CHAPTER IVIsland PrisonersPrisoners on a desert island!Dazed by Joe Arnold’s brutality, Terry and Prim looked about them for a way of escape, but there seemed no way out. Apart from the few huts in the cove where Joe Arnold had his camp, there was no sign of life. They were alone and at the mercy of these unscrupulous men who had every reason to destroy them.Prim clung to her sister with a grip that hurt. “Whatever will we do now, Terry?” she asked in a hoarse whisper. “We’re up against it for sure.”But Terry did not hear her. She was watching with flashing eyes as Bud Hyslop worked over the plane. The next instant she was running down the slope in frantic haste with Prim at her heels.“You let that plane alone, Bud Hyslop! Take your hands off!” Terry picked up a large stone, raised it above her head and with a wide sweep of the arm, she started to throw the missile, but at that moment her hand was seized from behind and a low, mocking voice said, “Not so fast, young lady!”Terry turned to face Joe Arnold.“Let me go!” she demanded.Joe Arnold released his grip with a vigorous shove that sent the girl spinning across the sands. Prim caught her as she staggered.“Terry, listen to me,” said Prim with decision in her voice. “I don’t know what we are going to do, but one thing sure is that you mustn't make that man angry. He’s capable of anything. He’d think nothing of leaving us here to starve. He’d even kill us if it suited his purpose.” Prim shook her sister’s arm. “Don't talk to him at all if you can’t do it without getting angry.”Terry was deathly white, not from fear but anger. “But look, Prim! You don’t seem to realize that Bud is going to take our plane away from us. Now we’ll be real castaways!”Prim searched the sky. “Oh, if Allan and Syd would only come! I’m afraid something terrible has happened to them. I didn’t see them after the storm struck our plane. Where did they go?”“Don’t talk about it, Prim. Let’s get busy and do something so we won’t have time to think. I don’t dare!” Terry said with trembling lips.The girls stood watching as Bud and Joe wheeledSkybirdaround to head away from the beach and over the water. They started the engine. It coughed, it wheezed, it sputtered but at the same time the amphibian taxied over the smooth blue waters and took to the air.Skybirdwas flying away without them.Joe Arnold waved his hand toward the departing plane, then turned and climbed the hill, looking back at the girls with a triumphant grin, far more menacing than an angry scowl would have been. Terry knew that he had never forgiven her for her part in the rescue of Allan and Syd when he had kidnapped them in the far north.Now was his great opportunity to settle matters once for all. This was his chance. He had them at his mercy.Everything had worked out to Joe’s advantage. Bud's plane had been wrecked some weeks before and on that account they had worked under a handicap, waiting to replace it. Now a fine little plane had miraculously dropped from the sky at their feet.Joe Arnold smiled. “Luck comes that way to me,” he said to himself. “I have a few bad breaks, but often they work out for my good. If I had succeeded in getting the Dick Mapes Flying Field six months ago as I planned. I’d never have started this island base. At least not so soon.—And this has turned out to be the best graft I've ever struck.”Bud Hyslop had flownSkybirdaround the tip of the island to the quiet waters of the little harbor. The engine was sputtering and protesting but Bud was able to bring the plane down safely on the shore. As he turned to Joe, he saluted and exclaimed, “That was some trick you played! How did you do it. Chief?”Joe Arnold laughed heartily as he answered: “They thought they were following Allan Graham’s plane. I’m almost sure that the girls were starting out to go to Peru to see old Peter Langley. When I was up there Allan and Syd were away. Probably when they got back they learned that I was heading south and decided to catch up with the girls and go with them as a protection againstme.”“What happened to the boys?” asked Bud.“That’s the joke. Allan’s and Terry’s planes both got into a storm. I didn’t see Allan’s plane when it was over, so I hope he went to the bottom of the Caribbean. Terry didn’t see it either. But she saw mine and followed me, thinking it was Allan.”“That was a neat dodge. How did you ever happen to think about it?” Bud not only thought his boss was smart, but took pains to tell him so.Joe Arnold might have told Bud that he had not planned the ruse and that it had been entirely an accident. But instead of that he looked wise and said. “I think fast! That’s how I always win!”Meanwhile his two captives had taken shelter from the sun under a spreading tree.“How I’d like to down that man!” exclaimed Terry with blazing eyes as she watched Joe Arnold’s figure disappear. “This is certainly the worst jam we’ve ever been in.”