Under Drake's Flag: A Tale of the Spanish Main Read online

  "What are those--natives?" exclaimed Tom suddenly.

  Ned looked steadily at them for some time.

  "No, I think they are great birds. The ostrich abounds in theseplains; no doubt they are ostriches."

  "I suppose it is of no use our chasing them?"

  "Not a bit. They can run faster than a horse can gallop."

  During the day's walk, they saw vast numbers of deer of variouskinds; but as they were sure that these would not allow them toapproach, they did not alter their course, which was, as nearly asthey could calculate by the sun, due west. The sun was warm duringthe day, but all the higher hilltops were covered with snow.

  "If the worst comes to the worst," Ned said, "we must go up and getsome snow. We can make a big ball of it, and bring it down with usin one of our sashes. But I should think there must be some stream,somewhere about. The snow must melt; besides, these great herds ofdeer must drink somewhere."

  Late in the afternoon they came on the crest of a ridge.

  "There," Ned said, pointing to a valley in which were a number oftrees. "We shall find water there, or I am mistaken."

  An hour's tramp brought them to the valley. Through this a streamran between steep banks. They followed it for half a mile, and thencame to a spot where the banks sloped away. Here the ground wastrampled with many feet, and the edge of the stream was troddeninto mud.

  "Hurrah, Tom! Here is meat, and drink, too. It is hard if we do notkill something or other here. Look at that clump of bushes, wherethe bank rises. If we hide there, the deer will almost touch us asthey pass to water; and we are sure to be able to shoot them, evenwith these bows and arrows.

  "But first of all, for a drink. Then we will cross the stream, andmake a camping ground under the trees opposite."

  The stream was but waist deep, but very cold, for it was composedof snow water.

  "Shall we light a fire, Ned? It might frighten the deer."

  "No, I think it will attract them," Ned said. "They are mostinquisitive creatures, and are always attracted by anythingstrange."

  A fire was soon lighted and, after it got quite dark, they piled updry wood upon it, recrossed the river, and took their places in thebushes. An hour passed, and then they heard a deep sound. In aminute or two the leading ranks of a great herd of deer appeared onthe rise, and stood looking wonderingly at the fire. For somelittle time they halted; and then, pushed forward by those behind,and urged by their own curiosity, they advanced step by step, withtheir eyes fixed on the strange sight. So crowded were they that asthey advanced they seemed a compact mass, those outside comingalong close to the bushes in which the boys lay.

  Silently these raised their bows, bent them to the full strain, andeach launched an arrow. The deer were not five feet from them, andtwo stags fell, pierced through and through. They leaped to theirfeet again, but the boys had dashed out with their swords in hand,and in an instant had cut them down.

  There was a wild rush on the part of the herd, a sound of feetalmost like thunder, and then the boys stood alone, by the side ofthe two deer they had killed. They were small, the two together notweighing more than a good-sized sheep.

  The boys lifted them on their shoulders, rejoicing, and wadedacross the stream. One they hung up to the branch of a tree. Theother they skinned and cut up, and were soon busy roasting piecesof its flesh over the fire.

  They had just finished an abundant meal when they heard a roar at ashort distance, which brought them to their feet in a moment. Nedseized his pike, and faced the direction from which the sound hadcome.

  "Throw on fresh sticks, Tom. All animals fear fire."

  A bright blaze soon lit up the wood.

  "Now, Tom, do you climb the tree. I will give you the pieces ofmeat up, and then do you lift the other stag to a higher branch. Idon't suppose the brute can climb, but he may be able to do so. Atany rate, we will sleep in the tree, and keep watch and ward."

  As soon as Tom had followed these instructions, Ned handed him upthe bows and arrows and spears, and then clambered up beside him.As the fire again burned low, an animal was seen to approach,cautiously.

  "A lion!" whispered Tom.

  "I don't think that he is as big as a lion," Ned said, "but hecertainly looks like one. A female, I suppose, as it has got nomane."

  Of course the lads did not know, nor indeed did anyone else, atthat time, that the lion is not a native of America. The animalbefore them was what is now called the South American lion, orpuma.

  The creature walked round and round the fire, snuffing; and then,with an angry roar, raised itself on its hind legs and scratched atthe trunk of the tree. Several times it repeated this performance;and then, with another roar, walked away into the darkness.

  "Thank goodness it can't climb!" Ned said. "I expect, with ourspears and swords, we could have beaten it back if it had tried;still, it is just as well not to have had to do it. Besides, now wecan both go to sleep. Let us get well up the tree, so that ifanything that can climb should come, it will fall to at the deer tobegin with. That will be certain to wake us."

