_ CHAPTER FORTY. HOW THE ROAR PROVED TO BE--A ROAR
The task proved more simple than Mark had anticipated, and he went on, step by step, learning how it was that the Indians tracked their prey. Every now and then he was at fault, but on these occasions some other eye detected the trampled ferns, a broken twig, or a cane dragged out of place, and the result was that in a couple of hours the opening was reached where the rocky scarp rose up high toward the mountain, and the mouth of the cave yawned open before them.
Here there was a pause. What to do next?
"It's awkward," said the major, "supposing our friend's at home. I don't want to go first, and I'm sure I don't want you to go, Strong."
"Shall we send Billy Widgeon in first, sir?" said Small. "He's a little un, and knows his way. Here, Billy, where are you?"
An inarticulate noise above their heads made them turn, to find that Billy had rapidly climbed a tree.
"Well, of all the cowards! Here, you come down," cried Small.
He pointed his gun at the little sailor, and vowed so heartily that he would fire at his legs if he did not descend, that Billy swung himself reluctantly on to a thin elastic branch, and let himself swing lower till he could touch the ground.
"I think the best way will be to get a fire, and as soon as the brands are well alight one of the men must go underneath and throw them in, while we stand ready with our guns."
The plan was carried out; and eager now to show that he was not so great a coward as the boatswain had suggested, Billy volunteered to throw in the burning wood.
All was ready. The captain, major, Mark, and Small, with loaded pieces, and the latter with instructions to fire calmly and with good aim, and Billy with the burning wood, which was of a resinous nature, and burned fiercely.
"Now, my lad," said the captain after a glance round, and finally fixing his eyes on the mouth of the cavern, which looked black and grim, "when I say 'Ready!' get well under the cave mouth, climb up a little way, and hurl in the burning wood as far as you can."
"But suppose he comes out, sir?"
"If he does, you will be out of sight, and the beast will come right at us."
"You won't shoot me, gentlemen?"
"No, man, of course not."
"Nor you, Mr Small," pleaded Billy.
"Lookye here, Billy Widgeon," growled the boatswain, "if you don't do your dooty like a man, and chuck them there blazing sticks right into the back o' that there hole, I'm blest if I don't."
Billy Widgeon said never a word, but got his wood well ablaze, while the captain and major stood right in front of the cave, with Small and Mark on their right and left.
"Now, be careful," said the captain; and then Billy Widgeon crept cautiously under the mouth of the cave, and then began to climb, with the smoke rising from the fire, till he was so high that he could hold on with one hand and throw with the other.
"Ready!" cried the captain.
Whizz went the burning brands, so well aimed that they went right into the cave, and an unexpected result was produced. One of these went right in, and the other fell upon the bed of palm leaves which Mark had occupied. This began to blaze, the other caught, and in a few minutes the interior was full of flame and smoke, the former roaring, and the latter eddying out and up the face of the rock.
"Not at home," said the major, as they all stood breathlessly waiting for the outburst of the furious monster, which Mark painted mentally as something between a lion and a bear, but elephantine in size.
"Think not?"
"No wild beast would stand that without making a run for it."
Hardly had the major spoken when there was a deafening roar, accompanied by a rushing sound; Billy Widgeon dropped down, and rolled over, to lie among some ferns, crouched together like a ball; Small ran to the nearest tree, and peered round it, taking aim, while the other two men followed Small's example. The captain, major, and Mark stood firm, but the latter had so hard a fight with self that he would have had but little for any furious beast that had charged. For all the time nature kept on saying, "Run for your life!" while education whispered, "Face the danger like a man!"
Education won, and Mark stared as he saw his father uncock his piece and throw it over his shoulder, while the major began to laugh.
"Well, Mark, there's your wild beast," he said merrily, and he pointed up at the mountain.
"I--I don't understand."
"Steam, boy, gas, or something of that kind. Didn't you see the smoke and flame come out with a puff?"
"Yes, I saw that; but don't you think it is a wild beast?"
"No beast could roar like that, my lad," said the captain. "Don't you see that this is one of the ways into the mountain, and every now and then it blows off so much steam, or heated air. It must come from a tremendous distance through rocky passages, and the sudden blast makes this roar."
At that moment Billy Widgeon raised his head and looked up at them curiously.
"Aren't you going to shoot, gen'lemen?"
"Not this time," said the captain. "There, jump up, and let's get back. We shall be able to live here in peace while we get our boat built. I'm glad we've solved the problem."
"Well, I'm glad," said the major, "but it's a shabby end to the affair. I should have liked to get the monster's head and skin for my room."
"It's a rum un," said Billy Widgeon, climbing up and staring in at the hole. "That's what it is, Mr Mark, sir; it's a rum un."
"What's that?" cried Mark suddenly. "Here! hi! Bruff! Bruff! Bruff!"
He whistled loudly, and there was a joyous barking heard in the distance, and soon after the dog came bounding up from the more open ground at the end of the rocky scarp.
"That must be our way, then," said the captain. "Here, Mark, do you think he could lead us home?"
"I don't know, father--let's try," cried Mark, and after the dog had given every one a friendly recognition, and received his due meed of pats and caresses, he was sent on in front, going forward quite as a matter of course; but before they reached the end of the rock-encumbered opening, there was a roar of laughter from the men, as Billy Widgeon struck an attitude, smiling all over his face, resting his hands upon his short knees, and shaking his head.
"A pritty creetur! Look at that now, Mr Mark, sir!"
All joined in the roar of laughter as the "pritty creetur," to wit, Jack, came ambling along, and hopping from rock to rock, having followed the dog; and as soon as he reached Billy, leaping upon his back, and clinging tightly to his neck, chattering loudly the while.
"Forward!" cried the captain; and, following the dog, the little party went on, to find that they had a couple of hours' hard struggle through the tangled jungle, at the end of which time a familiar whistling sound was heard, one of the mud-pools reached, and from that point, over known ground, their course was comparatively easy to the camp, where the anxiety of the ladies ceased, though they owned that, knowing how difficult travelling was, they were not very much alarmed.
Judging, however, from the face of his mother, Mark rather doubted this, while, though as a soldier's wife she would not show it, Mrs O'Halloran had evidently passed a bitter night, and when Mark went up to Mary O'Halloran to shake hands, that young lady told him it was horribly cruel, that he ought to be ashamed of himself, and that she would never shake hands with him again. _