He struck into the thick mass of vegetation, away from the river, but keeping as near parallel to the bank as he could. Ropes of prickly creeper held him again and again. Boughs of sickly sweet blossoms dashed against his face, and to force his way through the tangled mass of greenery he had to slash out with his knife at almost every step. Then he made for the river bank again.
He could hear the pounding of the ship's propeller, and he rightly guessed she was struggling to get free from the trap that she had got into. He came out upon the river bank and picked his way through the sprawling roots of the mangroves. He sank knee-deep into the slime, then he made a plunge and bore out into the river. He could see the steamer scarce a hundred yards away, and he put his best work into his swimming, not the less because he knew there were crocodiles in the water.
He had not covered more than half the distance when he heard the sound of paddles no great way off. He looked over half a shoulder, and he saw a dug-out canoe shoot from the shore with half a dozen paddles at work. He swam till every muscle and sinew ached with the strain. He tore through the water, and grasped a rope that hung over the cathead of theAthena, thirty yards ahead of the pursuing canoe. He was over the edge of the forecastle just as the canoe came below. A moment later, with the water dripping from him, he had turned, and was firing at the black heads that sprang up above the cathead. A short spear plunged at his head, and stuck quivering into the forecastle planks; but two big splashes followed his shots, and there came a discordant chorus of yells from below, that a moment later was broken into by a deep-throated cry of inquiry from the bridge.
"You are trapped, that's all," answered Dean, taking aim at the retreating canoe.
"Gad, is that Jim Dean?" Macfarlane came running forward. "Have you had to swim for it at the finish? Are we too late with the arms?"
"No, you're just in time," said Dean, watching the effect of his shot, "that is, if you have some men who can use them."
"You said you'd got plenty."
"I'd better own up," said the young man, "although it hasn't a pleasant taste in my mouth. I wrote that letter at Da Silva's dictation with a pistol at my head. There was likewise a pleasant alternative of being spitted over a slow fire. He wants this cargo himself. Odds are on it that we shall get an attack before dawn."
"Then, by the great James, we'll have some handshakes ready for them," declared Captain Bingham. "Now, you just loosen out some of our cargo, Mr. Macfarlane."
The expected attack came about half an hour before dawn, when the white mists at the river edge were thickest. Half a dozen big canoes filled with men shot out from the banks. There were one or two firearms among them, but these were discharged at too great a range for savage marksmen, and they did no more than emphasize the alarm, though that was not needed, for watchful eyes had kept a careful lookout on theAthenaall night.
"They'll be monkeys, and a bit over, if they climb up here," observed Macfarlane; for the ship with no cargo in her stood high out of the water, but the attack had been arranged by a brain. The first canoe to reach the vessel's side wasted, for savages, little time in shouting and brandishing spears, but straightway made casts with looped lengths of grass rope, and before the defenders were quite up to the move half a dozen black bodies were swarming up toward the mizzen chains.
Shots accounted for three, but the other three got up to the rail, and it was an ugly fight before accounts were settled. Each canoe was supplied with these ropes, which were cast with amazing skill, and wherever there was the slightest hold or projection there was a rope quickly looped over, and a black body swarming up the next instant. Axes and cutting knives hacked at them, but many a savage got aboard, and there were gashes and spear thrusts in plenty among the crew of theAthenawhen dawn broke.
The affair finished just as the sun slipped up over the trees, with the canoes, such as had men to propel them, paddling away to the shore, while two others drifted downstream, with only dead and wounded men in them. The daylight showed half a dozen blacks, either dead or badly wounded, on the ship's decks, and the second engineer lying on the fidley with a gashed head and wounded thigh.
"And there's ane de'il ah hae made prisoner after a vera bonny fecht," said the Scotch bosun. "Ah'm thinking he's no' a'together a nigger. The scoondrel's a bit tae yellow."
They found the dago, lying on the main deck, panting and furious, clothed only in a loin cloth, with half a dozen of his own grass ropes around him.
"Sae ye're the captain o' this dirty crood, air ye?" observed the bosun critically, as the half-blood lay there swathed in the grass rope.
"Mon, ye started something outside yere weight. But perhaps ye'll be useful. When we've had a bite o' something tae eat, we shall want a few hondy niggers tae chop awa' the trees we've rinned upon, and mebbe ye can whustle up a few."
But while they were snatching a hasty scrap of food, the prisoner, unwatched for a few minutes, managed to partly wriggle out of the rope, and to crawl toward an open sally port.
They heard him splash over the side, and a moment later, as they saw him swimming, in spite of rope-encumbered legs, he was seen to suddenly turn over in the water and to cast a look of fear back at them. The next moment he gave a shriek, and sank from sight. A little eddy in the brown water showed only for a moment where he had disappeared.
"A crocodile," said Dean with a shudder. "And I swam over there myself last night. Poor beggar. When you're ready I should like to go ashore. I expect my office will be a bit upset."
All kinds of stories that boys like. The biggest and best nickel's worth ever offered.High art colored covers. Thirty-two big pages. Price, 5 cents.