“And Terry, this time there’s no way out that I can see,” said Prim, her body trembling with fear and nervousness.But Terry was in a fighting mood. “Thereisa way out, I’m sure of it, and what’s more I’m sure we can find it! I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling Joe what I thought of him. He looked so smug and self-satisfied because he put something over on us.”“You did well, Terry, not to talk to him. I was scared stiff you’d fly out at him.”“I probably would have if you hadn’t gripped my arm the way you did. Sometimes you spoil a good scrap that way. It might have done Joe Arnold good to know what people think about him.”Suddenly a loud shriek broke the silence of the island. Terry and Prim clung together but the next minute Terry pointed with a smile to two brightly colored macaws above her head.“Did you ever see anything as gay as those birds? Aren’t they beautiful!” exclaimed Terry.“I’d like them better if they wouldn’t squawk so loudly,” said Prim. “I do believe they have scared me out of a year’s growth.”The macaws shrieked again as if protesting at the intrusion of the girls. Other strange birds took up the challenge and answered until the air was filled with their noise.“Let’s go!” said Terry with the faintest glimmer of a smile. “They don’t seem to appreciate the honor of our company.”Hand in hand the girls climbed the ridge but kept out of sight of Joe’s camp. Below them and around a sharp point of rocky shore, they looked down over a forest of tropical trees, tall, slender stems and around the lower part of their trunks wound a thick tangle of vines.“I wonder if we will ever get out of here alive, Terry?” whispered Prim in a strained voice. “You’ve read stories of people who were stranded on desert islands and lived there until they were old and ready to die.”“Well, this wouldn’t be such a bad place to live,” answered Terry. “If we had the family here and a nice house and books and things.”“But I don’t like the idea of starving to death and that’s what we would do here.”“We couldn’t starve to death! Look down there, I’ve been waiting for you to say something. Those trees to the right are bananas, your favorite fruit!”“I’ll say so! Let’s go get them. I’m starved!” Suddenly Prim stopped short. “Terry,” she said hopefully, “could two girls live on bananas all their lives?”“Possibly, but we wouldn’t need to go on a full banana diet. There are cocoanut palms!” replied Terry.Prim brightened up. “And if it comes to the worst, we will try to catch some fish.”“Fish!” cried Terry. “You know Ihatefish!”“Well, clams, oysters! We might find them here!”“They’re even worse,” Terry declared. “Youcan have my share. I’ll stick to bananas.”The girls were clambering down the rocky ridge to the clearing. As they found their way around a thick mat of low-growing bushes, they came suddenly upon a collection of mud huts. They were among them before they knew it.The girls drew back to the shelter of the vines, half expecting to be surrounded by a howling mob of savages. But not a sound came from the huts. Everything was quiet. No sign of life!“Here’s where we’ve got to watch our step, Prim! Savages have a way of hiding in ambush and shooting poison arrows at their enemies,” whispered Terry.“But we’re not their enemies. We’d—why Terry, we’d try tolikethem if they’d give us a chance,” Prim was looking anxiously around the shrub as she spoke.Terry started to tiptoe toward the mud huts, although it was not necessary to guard her footfalls, for the soft green floor of the jungle gave back no sound. Prim tried to pull her sister back but Terry jerked away.“Come on. We haven't any need to worry yet. This place is deserted. Look at those old mud huts, they are half destroyed by the rains.” Terry drew her sister with her as she peered into every hut as she passed.“Look at those huts ahead. They’re altogether different. See how they’ve twined roots and vines and twigs together. They’re like great birds' nests. I think that is acleveridea! I wonder if these houses belonged to the chief and his family?”“Come on in and make an afternoon call.” Terry laughed as she ran toward the doorway, then sprang back in terror.“What’s the matter, Terry? What did you see?” cried Prim, clinging to her sister’s arm.“Somebody was in that hut. I saw a child! It was a little one!” said Terry, then suddenly she broke loose from her sister and went once more toward the hut.“Watch out, Terry,” cried Prim. “Children are apt to scream and that will bring the whole tribe down upon us.”At that moment Terry burst into a happy laugh, a little face was peering around the side of the opening. A curious, wise little face that was wrinkled and hairy.“It’s a monkey!” exclaimed Terry with relief. “Only a cute little monkey!”“Isn’t he funny?” Prim was choking with laughter which she tried to hide, for the little creature looking up at them seemed so human that the girl felt she was being rude to laugh in its face.Terry had a happy thought. She felt in her pockets and brought forth a little package. There were half a dozen crackers left from the supply Prim had provided.