CHAPTER VII.

SAVED BY MAGIC.

"That sure helps," Jack declared, as Bob finished his prayer.

"I hope uncle and the others won't try to find us right away."

"How come?"

"Because someone'll get killed if they do."

"But you know they will. They're probably on their way here right now."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

"Think they'll find us right off?"

"I don't know. We aren't very far away, you know, but that grass is so lodged in all sorts of ways that I don't know's they'll be able to pick up our trail."

"But they'll find us sooner or later."

"Sure they will and then there'll be a fight."

"But they must know about the blow-pipes, don't you think?"

"Sure they do, and I reckon they'll be careful."

For some moments they were silent, each busy with his own thoughts. It was quiet outside for the most part, although they could now and then hear the sound of jabbering. After that seemed a long time, but in reality was not more than an hour from the time they had arrived, the leader stuck his head into the hut and motioned for them to come out.

"I've got an idea," Bob whispered as they got to their feet. "Be careful and don't start anything."

"What you going to do?" Jack asked anxiously.

"No time to tell you now. Watch and you'll see."

As they emerged from the hut, they saw the group of native men sitting on the ground in the form of a circle a short distance away, and toward them the man urged them.

"Council of war, I reckon," Jack whispered.

"Likely. Watch your step," Bob again cautioned.

Into the midst of the circle the native pushed them and they noticed that the women of the tribe were gathered a short distance away eagerly watching the proceedings. Jack's mind was busy, wondering what Bob was going to do and he did not have long to wait before finding out. Once they were within the circle, the leader took his place beside one of the others and at once began jabbering at them making many gestures with both hands. Of course they were unable to understand what he was saying, but, when he paused, Bob held up one hand and Jack saw that, between his thumb and finger, he held up a bright half dollar. Instantly he knew his plan.

For an instant Bob held the coin so that all the men could see it, at the same time striking an imposing attitude. Then he made as though he was throwing the coin in the air, but instead, it disappeared. A look, first of wonder stole over the faces of the natives, followed by one of uneasiness. Then Bob stepped boldly forward and, with a slow movement picked the coin from the nose of the leader. Now the look of uneasiness changed to one which plainly indicated fear. Catching a wink from his brother Jack also showed signs of amazement.

Bob's next trick was to run quickly here and there within the circle snatching coins from the air until it seemed that he had collected a score or more. Then he paused and looked solemnly at the leader who squirmed and twisted as though expecting to be annihilated the next instant. It was evident that, as Jack afterward declared, he had 'em going. But when Bob next swallowed one of the coins and then, taking off of his shoes, shook it out onto the ground, it was more than they could stand and one or two sprang to their feet. But, with an imperious gesture, Bob motioned them to resume their seat and, tremblingly, they obeyed. Again he looked with his stern gaze at the leader, and again that individual acted as though he were sitting on a hot stove, as Jack afterward laughed.

Then the leader, as Bob removed his gaze, gave an order and instantly the entire company bowed their heads almost to the ground.

"Good boy, you got 'em on the run all right," Jack chuckled.

"Looks like it," Bob smiled. "Now for the climax."

He strode majestically up to the leader, who sat with his head almost touching the ground, and, seizing him by his long hair, jerked him up until he was sitting upright again.

"And, believe me I wasn't very gentle about it either," he afterward told Jack.

He soon made the leader understand that he was to order the others to sit up and as soon as they had obeyed he turned to Jack.

"See that stump out there?"

"Yep."

"Get a cocoanut and put it on it."

"Don't make a slip," Jack begged.

"I won't. Go ahead."

Jack stepped quickly outside the circle and, after a short search, found one of the nuts and placed it on the stump as Bob had directed. Not for an instant had the eyes of the natives left him but they made no move to hinder him and he stepped back to Bob's side.

"Go get 'em," he whispered.

Bob, the eyes of every man glued upon him, waved his hand about and finally snatched a coin from the air. Then he reached around and pulled his automatic from his back pocket. He did not know whether or not they had ever seen a firearm and did not much care, for that matter, for he was not depending on it to intimidate them. Now, placing the gun in Jack's hand, he went through the motion of bending the coin and, a moment later, he had apparently dropped it down the barrel of the little gun. Then he slowly raised his left hand pointing toward the stump which was about twenty feet away. But the eyes of the natives never left him until he had repeated the gesture a number of times. Finally his meaning, "soaked through the ivory" as Jack chuckled and they turned their heads. When he was sure they were all looking at the nut, Bob fired.

