“Go on!” cried Uncle Naboth, eagerly. “That can’t be all.”
“No,” answered the inventor, “it is not all. But it seems to cover the period of the first writing. The other entries are more hurried and more carelessly inscribed3.”
“Is the map he mentions there?” I asked.
“Yes. It is badly drawn4, for an engineer, but sufficiently5 clear, I imagine, to enable one to follow it with ease.”
“Then read on, please.”
101
He obeyed at once.
“Last night, as I approached the forest after my work in the valley, I saw a man’s face peering at me from between the trees. The moon shone on it clearly. It was an Indian’s face, but in an instant it had disappeared. Greatly startled, I searched the forest with care, but could find no trace of the spy. I may have been deceived, however. Perhaps my nerves are getting unstrung.”
Moit turned a leaf.
“Again I have seen a man’s face,” he read. “This time it was in the center of the valley, among a clump6 of low bushes. I ran to the forest in a state of excitement; then reproached myself for my folly7 and came back; but I could find nothing.”
“These are all different entries,” remarked the reader, turning another page. “I will read them as they appear.”
102
“I am confident,” proceeded the writer, “that I have been discovered at last by the San Blas. They have spies all around me, by day as well as by night, but to my surprise they have not yet molested8 me in any way. I have determined9 to get away at once—this very night—but as I may be seized, and perhaps murdered, I shall not take more than a part of my treasure with me. This valley of diamonds is far richer than any field ever discovered in South Africa, and if I am able to escape I shall secure assistance and come here again in spite of the San Blas. So I will leave the greater part of my treasure where it has been hidden, and take only such stones as I can comfortably carry in my pockets. I must write a description of where the diamonds are secreted10, for if I am killed and any white man comes upon this book, I bequeathe to him my wealth, provided he is brave enough to take it from the country of the San Blas. Here is my injunction: When you have reached the valley I have marked upon the map, you will find near its center a boulder11 of deep red granite12, bare and solitary13, the upper portion bearing an arm-like projection14 or spike15 that points directly toward the forest. Follow this line of direction and you will come upon a gigantic mahogany tree standing16 just at the edge of the forest, which is really a jungle at this point. Back of the mahogany is a large dead stump17, surrounded by moss18. Lift the moss at the right of the stump and you will come upon a cavity in which I have secreted my hoard19 of diamonds. You will have no trouble in recognizing the valley, on account of the remarkable20 boulder of rock, and the rest is easy.... I have reached the stream and found my canoe safe; but I must keep hidden among the bushes until another night. I do not think I have been followed, but I cannot be sure. The strange inaction of the San Blas astonishes me and makes me uneasy.
103
* * * * * * * *
“The worst has happened, and it is not so very bad, after all. They seized me last evening and took away my diamonds, which they cast into the river with absolute disdain21 of their value. But then they at once released me, and went away and left me to myself. Fortunately I had hidden ten fine stones in a roll of bark, and these they failed to discover. I am sorry to have lost the others, but these few specimens22 will prove the truth of my story when I get home. The adventure shows my wisdom in leaving the bulk of the treasure secreted in the forest.... There is no use in hiding myself now, for my presence is well known. Why I should have been spared, when every other white intruder has been killed, I cannot explain. But they seem to have made an exception in my favor, and I am jubilant and fearful at the same time. Somehow, I cannot help imagining that these dreadful Indians are playing with me, as a cat does with a mouse. But I shall go boldly forward, and trust to luck to escape.”
104
“Is that all?” I asked, as Duncan Moit paused and closed the book.
“It is all.”
“But the rest of the poor fellow’s story is as clear as if he had written it,” I commented, musingly24. “The Indians waited until he had reached the last boundary of their territory, and then put an arrow into his heart. Where he fell they left him, trusting the canoe would float down the stream and warn other whites not to venture too near.”
“Why not, Uncle?”
105
I drew the roll of bark we had taken from the pocket of the dead man and cut with my knife the thongs28 which bound it together. After removing the outer wrappers I found ten crystal pebbles29 in the center, which I handed around so that all could examine them with care. Only Uncle Naboth had seen rough diamonds before, but the grunts30 of the shrewd old trader told me at once that he recognized the value of these stones.