  They soon made themselves as comfortable as they could in crutchesof the tree, tied themselves with their sashes to a bough toprevent a fall, and were soon asleep.

  The next day they rested in the wood, made fresh bowstrings fromthe twisted gut of the deer, cut the skins up into long strips,thereby obtaining a hundred feet of strong cord, which Ned thoughtmight be useful for snares. Here, too, they shot several birds,which they roasted, and from whose feathers, tied on with athread-like fiber, they further improved their arrows. Theycollected a good many pieces of fiber for further use; for, as Tomsaid, when they got on to rock again they would be sure to findsome splinters of stone, which they could fasten to the arrows forpoints; and would be then able to do good execution, even at adistance.

  They cut a number of strips of flesh off the deer, and hung them inthe smoke of the fire; by which means they calculated that theycould keep for some days, and could be eaten without being cooked;which might be an advantage, as they feared that the odor ofcooking might attract the attention of wandering Indians.

  The following morning they again started, keeping their backs, asbefore, to the sun.

  "Look at these creatures," Tom said suddenly, as a herd of animalsdashed by at a short distance. "They do not look like deer."

  "No, they look more like sheep or goats, but they have much longerlegs. I wonder what they can be!"

  During the day's journey they came across no water, and by the endof the tramp were much exhausted.

  "We will not make a fire tonight," Ned said. "We must be careful ofour powder. I don't want to be driven to use sticks for gettingfire. It is a long and tedious business. We will be up at daybreaktomorrow, and will push on till we find water. We will contentourselves, for tonight, with a bit of this smoked venison."

  They found it dry work, eating this without water; and soondesisted, gathered some grass to make a bed, and were asleep ashort time after it became dark. They were now in an open district,not having seen a tree since they started in the morning, and theyhad therefore less fear of being disturbed by wild beasts. Theyhad, indeed, talked of keeping watch by turns; but without a fire,they felt that this would be dull work; and would moreover be oflittle avail, as in the darkness the stealthy tread of a lion wouldnot be heard, and they would therefore be attacked as suddenly asif no watch had been kept. If he should announce his coming by aroar, both would be sure to awake, quickly enough. So, lying downclose together, with their spears at hand, they were soon asleep,with the happy carelessness of danger peculiar to youth.

  With the first streak of daybreak, they were up and on their way.Until midday they came upon no water, their only excitement beingthe killing of an armadillo. Then they saw a few bushes in a hollowand, making towards it, found a small pool of water. After a heartydrink, leaves and sticks were collected, a fire made, and slices ofthe smoked deer's meat were soon broiling over it.

  "This is jolly," Tom said. "I s
hould not mind how long I tramped,if we could always find water."

  "And have venison to eat with it," Ned added, laughing. "We havegot a stock to last a week, that is a comfort, and this armadillowill do for supper and breakfast. But I don't think we need fearstarvation, for these plains swarm with animals; and it is hard ifwe can't manage to kill one occasionally, somehow or other."

  "How far do you think it is across to the other coast?"

  "I have not an idea," Ned said. "I don't suppose any Englishmanknows, although the Spaniards can of course tell pretty closely. Weknow that, after rounding Cape Horn, they sail up the coastnorthwest, or in that direction, so that we have got the base of atriangle to cross; but beyond that, I have no idea whatever.

  "Hallo!"

  Simultaneously, the two lads caught up their spears and leaped totheir feet. Well might they be alarmed, for close by were a partyof some twenty Indians who had, quietly and unperceived, come downupon them. They were standing immovable, and their attitude did notbetoken hostility. Their eyes were fixed upon them, but theirexpression betrayed wonder, rather than enmity.

  "Lay down your spear again, Tom," Ned said. "Let us receive them asfriends."

  Dropping their spears, the lads advanced a pace or two, holding outtheir hands in token of amity. Then slowly, step by step, theIndians advanced.

  "They look almost frightened," Ned said. "What can they be staringso fixedly at?"

  "It is the fire!" Ned exclaimed. "It is the fire! I do believe theyhave never seen a fire before."

  It was so, as Sir Francis Drake afterwards discovered when landingon the coast. The Patagonian Indians, at that time, were whollyunacquainted with fire.

  When the Indians came down, they looked from the fire to the boys,and perceived for the first time that they were creatures ofanother color from themselves. Then, simultaneously, they threwthemselves on their faces.