“Say Terry, what’s the idea! Don’t feed him crackers. Are you crazy?” pleaded Prim.But Terry was approaching the little animal and offering a bit of the cracker. The monkey shrank back, but only for a second. His curiosity was too great. As Terry dropped the morsel beside him, he grabbed it quickly and with a sudden leap slipped by them to the refuge of a tall tree. Then he devoured it greedily.“Don’t be too generous, Terry. We may need every bite we can get before this jam is over.”“All right, but I thought I’d better start by making friends with everything on the island. He’s a nice little fellow. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d get quite friendly.”The monkey stared down at them with interest and when they moved away he scrambled to another tree nearer to them.“Just watch him,” laughed Prim. “Terry, you’ve made a big hit with that fellow.”“It’s pleasant to find one friendly creature on the island. Come on and let’s see what the inside of these woven houses are like. I’m not anxious to sleep out in the open. I think I’ve heard something about the moon in the tropics making people crazy.” Terry led the way into the hut as she spoke, “Why, it’s not so bad, we might manage to sleep in here.”“There’s nothing else to do. I wouldn’t want to take any chances with the moon,” said Prim. “We have troubles enough now without losing our minds.”Terry laughed. “I guess you’re right. We’ll need all our wits to get ourselves out of this jam, and we’d better not get them addled.”Terry’s laugh had relieved their taut nerves.“If I could only be sure that Allan and Syd were safe, I could even take this disappointment and get some fun out of the situation. I’m really not frightened of Joe Arnold,—very much!” she exclaimed.If Terry could have heard the conversation between Joe Arnold and Bud Hyslop at that moment she might have feared them, for Bud had just asked, “What are you going to do with those girls? One thing sure they’ll never leave this island alive, if I have my way.”Joe Arnold turned on him with an angry snarl. “You haven’t a word to say here! What’s more you never will have. Just wait until you get your orders from me. I’ll see that they don’t get back to civilization for a long time, perhaps never, but I’ll settle with them in my own way and when I get ready. I want no suggestions from you or anybody. You understand? I’m boss here on this island!”“Yes, that’s what I meant,” replied Bud Hyslop.“And if they come into this camp just keep your eye on them. Especially Terry! She was here about two minutes and was nosing about the big rock as if she knew I had things hidden there,” snarled Joe Arnold.“Did she see anything?” asked Bud.“No, I got her away in time, but if she comes back she is apt to go right there. And if she’d ever get hold of those papers, we wouldn’t be safe anywhere.”“Do you think Terry suspects and will try to get hold of them before they get away from the island?” inquired Bud once more.“They’re not going to get away. At least not until I’m safe.”But Terry and Prim knew nothing of this threat against their lives. They went about the preparation for the night and their greatest fear was from animals and insects that were strange and terrifying to them.“I’m awful hungry, Terry. Come with me to get some bananas,” said Prim as she started toward the clearing.“They look green to me, you’re apt to get good and sick if you eat them. Prim. I don’t think I would,” cautioned Terry.“I’m sick now, I’m so hungry, so it won’t hurt to be a little sicker,” answered Prim as she reached up for one of the green bananas. “Anyway I think they’re ripe.” She passed one to Terry, who stripped back the skin and bit into it.Terry rolled her eyes ecstatically. “Prim, we’re in luck! I’ve never tasted anything so good in all my life. I’m sure I could live on bananas like these. Now, Iknowwe won’t starve to death.”Suddenly Prim caught her sister by the arm. From the clearing they could see a strip of the sea and across their line of vision came a small tramp steamer. It was headed from the south and was making straight toward the island.“Now’s our chance! We’ll signal them and they will come to the rescue.” Prim was trembling with excitement. Together they ran to the top of the ridge. The heat was intense but the girls carried their flying coats with them, hoping that they would have a chance to escape.The girls waved their hands toward the steamer, but their hearts sank as it steamed past the headland and turned toward the harbor. On the shore of the cove great preparations had begun. A launch was put out from the beach and made toward the ship. Bales were dropped into the boat and taken ashore. A dozen trips were made with loads of food in cases, gasoline in metal drums and bale after bale of goods.“Whatever does it all mean?” asked Prim in her sister’s ear.