However, I looked up the acid test in one of my books in the stateroom, and was able to apply it in a satisfactory manner. We managed to crumble31 a portion of one stone and with the dust thus secured Duncan polished a small surface on another. They were diamonds, sure enough, very white in color and seemingly perfect specimens.
And all the while we were thus occupied the four of us were silently thinking. Each one, moreover, took the book and read with care the story for himself. The map was crude enough, but I stared at it so intently that every pencil mark was indelibly impressed upon my brain.
106
At dinner we were an unsociable party. Afterward32 we assembled on the deck. Uncle Naboth smoked his pipe instead of the big cigar, but said nothing. Ned put his face between his hands and resting his elbows upon his knees stared fixedly33 at the deck in meditative34 silence. Duncan Moit hung over the rail and gazed at the river as it murmured by.
I looked at my comrades and smiled at their absorption. This longing35 for treasure and sudden wealth is natural enough, and few men are able to escape it. I knew very well that all of us were pondering on a way to get at the diamonds Maurice Kleppisch had left secreted in the forest of San Blas. I may as well acknowledge that I was fully36 as covetous37 as the others, but a hearty38 fear of those strange Indians did much to lessen39 my desire to visit them.
107
The evening passed with scarcely a remark, and when we went to bed we were still thinking. Not of the wrecked41 ship, though, or how we should save the cargo42 and get ourselves into some civilized43 port. The reading of the dead man’s narrative44 had turned our thoughts entirely45 from our own mischance and inoculated46 us with a feverish47 desire to plunge48 into the same adventurous49 channels that had resulted so fatally in his own case.
“This is the San Maladrino river,” he asserted.
“Of course,” said I. “He returned the same way he entered the San Blas country, and we found him floating on this very stream.”
No one cared to discuss a proposition so very evident, and having hurriedly finished the meal we assembled on deck to resume the conversation.
“Gentlemen,” said Moit, “you have all arrived at some conclusion, I am sure. Let us exchange ideas, and discuss their various merits.”
I asked Ned Britton to speak first.
108
“Well,” said he, “it wouldn’t be right or proper for us to leave them two or three quarts o’ diamon’s to rust23 under that stump. I notice the book says these Injuns don’t have firearms; but we’ve got a plenty, so I perpose as we march in, pepper ’em good if they show fight, an’ then march out agin with the di’monds. I believe if we put up a good front there’s enough of us to do the job.”
“Especially as a company of carefully drilled soldiers got wiped off the earth,” I remarked somewhat sarcastically52.
“Colombian sodgers don’t count,” said Ned. “Our men is the right stuff ’cause they’re all Americans.”
“I confess that I do not like the looks of this arrow,” said Moit, handling cautiously the bronze tipped weapon we had drawn from the dead man’s breast. “It is evident they can shoot straight, and there may be thousands of the San Blas to fight, for all we know. I think that open warfare53 would result in our total extinction54.”
“If by that you mean we’d be punched full o’ holes, I quite agree with you,” observed Uncle Naboth. “Diplomacy55’s the thing; diplomacy an’ caution. You can ketch more flies with sugar ’n’ you can with vinegar.”
“Haven’t you a suggestion, Uncle?” I asked.
109
During several voyages in the company of Naboth Perkins I had learned to have great respect for his shrewdness and judgment56, and for that reason I now awaited his reply with genuine interest.
“This fellow, you’ll notice, tells us a good deal about the San Blas Indians, an’ what he says is all worth careful considerin’. They ain’t like common savages58, but have their laws an’ live up to ’em. In one place he says niggers is used by them for slaves, and that white slaves of Injuns that is friendly to ’em, an’ not to the whites, is let alone whenever they’re in their country. Gentlemen—an’ Sam, too—that’s my keynote. It tells us plain what to do, an’ how to do it!”
He looked at us triumphantly59, but I was too stupid to see the point of this argument.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand, Uncle,” I said.
110
“Well, you’re wrong, Sam. It’s a thing you can’t help now, but you’re likely to outgrow60 it. Hey there, Nux!” he called. “Get Bry an’ both o’ you come here.”