  "They believe that we are gods, or superior beings of some kind,"Ned said. "They have clearly never heard of the Spaniards. Whatgood fortune for us! Now, let us reassure them."

  So saying, he stooped over the prostrate Indians, patted them onthe head and shoulders; and, after some trouble, he succeeded ingetting them to rise. Then he motioned them to sit down round thefire, put on some more meat and, when this was cooked, offered apiece to each, Tom and himself setting the example of eating it.

  The astonishment of the natives was great. Many of them, with acry, dropped the meat on finding it hot; and an excited talk wenton between them. Presently, however, the man who appeared to be thechief set the example of carefully tasting a piece. He gave anexclamation of satisfaction, and soon all were engaged upon thefood.

  When they had finished, Ned threw some more sticks on the fire, andas these burst into flames and then consumed away, the amazement ofthe natives was intense. Ned then made signs to them to pull upsome bushes, and cast on the fire. They all set to work withenergy, and soon a huge pile was raised on the fire. At first greatvolumes of white smoke only poured up, then the leaves crackled,and presently a tongue of flame shot up, rising higher and higher,till a great bonfire blazed away, far above their heads. Thiscompleted the wonder and awe of the natives, who again prostratedthemselves, with every symptom of worship, before the boys. Theseagain raised them, and by signs intimated their intention ofaccompanying them.

  With lively demonstrations of gladness and welcome, the Indiansturned to go, pointing to the west as the place where their abodelay.

  "We may as well leave our bows and arrows," Ned said. "Their bowsare so immensely superior to ours that it will make us sink intheir estimation, if they see that our workmanship is so inferiorto their own."

  The Indians, who were all very tall, splendidly made men, steppedout so rapidly that the lads had the greatest difficulty in keepingup with them, and were sometimes obliged to break into a half trot;seeing which the chief said a word to his followers, and they thenproceeded at a more reasonable rate. It was late in the eveningbefore they reached the village, which lay in a wooded hollow atthe foot of some lofty hills. The natives gave a loud cry, which atonce brought out the entire population, who ran up and gazed,astonished at the newcomers. The chief said a few words, when, withevery mark of awe and surprise, all prostrated themselves as themen had before done.

  The village was composed of huts, made of sticks closelyintertwined, and covered with the skins of animals. The chief ledthem to a large one, evidently his own, and invited them to enter.They found that it was also lined with skins, and others were laidupon the floor. A pile of skin served as a mat and bed. The chiefmade signs that he placed this at their disposal, and soon leftthem to themselves.

  In a short time he again drew aside the skin which hung across theentrance, and a squaw advanced, evidently in deep terror, bearingsome raw meat. Ned received it graciously, and then said to Tom:

  "Now we will light a fire, and astonish them again."

  So saying, the boys went outside, picked up a dry stick or two, andmotioned to the Indians who were gathered round that they neededmore. The whole population at once scattered through the grove, andsoon a huge pile of dead wood was collected.

  The boys now made a little heap of dried leaves, placed a fewgrains of powder in a hollow at the top and, the flint and steelbeing put into requisition, the flame soon leaped up, amid a cry ofastonishment and awe from the women and children. Wood was now laidon, and soon a great fire was blazing. The men gathered round andsat down, and the women and children gradually approached, and tooktheir places behind them.

  The evening was cold and, as the natives felt the grateful heat,fresh exclamations of pleasure broke from them; and gradually acomplete babel of tongues broke out. Then the noise was hushed, anda silence of expectation and attention reigned, as the lads cut offslices of the meat and, spitting them on pieces of green wood, heldthem over the fire. Tom made signs to the chief and those sittinground to fetch meat, and follow their example. Some of the Indianwomen brought meat, and the men, with sharp stone knives, cut offpieces and stuck them on green sticks, as they had seen the boysdo. Then very cautiously they approached the fire, shrinking backand exhibiting signs of alarm at the fierce heat it threw out, asthey approached near to it.

  The boys, however, reassured them, and they presently set to work.When the meat was roasted, it was cut up and distributed in littlebits to the crowd behind, all of whom were eager to taste thiswonderful preparation. It was evident, by the exclamations ofsatisfaction, that the new viand was an immense success; and freshsupplies of meat were soon over the fire.

  An incident now occurred which threatened to mar the harmony of theproceedings. A stick breaking, some of the red-hot embers scatteredround. One rolled close to Ned's leg, and the lad, with a quicksnatch, caught it up and threw it back upon the fire. Seeing this,a native near grasped a glowing fragment which had fallen near him,but dropped it with a shriek of astonishment and pain.