331—Two Chums Afloat; or, The Cruise of the "Arrow." By Cornelius Shea.332—In the Path of Duty; or, The Fortunes of Officer Dan Deering. By Harrie Irving Hancock.333—A Bid for Fortune; or, True as Steel. By Fred Thorpe.334—A Battle with Fate; or, The Baseball Mascot. By Weldon J. Cobb.335—Three Brave Boys; or, Adventures in the Balloon World. By Frank Sheridan.336—Archie Atwood, Champion; or, An All-around Athlete's Career. By Cornelius Shea.337—Dick Stanhope Afloat; or, The Eventful Cruise of theElsinore. By Harrie Irving Hancock.338—Working His Way Upward; or, From Footlights to Riches. By Fred Thorpe.339—The Fourteenth Boy; or, How Vin Lovell Won Out. By Weldon J. Cobb.340—Among the Nomads; or, Life in the Open. By the author of "Through Air to Fame."341—Bob, the Acrobat; or, Hustle and Win Out. By Harrie Irving Hancock.342—Through the Earth; or, Jack Nelson's Invention. By Fred Thorpe.343—The Boy Chief; or, Comrades of Camp and Trail. By John De Morgan.
331—Two Chums Afloat; or, The Cruise of the "Arrow." By Cornelius Shea.
332—In the Path of Duty; or, The Fortunes of Officer Dan Deering. By Harrie Irving Hancock.
333—A Bid for Fortune; or, True as Steel. By Fred Thorpe.
334—A Battle with Fate; or, The Baseball Mascot. By Weldon J. Cobb.
335—Three Brave Boys; or, Adventures in the Balloon World. By Frank Sheridan.
336—Archie Atwood, Champion; or, An All-around Athlete's Career. By Cornelius Shea.
337—Dick Stanhope Afloat; or, The Eventful Cruise of theElsinore. By Harrie Irving Hancock.
338—Working His Way Upward; or, From Footlights to Riches. By Fred Thorpe.
339—The Fourteenth Boy; or, How Vin Lovell Won Out. By Weldon J. Cobb.
340—Among the Nomads; or, Life in the Open. By the author of "Through Air to Fame."
341—Bob, the Acrobat; or, Hustle and Win Out. By Harrie Irving Hancock.
342—Through the Earth; or, Jack Nelson's Invention. By Fred Thorpe.
343—The Boy Chief; or, Comrades of Camp and Trail. By John De Morgan.
The latest and best five-cent weekly. We won't say how interesting it is. See for yourself.High art colored covers. Thirty-two big pages. Price, 5 cents.
6—Motor Matt's Red Flier; or, On The High Gear.7—Motor Matt's Clue; or, The Phantom Auto.8—Motor Matt's Triumph; or, Three Speeds Forward.9—Motor Matt's Air-Ship; or, The Rival Inventors.10—Motor Matt's Hard Luck; or, The Balloon House Plot.11—Motor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange Case of Helen Brady.12—Motor Matt's Peril; or, Castaway in the Bahamas.13—Motor Matt's Queer Find; or, The Secret of the Iron Chest.14—Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of theHawk.15—Motor Matt's Submarine; or, The Strange Cruise of theGrampus.16—Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in Strange Waters.17—Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don Carlos.18—Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon.19—Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn.20—Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor Boys.
6—Motor Matt's Red Flier; or, On The High Gear.
7—Motor Matt's Clue; or, The Phantom Auto.
8—Motor Matt's Triumph; or, Three Speeds Forward.
9—Motor Matt's Air-Ship; or, The Rival Inventors.
10—Motor Matt's Hard Luck; or, The Balloon House Plot.
11—Motor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange Case of Helen Brady.
12—Motor Matt's Peril; or, Castaway in the Bahamas.
13—Motor Matt's Queer Find; or, The Secret of the Iron Chest.
14—Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of theHawk.
15—Motor Matt's Submarine; or, The Strange Cruise of theGrampus.
16—Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in Strange Waters.
17—Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don Carlos.
18—Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon.
19—Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn.
20—Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor Boys.
The most popular publication for boys. The adventures of Frank and Dick Merriwell can be had only in this weekly.High art colored covers. Thirty-two pages. Price, 5 cents.
681—Frank Merriwell's Patience; or, The Making of a Pitcher.682—Frank Merriwell's Pupil; or, The Boy with the Wizard Wing.683—Frank Merriwell's Fighters; or, The Decisive Battle with Blackstone.684—Dick Merriwell at the "Meet"; or, Honors Worth Winning.685—Dick Merriwell's Protest; or, The Man Who Would Not Play Clean.686—Dick Merriwell In The Marathon; or, The Sensation of the Great Run.687—Dick Merriwell's Colors; or, All For the Blue.688—Dick Merriwell, Driver; or, The Race for the Daremore Cup.689—Dick Merriwell on the Deep; or, The Cruise of theYale.690—Dick Merriwell in the North Woods; or, The Timber Thieves of the Floodwood.691—Dick Merriwell's Dandies; or, A Surprise for the Cowboy Nine.692—Dick Merriwell's "Skyscooter"; or, Professor Pagan and the "Princess."693—Dick Merriwell in the Elk Mountains; or, The Search for "Dead Injun" Mine.