“It’s my opinion,” declared Terry, “that every word we’ve heard against that man is true. Someone said he was a smuggler. Now I believe it.”Joe Arnold was busy directing the blacks as they stowed away the bales in the old mud huts in the camp.“What kind of smuggled goods would come in bales?” asked Prim. “I can’t imagine what it can be.”“It might be lots of things, but probably it’s silk. There’s big money in that,” explained Terry.Terry did not voice all her thoughts. She was thinking that they had very little chance of getting back to their homes with the secret of Joe’s smuggling base known to them. She realized that the situation was far more serious than she imagined. He was not merely attempting to get the flying field away from her father. Joe Arnold was mixed up in a crooked business. He would take desperate means to keep them from getting back to tell where his smuggling hang-out was situated.Terry started back down the slope, dragging Prim with her. “Come away, I hate that man! I don’t want to know what he’s doing.”Night was fast approaching and the girls watched with dread the shadows creeping down over the jungle. They put their heavy flying coats on the ground, gathered large banana leaves for pillows and decided to sleep out in the open.But no sooner had darkness come than weird sounds filled the jungle behind them. Crickets shrilled in the trees. Wild animals howled and slinking forms scurried by at the edge of the forest. Frogs kept up a continual, deafening chorus, and there were shrill cries of night birds. Terry and Prim held each other closely and stared into the darkness toward the jungle, trembling with fear.“Look at the sky, Prim,” said Terry trying to keep her mind from the strange and terrifying sounds of the tropical night. “You can see millions more stars down here than we can at home.”But even the brilliance of the moon could not hold their attention for long at a time. The rustling sounds all around them made their hearts thump.“I can’t stand it out here, Terry! Let’s go into the hut,” Prim pleaded in an anxious voice.Although the noises continued, the girls felt a certain protection when inside the four walls, even though the opening in the front was no protection at all.“Now Prim, I want you to go to sleep and get some rest, and I’ll watch. In an hour and a half I’ll waken you and you can take your turn.” Terry took Prim in her arms as if she were a small child.Prim burst into tears and threw herself on the floor of the hut, burying her head in her sister’s lap. Terry stroked her head soothingly. And Prim was soon fast asleep.When the hour and half was up, Terry did not have the heart to waken Prim. She looked pale and tired. Moving her head to the pillow of banana leaves, Terry lay down beside her. She had no desire to sleep.Once she thought that some small animal had come into the hut. She sat up and strained her eyes into the dark corners, but could see nothing. The moon had set and the black night seemed a protection after the bright moonlight. Terry grew very drowsy. She had no energy with which to waken Prim.The next thing Terry knew it was broad daylight. The sun was already sending its fiery blasts toward the earth. Prim was still sleeping; she had never stirred.Terry sat up suddenly. In the doorway was a woman, a black savage. The girl’s heart stopped beating for a moment. The strange creature stared at her and then giving forth a loud, weird, throaty call, she clapped her hands to beckon to her followers, who answered with yells and howls.Prim awoke with a cry of terror. The two girls, pale and terrified, stood waiting their doom. They were trapped in a hut and outside was a band of savage blacks. What terrible fate was in store for the trembling victims?CHAPTER VThe Cave of WonderThe jungle woman stepped back and was talking excitedly with the other savages. Terry grabbed Prim by the arm. “Let’s get outside,” she said. “There may be some way of escape even yet. Don’t give up!”The two girls stepped out of the hut to be met by the grinning faces of a dozen or more native women, who rolled their eyes and jabbered shrilly. Prim clutched at Terry.“They’re cannibals! They'll eat us! Look at their sharp teeth. Let’s run!”But the woman who had fiercely stared at them in the hut now stepped forward and offered a gift. It was a big package, something wrapped in leaves.Terry accepted it, trying to force a smile and while she opened the leaves she said in an undertone to Prim, “We’ll have to make them a gift in return. What have we got? Think fast, Prim.”For answer Prim unfastened the silver necklace with its bright pendant and Terry passed it to the woman. There were grunts of approval, smiles and nods as the other savages pressed close to examine the royal gift. They all seemed satisfied.Terry had opened the package now and disclosed a big fish baked to a turn and garnished with leaves. “Horrid stuff!” she thought. “How Ihatefish! But I’d better pretend to like it!”Terry broke a bit from the fish, tasted it and tried to look pleased. Then she passed some to Prim and offered to share her gift with the women.