CHAPTER XVII
A DASH FOR A ROWBOAT
The Raven and not the Swallow was in sight!
The several members of the party looked at each other questioningly.
What was to be done now?
"I'm sure I'm not going to ask Lemuel Hankers for help," said Dave, decidedly. "I'd rather put up with the savages."
"No! no! That would be foolish," put in Doctor Barrell. "Why, if those natives got hold of us now they would kill us on the spot."
"An' be afther eatin' ye in the bargain," added Pat Stoodles.
"But to go aboard the enemy's ship!" protested the young diver.
"They wouldn't dare to kill us," said Captain Broadbeam.
"They will have to transfer us to our own vessel," said the doctor.
While they were discussing the situation, Stoodles went back to learn what the savages were doing.
Presently he ran up with the information that the natives had divided into two parties, one to help those in the morass and the other to continue the pursuit of the whites.
"An' the second party is afther comin' up fast," he concluded. "Ye must run fer it or invite capture."
"Come, we will join the Raven and trust to luck," said Captain Broadbeam. And so it was decided, although against Dave's wishes.
Soon they were out on the beach and running for the cove where the Raven lay at anchor.
The ship had gone into hiding to escape being discovered by those on board the Swallow.
Lemuel Hankers felt certain that Pete Rackley would so disable Captain Broadbeam's craft that the Swallow would never reach the spot where the sunken treasure lay, at the bottom of the Pacific.
Lemuel Hankers was on deck with his son when the party came into sight of the ship.
He gazed intently at the group of running persons who were waving their hands, frantically, toward the ship.
"Give me a glass!" he cried, quickly.
The powerful marine glass belonging to Captain Nesik was handed to him.
He gave one look, then muttered an imprecation not to be placed upon these pages.
"Who is it?" questioned Bart.
"Dave Fearless, Captain Broadbeam and some others, probably men from the Swallow!"
"What!" ejaculated the youth. "And look, they act as if they wanted to board our ship!"
"They must have learned of Pete Rackley's doings!" burst from Lemuel Hankers' lips, and his face grew deadly pale.
"Then our jig is up, dad."
"They wish to make trouble!" groaned the rich man.
"I wouldn't let them on board," put in Bart, quickly. "Let us pretend not to see them and sail away."
"We'll do it," answered the father.
He ran to where Captain Nesik stood, and gave the necessary order.
The anchor was hove apeak in double-quick order, and the command was passed to the engine room to back the Raven, full speed.
Fortunately for the evildoers, steam was up, and in less than half a minute the Raven had left the cove and was moving swiftly out into the Pacific Ocean.
Those on shore could scarcely believe their eyes.
"She is sailing away!" burst from Captain Broadbeam.
"They do not intend to take us on board!" put in Doctor Barrell.
"But do they know who we are?" questioned Bob.
"They must know," said Dave. "Remember, they have powerful glasses on board. Perhaps they spotted us as soon as we came into sight."
"It would please them, I suppose, to have the savages kill us," went on the captain. "I wouldn't have believed it before, but I do now—since you have told me what this Pete Rackley was to do."
In bitter disappointment the crowd ran down to the very edge of the cove, Pat Stoodles at their heels.
They saw a number of persons standing on the stern deck of the Raven, but could distinguish no faces.
In less than half an hour the ship was far out to sea.
While the party on the beach was watching the receding ship, Stoodles uttered a cry.
"The savages. They be afther coming on again, bad cess to 'em!"
The Irishman was right. The savages had found their trail and were once again after them hot-footed.
Which way now? That was the question in the mind of every member of the party.
It was Dave who solved the problem. Gazing across the cove, he espied a good-sized rowboat half hidden among some bushes.
The boat had been left there by those on the Raven the night before, and in the excitement of the departure had been completely forgotten.
"A boat! A boat!" he cried. "Come!"
He led the way on a run, with the others close upon his heels.
But to circle the cove, which was surrounded with tropical trees, vines, and sharp rocks, was not easy; and before half the distance was covered they heard the cries of the savages.
"They are coming closer!" came from Bob. "Perhaps we had better hide again."
"Don't ye be afther doin' such a foolish thing," answered Pat Stoodles. "They kin track ye quicker nor an Indian could do th' thrick. Take to the boat—it's safer."
On they went, over the rocks and through the tangle of undergrowth. Often one or another would stumble, and scratches and rent clothing were numerous. Closer and closer came the natives. When the latter saw how fresh the trail was they let out a blood-curdling cry of triumph.
At last our friends were within a hundred yards of the boat. But now poor Bob was exhausted, for his foot still pained him greatly.
"I—I can't run any—any more!" he gasped.
"Then we'll carry you," answered Captain Broadbeam, and caught the young engineer up in his arms.
At last the rowboat was gained and they were delighted to note that it contained two pairs of stout oars. Into the craft they tumbled as rapidly as possible, and it was Dave who helped Captain Broadbeam to shove off.
The movement came none too soon, for scarcely were all but poor Bob seated at the oars than the natives burst into view through the jungle back of the stretch of beach surrounding the cove.
"Hi gi! We-ra!" they yelled, and then a shower of arrows was aimed at our friends. One arrow cut through the captain's coat and another buried itself in the stern of the rowboat.
"Pull! Pull!" shouted Dave.
And then they all pulled as never before, Captain Broadbeam giving the stroke, and soon the rowboat was carried a hundred feet from shore. But now came a second flight of arrows and Pat Stoodles was hit in the back.
"I'm done fer!" he moaned, and fell in a heap at the bottom of the craft.
"Give me his oar!" came from Bob, and with his teeth set grimly, he caught up the drifting blade and took his place among the rowers.
Shower after shower of arrows now flew all around the rowboat and its occupants and nearly all on board were struck, although none seriously, for the distance was now too great for the savages' aim.
"Keep it up—we'll soon be out of range," panted Captain Broadbeam, and straight out into the broad Pacific plunged the rowboat, over the breakers and then into the mighty swells beyond.
At last the cove began to fade from view and the arrows no more reached them.
"We are saved!" murmured Bob, and then fell unconscious beside Pat Stoodles.
Leaving Dave to continue rowing, that the boat might not be upset by the long ocean swells, Captain Broadbeam and Doctor Barrell turned their attention to Bob and to Pat Stoodles.
It was found that Bob was suffering from a wound in the shoulder, and the loss of blood, following his former weakness, had been too much for him.
"He'll be all right after a while," said the doctor, after binding up the wound. "That is, unless there was poison on the arrow tip, and I see no evidence of such poison in the appearance of any of our wounds."
Poor Pat Stoodles was worse off and it was a grave question whether he would live or die.
He did not regain consciousness, although the doctor did his best for the poor Irishman.
"He needs stimulants," said Doctor Barrell.
"And we haven't so much as a drink of water," answered Captain Broadbeam, soberly.
An hour went by and the hot sun poured down fiercely upon those in the rowboat.
They knew not which way to turn, fearing that if they attempted to land again the savages would follow them up.
"We will row in the direction of the landing place where we first came ashore," said Captain Broadbeam, and this was done.
An hour later Dave let out a cry of dismay.
"The savages! They are after us again!"
He was right. Around a distant point of land had appeared at least a dozen savages, and all were making for the rowboat with all speed!