The Search for the Silver City Part 41

This was a topic of conversation seldom brought up since the day they first saw the Silver City, because their peril had been so great as to overshadow everything else. Now, however, when it seemed as if they were very near home, the fear that but one boat of the four had lived to reach the land came to both with painful intensity, and fully half the night was spent in trying to persuade themselves that it was well with the remainder of the Sea Dream's crew.

When they did finally sink into slumber Poyor was sitting bolt upright with his back against a huge block of coral-like rock, looking out over the water, and in the morning when Neal opened his eyes the Indian was in the same position.

"Have you seen a vessel?" the boy asked.

"There is one," was the calm reply, and Neal sprang to his feet in the greatest excitement to see a small, schooner-rigged craft with all sail set moving slowly through the water on a parallel line with the coast, about three miles away.

In another instant he had awakened the remainder of the party by shouting vigorously, as if believing it possible that those on board could hear his voice.

"What's the matter?" c.u.mmings asked: but before the question could be answered he also saw the craft.

"It looks as if she was bound in our direction, and we had better try to attract attention; but you'll never do it by shouting, my boy."

"What shall we do?"

"Build a fire, of course," Jake replied. "They have got plenty of time to send a boat ash.o.r.e, for it is nearly calm, and in another hour there won't be so much as a breath of wind."

Before he had ceased speaking Neal and Teddy were running back toward the line of trees for wood, and in a short time a cloud of smoke was ascending from the sh.o.r.e at the very edge of the water.

While the others continued to bring fuel Poyor sprinkled the flames with a bough wet in the sea in order to prevent them from burning too freely, and there was no interruption in the work until a flag was raised on the schooner's main-mast to signify that the signal would be answered.

"We're in great luck," c.u.mmings said, as he seated himself on one of the boulders, for it was no longer necessary to keep the fire burning. "No matter where she is bound I don't fancy we shall have much trouble in persuading them to put into Progresso, and the tramp up the sh.o.r.e which all have been dreading can be avoided."

As a matter of course the entire party were in the best of spirits, and to Neal and Teddy the little craft had a particularly friendly look.

The schooner had been headed for the sh.o.r.e when the smoke first began to ascend; but the wind was so light that she hardly moved through the water, and, after a few moments, the watchers could see that a boat was being lowered.

"That dashes some of my hopes," c.u.mmings said with a laugh.

"What do you mean?" Neal asked.

"I thought there might be just a chance that she hailed from Progresso, and we should have no trouble in persuading them to do as we wished."

"Why do you think that isn't the case?"

"Because you couldn't find a crew of natives who would willingly row so far; the majority would wait for a breeze a week before voluntarily performing so much labor."

The boys watched the boat as she approached slowly, and when she neared the sh.o.r.e both they and Jake started in surprise, scrutinized her more intently, and then looking at each other as if in fear.

"What is the matter?" c.u.mmings asked, and Neal replied slowly:

"The man who is steering resembles Mr. Walters, the sailing master of the Sea Dream, that is all."

"It _is_ him!" Teddy cried excitedly. "I am certain of it now; but how did he get here in that schooner?"

As a matter of course the question could not be answered by his companions, and all waited with the liveliest signs of impatience until the gentleman was within hailing distance, and then Neal shouted:

"Is that really you, Mr. Walters?"

"To the best of my knowledge it is," was the laughing reply. "Are you all well?"

"In first-cla.s.s condition. Where is father?"

"On board the schooner. I will give the signal to let him know the crew of the yacht have all been saved."

As he spoke he discharged a revolver, and the waving of the flag told that the good news was understood.

"Not all, Mr. Walters, the three sailors in our boat were drowned while trying to land on this coast."

"It is too late now to rectify the mistake. I hoped when I saw so many that there had been no disaster."

By this time the little craft had been rowed around the point of the lagoon where it was possible to effect a landing without danger of being swamped, and the sailing master leaped ash.o.r.e to welcome by hearty handshakes those whom he had feared were dead.

c.u.mmings and Poyor were introduced, and then Neal asked:

"Where did you get the schooner?"

"Chartered her to hunt for you; but Mr. Emery shall tell the story. Will you come aboard now?"

"You are to go with us," Neal said, turning quickly toward c.u.mmings.

"I hardly know what to do. It would probably be wisest for Poyor and I to begin the homeward march since there is no longer any necessity of going to Progresso."

"But you must see my father. Time is not so precious just now but that you can afford to spend another day in our company."

"It shall be as you say," c.u.mmings replied laughingly. "I hesitated only because the sooner our long tramp comes to an end the more comfortable I shall feel in mind."

Jake and Teddy had already clambered into the boat; the others followed, and the little craft, loaded down nearly to the water's edge, was rowed out toward the schooner.

It is not necessary to make any attempt at trying to describe the reception the castaways met with from the remainder of the yacht's crew, nor the manner in which Poyor and c.u.mmings were welcomed.

After the heartiest greetings had been exchanged Mr. Emery and the sailing master asked for an account of the landing and subsequent wanderings, and it is safe to say that they were treated to a wilder story than they had ever dreamed of hearing.

Mr. Walters was at first disposed to look upon it as a "yarn;" but the souvenir which Jake carried on his face was evidence that could not be doubted, and c.u.mmings soon convinced the skeptical sailing master that the Chan Santa Cruz really had an existence.

"That is an adventure I would like to have," he finally said in a tone of enthusiasm. "I can't understand why it shouldn't be possible to hit upon some hiding place within half a mile of the city, and on a stormy night, for instance, lug away precious metal enough to make ourselves rich."

"That and more can be done if one has patience and discretion."

"Now we're where there's little doubt about gettin' home you may rap at me as often as you please," Jake said with a hearty laugh. "I admit having acted like a fool; but so long as nothing serious came of it, except the cut on my own cheek, it isn't a hanging matter."

"I haven't a relative in this world," Mr. Walters continued, "and now the Sea Dream has gone down would be obliged to look around for a job, therefore if you'll accept me as a comrade I'll stay here instead of going back to the states."

"Do you really mean to enter upon such a wild venture?" Mr. Emery asked in surprise.

"Most certainly. What is to prevent?"

"Nothing that I know of; but it seems little less than suicide to go there after the Indians have been so thoroughly aroused."