“Me Pedro’s wife. Me Rosa. Come!” said the leader.The savage repeated the words as if they meant nothing to her. Perhaps Pedro had spent hours teaching her those few phrases.“Don’t go, Terry,” begged Prim. “They’ll get us to their village, then eat us!”But Terry laughed. “Why no, Prim, we’ve exchanged gifts. We’re friends, like sisters.”Prim grumbled as Terry nodded her willingness to go and followed after the chief’s wife who led the way straight toward the jungle. At first the girls could not see an opening in that wall of tangled leaves, but when they reached the trees, Rosa led them into a dark green tunnel and Terry and Prim followed, wondering what was coming next.They must have walked for half a mile through that passageway cut from the creepers, when the girls saw light ahead and soon emerged on a clearing, among mud huts, a swarm of natives and naked children.When the girls appeared, a cry went up from the blacks that sent a chill to the heart. It was a sharp, penetrating cry that made shivers run up and down the spine.But only for a moment were the girls afraid. The natives were friendly, there was no doubt about that. The children stared at them with wonder in their big eyes. The girls lost no time in giving the little ones the few pieces of chocolate they had in the deep pockets of their flying coats.“I’ll take back everything I ever said, Prim, about you wearing a necklace with flying togs and making me, as well as yourself, carry a supply of chocolate. They have served us in good stead today,” said Terry, her eyes glowing as she watched the children devour the sweets.Prim was smiling triumphantly at Terry. “Your apology is accepted, my dear! Only don’t let it happen again! And if they are going to spread a feast for us, I wish they’d hurry up, for my stomach is crying for food. Those bananas I ate last night weren’t so very filling after all. And I don’t care whether I ever see another one.”“No wonder, Prim! I was counting how many you ate and after the twelfth I stopped,” answered her sister with a laugh.The girls tried by gestures and smiles to indicate their pleasure at everything around them. They complimented Rosa, the chief’s wife, for her fine hut. They admired the babies and by different signs expressed their delight. That they were understood was shown in the shining face of their hostess.Prim gave a sigh of relief as a young native girl, walking like a princess, was seen approaching with a huge bowl of steaming food. Plaited mats were spread for the guests and food was offered them while the whole village made a circle around them to watch them eat.Terry, never a big eater, was inclined to be a bit fussy about her food, but today she ate a portion of everything offered, whether it tasted good or not. Prim watched her in surprise and chuckled at the joke on her sister as she pretended to enjoy the fish.“I don’t care, Prim, go on and make fun of me! I’d rather eat than be eaten!” she retorted. “It’s not too late for them to change their minds, even yet!”Half an hour went by and Terry and Prim had succeeded in making friends with the shy little children. Suddenly Pedro walked into the clearing. He was scowling angrily. Once more the girls started in fear.Pedro explained in the few words of English that he knew, how Joe Arnold was very angry and had hit him.“Joe Arnold much bad man! Bud, much, much bad, too! He kill you, maybe!”“That’s what I expected!” whispered Terry to her sister.“No can do!” the black dramatically cried, waving an arm around his little settlement. “No! My people, they watch, they hide you far away! Joe no find!”Terry explained to the chief what she wanted to do. They must put up some sort of signal so that Allan and Syd, their friends, would see it if they flew over the island.“If only we had some white cloth,” said Prim. “We could put out one of those signals we talked about once, a big letter T, on the top of a ridge. I’m sure the boys would understand that.”“They might if we had cloth to do it with, but we haven’t. So that’s out!” answered Terry.Pedro had risen suddenly. He understood. He called to his wife and spoke to her in their own language. Rosa bobbed into her hut as fast as she could and in a few minutes returned bringing a roll of white goods which she presented to the girls.At that moment a sharp whistle broke the quiet of the jungle village with a discordant note. Pedro jumped to his feet and the next moment Rosa was shoving the girls before her into the hut. Someone was coming! The whistle was a warning from one of the boys who was guarding the village.When Joe Arnold strode into the settlement a few minutes later, Rosa was busily plaiting a mat. All the women were at work and scarcely looked up as the man faced Pedro.“You lazy good-for-nothing! Get back to work! This is my busiest day and you lay off! The men won’t work unless you’re there!”Pedro knew that this was no time to show fight. “Yes sir! I come by-em-by,” he answered.