681—Frank Merriwell's Patience; or, The Making of a Pitcher.
682—Frank Merriwell's Pupil; or, The Boy with the Wizard Wing.
683—Frank Merriwell's Fighters; or, The Decisive Battle with Blackstone.
684—Dick Merriwell at the "Meet"; or, Honors Worth Winning.
685—Dick Merriwell's Protest; or, The Man Who Would Not Play Clean.
686—Dick Merriwell In The Marathon; or, The Sensation of the Great Run.
687—Dick Merriwell's Colors; or, All For the Blue.
688—Dick Merriwell, Driver; or, The Race for the Daremore Cup.
689—Dick Merriwell on the Deep; or, The Cruise of theYale.
690—Dick Merriwell in the North Woods; or, The Timber Thieves of the Floodwood.
691—Dick Merriwell's Dandies; or, A Surprise for the Cowboy Nine.
692—Dick Merriwell's "Skyscooter"; or, Professor Pagan and the "Princess."
693—Dick Merriwell in the Elk Mountains; or, The Search for "Dead Injun" Mine.
For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by
STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York
IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERSof our Weeklies and cannot procure them from your newsdealer, they can be obtained from this office direct. Fill out the following Order Blank and send it to us with the price of the Weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail.POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY.
IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERSof our Weeklies and cannot procure them from your newsdealer, they can be obtained from this office direct. Fill out the following Order Blank and send it to us with the price of the Weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail.POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY.
MOTOR STORIES
Every boy who reads one of the splendid adventures of Motor Matt, which are making their appearance in this weekly, is at once surprised and delighted. Surprised at the generous quantity of reading matter that we are giving for five cents; delighted with the fascinating interest of the stories, second only to those published in the Tip Top Weekly.
Matt has positive mechanical genius, and while his adventures are unusual, they are, however, drawn so true to life that the reader can clearly see how it is possible for the ordinary boy to experience them.
HERE ARE THE TITLES NOW READY AND THOSE TO BE PUBLISHED:
1—Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel.2—Motor Matt's Daring; or, True to His Friends.3—Motor Matt's Century Run; or, The Governor's Courier.4—Motor Matt's Race; or, The Last Flight of the "Comet."5—Motor Matt's Mystery; or, Foiling a Secret Plot.6—Motor Matt's Red Flier; or, On the High Gear.7—Motor Matt's Clue; or, The Phantom Auto.8—Motor Matt's Triumph; or, Three Speeds Forward.9—Motor Matt's Air Ship; or, The Rival Inventors.10—Motor Matt's Hard Luck; or, The Balloon House Plot.11—Motor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange Case of Helen Brady.12—Motor Matt's Peril; or, Cast Away in the Bahamas.13—Motor Matt's Queer Find; or, The Secret of the Iron Chest.14—Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of the "Hawk."15—Motor Matt's Submarine; or, The Strange Cruise of the "Grampus."16—Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in Strange Waters.
1—Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel.
2—Motor Matt's Daring; or, True to His Friends.
3—Motor Matt's Century Run; or, The Governor's Courier.
4—Motor Matt's Race; or, The Last Flight of the "Comet."
5—Motor Matt's Mystery; or, Foiling a Secret Plot.
6—Motor Matt's Red Flier; or, On the High Gear.
7—Motor Matt's Clue; or, The Phantom Auto.
8—Motor Matt's Triumph; or, Three Speeds Forward.
9—Motor Matt's Air Ship; or, The Rival Inventors.
10—Motor Matt's Hard Luck; or, The Balloon House Plot.
11—Motor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange Case of Helen Brady.
12—Motor Matt's Peril; or, Cast Away in the Bahamas.
13—Motor Matt's Queer Find; or, The Secret of the Iron Chest.
14—Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of the "Hawk."
15—Motor Matt's Submarine; or, The Strange Cruise of the "Grampus."
16—Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in Strange Waters.
To be Published on June 14th.
17—Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don Carlos.
17—Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don Carlos.
To be Published on June 21st.
18—Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon.
18—Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon.
To be Published on June 28th.
19—Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn.
19—Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn.
To be Published on July 5th.
20—Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor Boys.
20—Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor Boys.
PRICE, FIVE CENTS
At all newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, by the publishers upon receipt of the price.
Added table of contents.
Images may be clicked to view larger versions.
Retained some inconsistent hyphenation from the original ("dugout" vs. "dug-out").
Page 2, removed unnecessary quote before "The ready."
Page 3, "Curaçoa" is probably a typo for "Curaçao" but has been retained in case it is an archaic spelling.
Page 11, corrected typo "hapened" in "anything happened to the submarine."
Page 21, corrected typo "Ferrall" in "I can spell you, or Mr. Ferral."
Page 22, corrected "let go of Dick" to "let go of Matt."