I started, beginning to see what he meant; but I said nothing until the two Sulus stood before us. Bryonia was tall and slender, and very powerful. Nux was shorter and stouter62, but equally strong of muscle. Their faces were intelligent and expressive63 and their poise64 exhibited a native dignity. Two more faithful followers65 no man ever had than this pair of South Sea Indians, and I regarded them more as brothers than servants, for I owed my life to their bravery and care.
“Gentlemen,” announced Uncle Naboth, “these boys is Indians, and mighty66 good Indians, too. They’re goin’ to take us four white folks into the San Blas country as their slaves. They’ll be finely welcomed, for they’ll pound an’ kick us all around, and we’ll be meek67 as Moses till we git our fists on them di’monds. It’s jest as easy as rollin’ off a log, an’ a heap more fun.”
I admit the suggestion filled me with admiration, and I saw Duncan Moit’s face brighten as soon as he heard it.
111
“That’s it, sir!” he exclaimed. “That is just the idea I was looking for, to connect with my own. By putting the two together I believe we shall succeed without a doubt.”
“What is your idea, then?” I asked.
“What! Through a wilderness70?”
“Along the streams as far as the water will allow, and then over the level plains. The machine will run in any farming country, for you must remember that it does not sink into soft ground as ordinary heavy automobiles71 do. Indeed, by turning the pumps into the vacuum chambers72 and exhausting them, I can render the car so light that it will almost skim over a marsh73.”
“But what’s the use of travellin’ that way?” asked Uncle Naboth.
“We gain safety, in case of attack; speed, if we are forced to fly; comfort, by carrying our hotel always with us, and, above all, I rely upon the invention to awe74 the simple Indians and make them look upon us as superior creatures. The machine is here and in working order; it would be folly, when it offers so many advantages, not to use it.”
112
“Very good,” said I, approvingly, for I could see the force of his arguments.
“The only thing that worried me,” continued Moit, “was the fact that our being white would arouse the enmity of the San Blas, in spite of the wonders we can show them. But if Nux and Bryonia pose as the masters, and we are merely their slaves to run and care for their magic travelling machine, then we need have no special fear.”
“Magic travellin’ machine is good!” cried my uncle. “You’ve hit the nail on the head, Mr. Moit, as sure as fate!”
The inventor smiled, as if pleased with the compliment.
“If I can get a share of those diamonds,” said he, “I will be independent of my rich uncle in Los Angeles, and will have the means to secure my patents, erect75 my own factory, and manufacture the machines myself. It is something to work for, is it not?”
113
I had been carefully examining the proposition, and now said:
“There seems to be a serious flaw in your arrangement, Uncle.”
“What’s that, Sam?”
“It isn’t reasonable that four white men should be slaves to two black ones. Such a combination would excite the suspicions of the Indians at once, if they are really as clever as they are reported to be. Take your own case, for example, Uncle Naboth. You couldn’t look like a slave for a single minute.”
Indeed, Mr. Perkins’ stout61 little body, his cheery face and shrewd eyes, and the general air of prosperity and contentment that radiated from his benign76 personality, were a clear refutation of any suggestion of slavery or even dependence77. Even Ned smiled at the idea, and Duncan Moit shook his head with a sigh.
“Mr. Perkins can’t go,” he said.
114
“You fellers don’t allow for my actin’,” he growled79. “I’m as good a play actor as ever travelled with a show.”
“That may be, Uncle; but you don’t look the part, and unfortunately you can’t disguise yourself,” I said. “But I want it clearly understood that whoever goes on this adventure, we are all to have an equal share in the spoils. For the opportunity belongs to us all alike, and all would be glad to go and do their full share.”
“I am willing to agree to that,” said Moit.
“Then I propose that you and I alone accompany Bry and Nux on the expedition,” I continued. “Two of us are as good as a dozen, for we cannot fight our way, in any event.”
“What about me?” asked Britton, anxiously.
115
“I want you to take a crew in the long boat and try to make Colon80, by feeling your way north along the coast. From there you can report by wire our mishap81 to Mr. Harlan, and get his instructions what to do. Uncle Naboth must in the meantime take charge of the wrecked ship and the remaining men. This country isn’t very big, you know; so we all ought to be able to meet again in a few days, when we can decide upon our future movements.”
And so the matter was finally arranged, and it was decided82 that Ned and his crew in the long boat and our party in our “magic travelling machine” would leave the wreck40 the next morning and proceed in opposite directions upon our respective missions.