At the report, a number of the natives fell over backward and lay as though dead, and both boys knew that if they had ever heard a gun discharged before, it must have been a long time ago. Bob waited a moment hardly knowing just how to proceed. Then, one by one, finding that they were not dead, the natives cautiously began to lift their heads but the boys could see that they were nearly scared to death. Waiting until they were all sitting up again, Bob strode toward the stump and, picking up a rock, he hit the cocoanut a sharp blow. Then, holding it high above his head so that all could see it, he returned and held it out to the leader. That frightened individual shrank back but Bob urged him to take it, and finally he held out a trembling hand. Bob gave him the nut which was already cracked nearly in two and motioned for him to break it open. This he easily did although his hands trembled so that he nearly dropped it.

Holding a half of the nut in each hand the native looked at Bob as though inquiring what he should do next.

"Pour out the milk," Bob ordered making the motion with his hand.

After he had repeated the gesture several times, the native got the idea and cautiously tipped the half in his right hand so the small amount of white fluid ran out. Then the man's eyes seemed almost to pop from his head for there on the white meat was the shining half dollar.

"Tip it out," Bob ordered, again making the gesture.

As the coin slid to the ground, a loud groan came from the lips of the natives and they again bowed their heads to the earth.

"Here's where we slump," Bob said in a low tone to Jack. "Follow me and, whatever you do, don't show a sign of fear. Walk with your head up."

Slowly and majestically he strode from the circle, closely followed by Jack. Not a man moved as they stepped between them and, as they approached the women, who were a short distance off, they scattered and fled with cries of fear. The boys walked slowly until they were beyond the grove of cocoanut trees and then Bob said:

"Now we want to get a move on. They may have a change of heart."

Down the hill they ran, heedless of the sharp grass which gave their hands many a scratch. But they hardly felt it as they plunged on, eager to put as much distance as possible between them and their erstwhile captors.

Just as they reached the bottom of the ravine they heard a shout.

"That's uncle," Bob said. "But don't answer just yet. Wait till we get to the top of the hill."

They had to go more slowly now, but finally they came to the top and then, as his uncle's shout reached them, Bob replied.

"Where the dickens are you?"

"Coming," Bob shouted back, as they started down the next hillside.

At the edge of the grove of trees they met the others.

"Where in the name of common sense you been," Captain Ole demanded.

"Let's get back to the boat and we'll tell you all about it," Bob replied. "You been looking for us?"

"We've been trying to pick up your trail for about an hour, but in this grass we couldn't find a trace and didn't know which way to start."

"Well, we'd better hurry while the hurrying's good," Jack broke in. "You wanted to know, awhile ago, if this island was inhabited. It is."

"Is what?" Captain Ole demanded.

"Why, inhabited."

"What with?"

"Brown men and--er--brown women and brown children."

"How do you know?"

"We visited them," Bob told him, adding: "But it wasn't a voluntary visit on our part and, if you take my advice, we'd better hurry back to the boat."

"Come on, then," the captain said, leading the way. "I reckon you've got a story and that it'll keep till we get on board."

Picking up the two baskets, which had again been filled with nuts, they hurried to the shore and were soon rowing out to the Valkyrie.

"Now let's have the yarn," Captain Ole demanded when they were safe on board.

"I'll tell it," Bob volunteered.

"Not this time you won't," Jack interrupted him. "I can tell it a whole lot better than you can. Watch me."

Bob subsided, and Jack told them the story, ending with: "I reckon they thought we were gods of some kind."

"It's mighty lucky you had those coins with you," Mr. Lakewood said when he had finished.

"By the way, Bob, how many of them did you have?" Jack asked.

"Only two."

"Great Scott, it looked as though you had a dozen and I wondered where you got them all."

"It would have been easier if I'd had more."

"I thought I'd burst when you took one out of his nib's nose," Jack laughed. "He looked as though he believed he had a mint up in his head and had missed it all his life."

"Well, you were certainly lucky to get out of it so well," their uncle told him. "We must be more careful in the future if we land on any more of these islands."

"What do you suppose they would have done to us?" Bob asked.

"They'd probably have made soup out of you," Jack chuckled.

"And I suppose you think you'd have been better fried," Bob retorted.