“Now!” shouted Joe. Then he turned with a menacing glare at Rosa. “Did those girls sleep here last night?” He shook his fist at the woman.Rosa jabbered in reply and looked bewildered, so Joe turned to Pedro and repeated the question.Pedro shook his head.“Then what’s happened to them? Not that I care much!” stormed Joe as he stared about him.“We no see ’em!” repeated Pedro.Joe Arnold went from one hut to another, peering inside. As he neared the chief’s large house, he was met by Rosa’s broad grin. She was sitting in the doorway and her large body completely filled the opening. She refused to get up, pretending not to understand what he wanted.Suddenly Joe turned and faced Pedro. “Now let me tell you one thing, Pedro. Listen to what I’ve got to say! If you or your people shelter those girls, you’ll be sorry. I’ll clean you out!” And with that threat Joe Arnold strode back through the jungle track.When he got far enough away, Rosa began to laugh in a low rumble which gradually increased in volume, until it reached a high, full roar. The other women joined in and the clearing was filled with their raucous shouts.That was their answer to Joe Arnold’s threat.It was very evident that the girls were being treated as honored guests. Terry found it hard to sample all the food that was brought her, but Prim was in her glory. She liked to eat. She liked strange dishes, and she ate enough for two. Terry had to pretend to be ill in order not to offend her hostess. And then as suddenly she had to pretend to get well again, for the kind-hearted woman insisted that she must give her medicine.—And it was made of fish oil!That night when Pedro returned from the shore, the news he brought was not good. Joe was planning on taking the girls in the launch over to a small island to the eastward where they would be absolutely alone. There were still wild beasts on that island. It meant certain death.That night the girls slept in the hut belonging to Pedro. They stretched out on mats and the native women stood guard. Not a breath of air was stirring in that close interior. Terry and Prim felt as if someone were clutching at their throats it was so hard to get a breath. They were not troubled with fears of capture, for Pedro had stationed sentinels beyond the clearing to give warning if anyone approached. But in spite of this the girls slept fitfully. The air was stifling.At the first glow of dawn Rosa appeared at the door of the hut. She said, “Come!” And there was an excited light in her eyes as she rolled them.The girls lost no time in obeying her command. A guard of young men went ahead, then came Pedro and his wife, followed by Terry and Prim with two tall and powerful guards. The young women of the tribe came next, and the procession ended with more guards.“We don’t know where we’re going,” said Prim in a whisper to her sister as they walked along. “But we’re going in style!”It was a long walk through the jungle passage, a mile perhaps, but it was hard for the girls to tell how far they had come. The damp heat of the tunnel was oppressive. Perspiration streamed from their bodies. Their thick clothes were unbearably hot, although one of the guards carried their heavy coats.Terry and Prim arrived at the next clearing, pale, hollow-eyed and ready to drop. But the end of their journey was not yet. They had reached the edge of the jungle and now had to climb up a steep ridge to a broad plateau. But the hot air was a relief after the humid atmosphere of the passage through the vines and creepers of the jungle. Suddenly they stopped, looking toward the sky, Joe Arnold might be watching from the air.Terry and Prim scanned the horizon for signs of an approaching plane. It was hopeless. They both knew that it would never occur to the boys, if they were saved from the storm, to hunt for them to the eastward.Finally as they reached the ridge, the blacks stopped and prepared to camp.“What’s the matter with these people?” whispered Prim. “Do they imagine they can hide us on the very top of the ridge? What are they going to do?”“I haven’t the least idea, Prim, but I’m going to trust Pedro. I believe he is honest and really wants to help us,” answered Terry as she watched the blacks.Suddenly Pedro dropped to the ground. Terry looked just in time to see the earth swallow him up. She rubbed her eyes and looked again. Pedro had disappeared. Then Terry saw what was going on. Evidently these people had a subterranean hiding place, the opening of which was at the summit of the ridge. The entrance was narrow and Rosa had some difficulty in getting her large body through. She squeezed and struggled, and Pedro pulled from below until she finally slid through. Terry was invited to follow.What were they up to? How could she explain to them that she must be above ground to watch for her friends?