars.
"That is really a large amount of money to them," Cummings explained when Neal suggested that hunting was not a very profitable employment. "One quarter of the sum will serve to purchase the absolute necessities of life in a country where fruit can be had for the labor of gathering, and in ten years they can well afford to retire from business, or become landed proprietors by leasing logwood cuttings, sub-letting the land to those who will pay fifteen cents a hundred pounds for all that can be gathered."
The strangers were quite as satisfactory cooks as Poyor, and when the dinner had been spread on the leaves each member of Cummings' party was ready to do it full justice.
After the meal a short time was spent by the men in smoking, and at about four o'clock in the afternoon the journey was resumed.
Feeling secure because of numbers, and the reports made by the newcomers that there was no one in the immediate vicinity the boys were allowed to follow their own inclinations as to the line of march, and each strayed here or there as he pleased until the coming of night forced them to keep together because of the danger to be apprehended from wild animals.
It was late in the evening when they arrived at the hunters' camp; but Cummings did not propose to remain there even for one night.
He insisted that they could travel by water as well during the hours of darkness, while it would be no more labor for one to guide the canoe, allowing her to drift with the current, than to stand watch.
The strangers used every argument to induce him to defer the beginning of the journey until morning; but he was determined, and after some controversy the men made the canoe ready.
Neal, Teddy and Jake were stationed amidships, where thanks to the generous size of the craft, they could stretch out at full length whenever the fancy seized them. Poyor was seated in the bow, Cummings on the stern thwart, and the owners of the boat where they could use the paddles to advantage.
Of this first night's journeying the boys knew very little. The stream was narrow, and lined on either bank with trees so that at times even the heavens were obscured by foliage, therefore they could perceive nothing save the dark wall on either side.
From the movements of the helmsman it was possible to understand when the canoe was rounding a bend, or being pulled from the bank; but that was all, and, weary of watching without being able to see anything, the boys soon gave themselves up to slumber.
When they awakened the little craft was moored to the bank at a point where the stream formed a basin; a fire was burning brightly, and over it Poyor bent in a suggestive attitude.
"Well, this is the kind of traveling that suits me," Teddy cried, springing to his feet and arousing his companions. "While we were sleeping the boat drifted steadily on, and, at this rate, when we arrive at the coast all hands ought to be in good condition for a long tramp."
"Where's Cummings?" Neal asked, as he in turn arose from the bottom of the canoe.
"Gone for game," the Indian replied.
"Oh, we're not to have breakfast until it is shot," he added laughingly.
"It makes no difference what they find, for there are twenty fat fish roasting in the coals, and you may eat at any time."
"Is there a chance of meeting with an alligator or a crocodile in this stream?"
"Not here."
"Then I'm going to have a bath," and Neal began to undress, Teddy and Jake quickly following his example.
During half an hour they had most glorious sport swimming, and then the return of the hunters literally laden down with game warned them that it was time to prepare for the morning meal.