"Well, I'm not fat enough to make good soup," Jack laughed.

"I doubt if either of you would have been served up for a meal," Mr. Lakewood broke in. "I hardly think any of these tribes are cannibals now, but it's more than likely that they would have killed you had you not escaped."

"They looked ugly enough to be cannibals or anything else for that matter," Jack declared.

As it was now not far from nightfall, it was decided to stay at anchor where they were until morning.

"But we'll have to keep a close watch all night," Captain Ole said. "Those fellows may be only a part of a large tribe and we don't want to be caught napping."

"Not by those fellows, we don't," Bob agreed.

The boys, tired out with the day's adventure, went to bed soon after supper, but it was a long time before either of them could sleep. They were fully aware that they had a very narrow escape, and for an hour or more they talked it all over again. In his prayer that night Bob thanked God that he had spent so many hours in the years past practicing sleight of hand, for he realized that his proficiency in the art had saved them. It seemed to him that he had hardly fallen asleep when he heard his name called.

"Bob."

"What's up?" he whispered rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

"Listen."

For an instant he could hear nothing, then, seemingly from a long distance, came a series of peculiar cries.

"What is it?" he asked, sitting up and swinging his feet to the floor.

"Sounds like someone shouting from the island," Jack told him.

"Perhaps we're going to be attacked."

"That's what I was thinking."

"Then I reckon we'd better get into our clothes."

"My sentiments exactly."

In less than two minutes they had slipped into their clothes and were out on deck. The sky was overcast and it was so dark that they could see but a short distance away from the boat.

"Let's go up forward," Bob said. "There ought to be someone on duty there."

The forward deck was illuminated with a single light, but it enabled them to see Pat, who stood close to the rail in an attitude of intentness.

"What is it?" Bob asked as they reached his side.

"Faith an' it's more'n I know."

It was too dark for them to see even the outlines of the island, but that something was going on close to the water's edge was evident from the confused sounds which reached them although faintly.

"There's some natives over there," Jack declared after listening intently for a moment.

"There's something fer a fact," Pat agreed.

"How long have you been hearing them?" Bob asked.

"A matter uv ten minutes or mebby a bit more."

"Sounds to me as though there was a lot of them," Jack declared as the sounds grew louder for an instant.

"Don't you think we'd better call the captain and uncle?" Bob asked.

"It's meself as jest sint one ov the byes to do thot thing," Pat told them.

"Then they'll be here in a minute," Bob said.

"If we could only see a little better," Jack mused as he leaned over the rail.

"Yes, I'd like to know if they have boats," Bob said.

Just then Captain Ole, clad only in trowsers and shirt, joined them.

"What's up?" he asked.

"We think there's a large band of natives on shore," Bob told him.

"There's some sure's I'm a sea dog," the captain agreed after he had listened a moment. "Pat, get all hands up as quick as you can and tell MacDonald to get up steam just as quick as he can. We may want to pull out in a hurry."

"You think they may attack us, sir?" Bob asked as Pat started off on the run.

"Not much doubt of it, I'm thinking."

"And it's what I'm thinking too," agreed Mr. Lakewood, who had joined them unnoticed in the darkness.

"If they got boats they must have come from the other side," Captain Ole said.

The question as to the natives having boats was settled a moment later when Jack's quick ears caught the sound of a slight splash in the water, and, a moment later they saw a long narrow craft, filled with men, emerge from the gloom only a few feet off the port bow.

"Anyone got a gun?" the captain whispered.

No one had and, when he learned that they were all unarmed, he whispered:

"Stand back from the rail. If they see us they'll send up a shower of their poisoned darts, and everyone grab a belaying pin. They'll come up on the anchor chain."

Fortunately there was a rack of pins close by and all did as the captain had ordered. It was not so dark but that they could see the bow and for a minute or two they waited for the first sign of hostilities.

"If one of them gets on deck he'll get one or more of us," the captain whispered, "so we mustn't miss him."

As he finished speaking, Bob and Jack spied a woolly head peep up over the bow and instantly two of the heavy pins whirled through the air. The distance was only six feet and both pins reached the mark. Followed a loud and surprised grunt and a loud splash.

"Set 'em up again," Jack whispered.

"Get another pin, quick," Captain Ole ordered.

"You bet."