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1
admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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3
inscribed
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| v.写，刻( inscribe的过去式和过去分词 )；内接 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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6
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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molested
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| v.骚扰( molest的过去式和过去分词 )；干扰；调戏；猥亵 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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10
secreted
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| v.（尤指动物或植物器官）分泌( secrete的过去式和过去分词 )；隐匿，隐藏 | |
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11
boulder
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| n.巨砾；卵石，圆石 | |
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12
granite
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| adj.花岗岩，花岗石 | |
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solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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14
projection
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| n.发射，计划，突出部分 | |
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spike
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| n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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stump
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| n.残株，烟蒂，讲演台；v.砍断，蹒跚而走 | |
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18
moss
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| n.苔，藓，地衣 | |
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19
hoard
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| n./v.窖藏，贮存，囤积 | |
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20
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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disdain
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| n.鄙视，轻视；v.轻视，鄙视，不屑 | |
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22
specimens
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| n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人 | |
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23
rust
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| n.锈；v.生锈；(脑子)衰退 | |
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musingly
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| adv.沉思地，冥想地 | |
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enquired
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| 打听( enquire的过去式和过去分词 )； 询问； 问问题； 查问 | |
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asperity
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| n.粗鲁，艰苦 | |
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fishy
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| adj. 值得怀疑的 | |
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28
thongs
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| 的东西 | |
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29
pebbles
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| [复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 ) | |
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30
grunts
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的第三人称单数 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说； 石鲈 | |
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31
crumble
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| vi.碎裂，崩溃；vt.弄碎，摧毁 | |
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32
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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33
fixedly
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| adv.固定地；不屈地，坚定不移地 | |
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meditative
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| adj.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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35
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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36
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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covetous
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| adj.贪婪的，贪心的 | |
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hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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39
lessen
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| vt.减少，减轻；缩小 | |
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40
wreck
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| n.失事，遇难；沉船；vt.(船等)失事，遇难 | |
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wrecked
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| adj.失事的，遇难的 | |
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42
cargo
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| n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物 | |
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43
civilized
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| a.有教养的，文雅的 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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45
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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46
inoculated
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| v.给…做预防注射( inoculate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
feverish
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| adj.发烧的，狂热的，兴奋的 | |
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48
plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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49
adventurous
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| adj.爱冒险的；惊心动魄的，惊险的，刺激的 | |
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50
pretense
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| n.矫饰，做作，借口 | |
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51
attentive
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| adj.注意的，专心的；关心(别人)的，殷勤的 | |
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52
sarcastically
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| adv.挖苦地，讽刺地 | |
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53
warfare
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| n.战争(状态)；斗争；冲突 | |
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54
extinction
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| n.熄灭，消亡，消灭，灭绝，绝种 | |
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55
diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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56
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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57
puffs
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| n.吸( puff的名词复数 )；（烟斗或香烟的）一吸；一缕（烟、蒸汽等）；（呼吸或风的）呼v.使喷出( puff的第三人称单数 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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58
savages
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| 未开化的人，野蛮人( savage的名词复数 ) | |
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59
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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60
outgrow
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| vt.长大得使…不再适用；成长得不再要 | |
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62
stouter
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| 粗壮的( stout的比较级 )； 结实的； 坚固的； 坚定的 | |
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expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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64
poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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65
followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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66
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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67
meek
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| adj.温顺的，逆来顺受的 | |
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68
convertible
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| adj.可改变的，可交换，同意义的；n.有活动摺篷的汽车 | |
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automobile
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| n.汽车，机动车 | |
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70
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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71
automobiles
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| n.汽车( automobile的名词复数 ) | |
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72
chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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73
marsh
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| n.沼泽，湿地 | |
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74
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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75
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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76
benign
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| adj.善良的，慈祥的；良性的，无危险的 | |
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dependence
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| n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属 | |
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78
puffed
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| adj.疏松的v.使喷出( puff的过去式和过去分词 )；喷着汽（或烟）移动；吹嘘；吹捧 | |
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79
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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80
colon
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| n.冒号，结肠，直肠 | |
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81
mishap
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| n.不幸的事，不幸；灾祸 | |
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82
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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