  All leaped to their feet, as the man danced in his agony. Some ranaway in terror, others instinctively made for their weapons, allgesticulated and yelled.

  Ned at once went to the man and patted him assuringly. Then he gothim to open his hand, which was really severely burned. Then he gota piece of soft fat and rubbed it gently upon the sore, and thenmade signs that he wanted something to bandage it with. A womanbrought some large fresh leaves, which were evidently good forhurts; and another a soft thong of deer hide. The hand was soonbandaged up and, although the man must still have been in severepain, he again took his seat, this time at a certain distance fromthe fire.

  This incident greatly increased the awe with which the boys wereviewed, as not only had they the power of producing this new andastonishing element, but they could, unhurt, take up pieces of woodturned red by it, which inflicted terrible agony on others.

  Before leaving the fire and retiring to their tent, the boys madesigns to the chief that it was necessary that someone should beappointed to throw on fresh wood, from time to time, to keep thefire alight. This was hardl
y needed, as the whole population werefar too excited to think of retiring to bed. After the lads hadleft they gathered round the fire, and each took delight inthrowing on pieces of wood, and in watching them consume; andseveral times, when they woke during the night, the boys saw, bythe bright light streaming in through the slits in the deerskin,that the bonfire was never allowed to wane.

  In the morning fresh meat was brought to the boys, together withraw yams and other vegetables. There were now other marvels to beshown. Ned had learned, when with the negroes, how to cook incalabashes; and he now got a gourd from the natives, cut it inhalf, scooped its contents out, and then filled it with water. Fromthe stream he then got a number of stones, and put them into thefire until they became intensely hot. Then with two sticks he rakedthem out, and dropped them into the water.

  The natives yelled with astonishment as they saw the water fizz andbubble, as the stones were thrown in. More were added until thewater boiled. Then the yams, cut into pieces, were dropped in, morehot stones added to keep the water boiling, and when cooked, theyams were taken out. When sufficiently cooled, the boys distributedthe pieces among the chiefs, and again the signs of satisfactionshowed that cooked vegetables were appreciated. Other yams werethen cut up, and laid among the hot embers to bake.

  After this the boys took a few half-burned sticks, carried them toanother spot, added fresh fuel, and made another fire; and thensigned to the natives to do the same. In a short time a dozen fireswere blazing, and the whole population were engaged in grillingvenison, and in boiling and baking yams. The boys were both goodtrenchermen, but they were astounded at the quantity of food whichthe Patagonians disposed of.

  By night time the entire stock of meat in the village wasexhausted, and the chief motioned to the boys that, in the morning,he should go out with a party to lay in a great stock of venison.To this they made signs that they would accompany the expedition.

  While the feasting had been going on, the lads had wandered awaywith two of the Indian bows and arrows. The bows were much shorterthan those to which they were accustomed, and required far lessstrength to pull. The wood of which the bows were formed was toughand good, and as the boys had both the handiness of sailors and,like all lads of that period, had some knowledge of bow making,they returned to the camp, and obtained two more of the strongestbows in the possession of the natives. They then set to work withtheir knives and, each taking two bows, cut them up, fitted, andspliced them together.

  The originals were but four feet long, the new ones six. The halvesof one bow formed the two ends, the middle being made of the otherbow, doubled. The pieces were spliced together with deer sinews;and when, after some hours' work, they were completed, the boysfound that they were as strong and tough as the best of theirhome-made bows, and required all their strength to draw them to theear.

  The arrows were now too short, but upon making signs to the nativesthat they wanted wood for arrows, a stock of dried wood, carefullyprepared, was at once given them, and of these they made somearrows of the regulation cloth-yard length. The feathers, fastenedon with the sinews of some small animals, were stripped from theIndian arrows and fastened on, as were the sharp-pointed stoneswhich formed their heads; and on making a trial, the lads foundthat they could shoot as far and as straight as with their ownfamiliar weapons.

  "We can reckon on killing a stag, if he will stand still, at ahundred and fifty yards," Ned said, "or running, at a hundred.Don't you think so?"

  "Well, six times out of seven we ought to, at any rate," Tomreplied; "or our Devonshire archership has deserted us."

  When they heard, therefore, that there was to be a hunt upon thefollowing day, they felt that they had another surprise for thenatives, whose short bows and arrows were of little use at agreater distance than fifty yards, although up to that distancedeadly weapons in their hands.

  Chapter 12: Across a Continent.