By this time Pat was back followed by the rest of the crew with the exception of the engineer, who, he explained, was already getting up steam.

"You boys got guns?" Captain Ole asked quietly.

Two or three of the sailors replied in the affirmative and showed the weapons.

"That's good, but don't shoot unless I give the word."

Minute followed minute but no other head showed itself above the railing.

"Think they've left?" Jack whispered to Bob.

"I haven't----" Bob started to reply, but before he could finished Jack had raised his arm and let fly another of the pins.

"Ugg!"

The grunt was followed by a loud splash as the body of the native struck the water.

"Set 'em up again," Bob chuckled. "That was a dandy shot, son. Hit him right between the eyes."

But Jack had darted back for another weapon.

"This beats ten pins all hollow," he laughed as he came back.

"Two strikes in succession isn't so bad," Bob grinned.

"I think they've had enough for the time," Mr. Lakewood said after they had waited several minutes and nothing further had happened.

"They're keeping mighty still about it," Bob declared.

"Listen."

There came a faint splash followed by another and another, growing fainter and fainter until they died out altogether.

"They've gone," Captain Ole announced. "Give 'em a shot now, boys, just to let 'em know we're here, but fire in the air. I don't want to kill anyone if we can help it."

The sailors, with the guns, fired a volley and immediately it was answered by loud yelling from the shore.

"Faith, an' is it scared or mad they are?" Pat asked with a low chuckle.

"Little of both, I reckon," Mr. Lakewood told him.

"See how soon steam'll be up, Pat," the captain ordered.

The mate was back in less than a minute with the word that they could start in five minutes if they wished.

"And I think we'd better, don't you?" the captain said, turning to Mr. Lakewood.

"You think they'll come out again?"

"Can't tell about that. But, the way it looks to me, we've everything to lose and nothing to gain by staying here. It'll be getting light in about an hour."

"I think you're right. Let's start as soon as possible by all means."

"Take the wheel, Mr. Kelley, and you boys be ready to weigh anchor as soon's I give the word," the captain ordered. Then, turning to the boys, he apologized: "Never did like to kill a thing that don't know any better. Those heathen think they're doing right to try to kill us, and I suppose it's according to their nature."

"I believe you're right, sir, though I can't say I think much of their belief," Bob responded.

"I'll say it's a right unfortunate belief," Jack chuckled.

Just then the bell sounded, and the captain gave the order to weigh anchor and, a moment later, the Valkyrie swung slowly about and headed away from the island.

"Can't say I'm sorry to bid that place goodbye," Jack said as he leaned over the rail with Bob.

But they were not to say goodbye just then, as it turned out, for, hardly had the boat gone a dozen lengths, when there came a low scraping sound followed by a jerk as the boat came to an abrupt stop.

"Now what?" Jack cried.

"Reckon we're stuck on a bar," Bob replied.

"Back her," they heard the captain shout, and the propeller began to beat the water, at first slowly and then faster until the engine was doing its best. But the boat did not move.

"What do you know about that?" Jack groaned with disgust.

"It's hard luck just as we thought we were safe," Bob replied quietly.

"Stop her, it's no use," they heard the captain order a moment later.

"Well, we're a little farther from the shore anyhow," Jack said, trying to make his voice sound cheerful.

"We'll be all right if those brown devils let us alone," Captain Ole, who joined them at that moment, told them. "We didn't strike hard enough to hurt the boat any, and it's just low tide. She ought to float in a couple of hours."

"But they'll see us before that," Bob said.

"I know it and that's what's worrying me."

"But we've got plenty of guns," Jack suggested.

"And we'll use them if we have to," the captain added.

"Perhaps they have gone off and we won't see anything more of them," Bob said.

But a half hour later, when the first tinge of the coming day reddened the sky, they saw that Bob's hope was vain.

"Gee, there must be a million of them," Jack gasped as their forms began to take shape.

"There are over a hundred at any rate," Bob corrected him. "Enough to give us a lot of trouble if they take into it into their heads to come after us."

"I don't see but a couple of their boats."

"And they won't hold more than eight or ten each," Bob added hopefully.

The two boys were standing near the stern by themselves, the rest being forward where the captain was trying to determine how badly they were imbedded. They had been to their cabin to get their automatics and had stopped for a view of the shore, as they saw that it was getting light.

"Well, let's go up forward and see what they've found out," Bob suggested.

"Hope we aren't stuck very hard."

"Don't seem as though we could be. We weren't making over two knots an hour when we struck."

"No, I don't think she's in very deep," Captain Ole told them as they met him when they were nearly up to the bow. "And I'm pretty sure she isn't hurt a bit."

As the light increased, it was evident to those on board that the natives were much excited. They were too far away for him to be sure, but Bob fancied that he could recognize in one of them, who seemed to be urging a number of others to some move, the leader of the band which had captured them.

"I tell you there's more than a hundred of those fellows," Jack insisted after it was fully light.

"Yes, I reckon you're right," Bob agreed. "I wouldn't wonder if there was nearer two hundred."

"Better make it three. But what do you suppose they're up to?"

"Seems to me that they're waiting for someone or for something. I've seen a fellow run up to the top of the hill twice and then run back and make some announcement."

"Hope they aren't waiting for reinforcements."

"Well, they've got to have more boats than two, in order to cause us much trouble, I reckon."

"You boys had better go get some breakfast," Mr. Lakewood, who just then came from the salon told them. "Wong told me to tell you it was ready."

"You had yours?" Bob asked.

"Yes."

"We won't be but a minute," Bob promised. "Come on Jack."

The meal was eaten with a speed which made Wong gasp and predict that they would soon be dead. But they were far too excited to eat slowly, and in less than ten minutes from the time they had left their uncle they were back again.

"Anything new?" Jack asked.

"Not so far's I can see," his uncle told him.

For an hour they stood by the rail watching the natives as they ran this way and that on the shore. Every few minutes one of them would run up to the top of the hill, and then quickly return and make a report to the man who seemed to be the leader.

"I'd give a cent to know what they're waiting for," Jack said.

"Look over there and you can see for less money," Bob suddenly cried at the same time pointing toward the end of the island.

"My goodness," Jack gasped. "What do you know about that."

It was little wonder that he was amazed for, sweeping around a point at the extreme end of the island came boat after boat until they had counted twenty of them.

"I reckon that's what they've been waiting for," Mr. Lakewood said quietly. "I suspected it."

"What are we going to do?" Bob asked.

"We've got to get off before they reach us, that's all," his uncle replied a bit grimly.

The boats were about three miles distant when first sighted, and they knew that it would probably take them at least half an hour to reach the Valkyrie even if they came straight.

"They're going to land where the rest are first," Bob said a little later, as he saw the small boats swing in toward the shore.

"All of which helps us," his uncle smiled.

"Gee, but those fellows can paddle," Jack declared. "Look at them cut through the water."

When the boats were within a few hundred yards of the shore, a great shout of welcome rose from the crowd on the beach. As the leading boat struck the sands, a large native sprang out and quickly made his way through the excited crowd until he had reached the leader. Watching him as well as they could from the distance it seemed to the boys that the leader received the newcomer with a great show of respect. Followed a short period of conversation between the two, accompanied by many gesticulations and much pointing toward the Valkyrie.

"They mean us all right," Jack said grimly.

"Sure, I knew that all the time," Bob replied.

"What do you suppose they intend to do?"

"Rush us, most likely."

"En massé, as it were."

"Exactly."

"Well, it seems to me it's about time Cap'n Ole was trying to pull out."

"Back out, you mean."

"Well, any way to get out."

"And it's got to be done pronto if it's going to be done at all, for they're coming."

The leader of the navy, as Jack had referred to him, had finished his parley with the other leader and was now aboard his craft once more, and they could plainly hear his voice as he shouted orders.

"Where's Cap'n Ole?" Jack asked anxiously. "Seems to me we ought to be making tracks toward defending ourselves."

"Here he comes."

As he spoke the captain, followed by Mr. Lakewood and the entire crew except the engineer, came around the corner of the cabin and the boys saw that every man was carrying a rifle in his hands and that in each man's belt was a business-like appearing automatic.

"You boys got your guns?" he asked.

"Two apiece," Bob assured him.

"Mr. Kelley, you take the wheel and when I give the word signal for all speed astern. Mac's got a good head of steam on. Now, boys," he continued, "I want to get away from here without killing any of those natives, if we can, but, of course, we've got to protect ourselves, and, remember, they're armed with the most deadly weapon in the world."

"Do yees mane them blow guns?' Pat asked.

"That's just what I mean, and one prick from their darts and it's all off."