“Come!” The girls heard Rosa’s voice coming from the cavern. Terry sat down and putting her feet through the opening, found that they rested on a slippery rock. Getting a foothold she put up a hand for Prim. Slipping and sliding down the slope the two girls found themselves in a strange purple glow. When they reached the first level place, Pedro and Rosa were waiting for them.Terry stood gazing about her. They were in an enormous cave, lined with crystals, and the sunlight which shone through the opening, caught the facets of the crystals and shot out in flashes of color: red, orange, yellow, blue, indigo, violet, and all the thousands of shades between. It was a gorgeous spectacle. The girls were breathless. They had often read of the crystal caves and wished that they could see one.Finally Terry turned to her sister. “Would you believe it, Prim? For a few seconds I thought something had happened to us, that we had fallen down and been killed.”“Killed! What are you talking about, Terry? Have you gone crazy from all this excitement?” cried Prim anxiously.“I thought—well you see I wondered if this was heaven. It’s so beautiful, it might easily be. Even yet I can hardly believe it’s real,” said Terry with a little catch in her voice. “I want to cry!”“You cry! That’s a joke! Let me see you do it once!” teased Prim. “It’s not often you feel that way, so go ahead. Don’t let me stop you.”But Terry did not cry. She turned to Pedro and Rosa and thanked them for bringing her to this wonderful cave.Sea water rose in the cave and made a lake. Finally as their eyes got used to the darkness below they could see a boat. It was built of woven twigs and covered with skin. A small boy who had followed them into the cave, dived into the dark water and swam to the boat. Others followed and the small craft was soon full of little dark figures. With whoops of delight they paddled the boat wildly about the lake.“Even savage boys have to show off,” said Prim with a laugh.“Don’t laugh, Prim. They are doing their best to entertain us,” Terry answered as she clapped her hands, which sent the boys into still wilder stunts.The girls were now in a worse jam than ever. Here they were perfectly safe, they felt sure. But how could they watch for Allan and Syd? How could they signal for help? When Terry explained this to Pedro, he produced the white cloth that Rosa had given them. Terry tore it to the proper size and shape to make an enormous letter T. Much against his wishes Pedro allowed the girls to climb out of the cave and direct the spreading of the cloth on the ground, where it could be seen from the sky.“It’s only a long chance, Prim, but it’s the only thing I can think of. If we made a smoke signal or anything like that, Joe Arnold would suspect at once,” explained Terry.“I know, but don’t you think he’ll suspect if he sees this white cloth spread out on the ground?” asked Prim.Terry expressed her fears to Pedro, who was arranging the work of some men near-by. The big chief assured her that he would attend to that. His people would camp on the hill, then Joe Arnold would think that the cloth had something to do with the work of the tribe.In less than an hour one or two huts were ready, a crude cooking place had been built and the women were preparing breakfast.Terry and Prim wanted to stay above ground, but Pedro shook his head vigorously and explained that Joe Arnold was “very much bad,” and was planning to take them away where they would surely be killed.Terry and Prim slid down the opening and reached the level in safety.“After all, Prim, we have nothing to complain of. It’s a gorgeous place to be imprisoned. Let’s make the best of it and enjoy it, for we’re not apt to see anything like it again,” comforted Terry as she saw Prim’s frowning face.“It’s all right here, but I’d rather stay in the open. Besides I’m beginning to like that savage tribe. I’ll say that Pedro is a prince.”“Oh no, he isn’t,” laughed Terry. “He’s the whole show! He’s the Big Chief. He’s king! And Rosa is a queen, a very big queen!”The queen herself brought them their breakfast, more strange food, more fish, more bananas. Pedro had already eaten and was on his way with his men to the beach to help Joe and Bud.The morning seemed long. There was nothing to do but watch the flashes of color in the dome. And even Terry lost some of her enthusiasm at the monotony of the playing light. Finally it got on her nerves.Suddenly a black face appeared at the opening. A hissing sound came from the thick lips, then the face disappeared.“What do you make of that?” asked Prim. “Do you suppose that hiss can be translated to mean the same as in our language? Are they hissing us, and why?”Terry was already making her way up the steep wall of the cave. “I don’t know what it’s all about, but I’m going to find out,” she called back.As Terry reached the opening, she heard the hum of a motor overhead. Then she ducked back quickly, for there was only one man in the plane. He had banked and circled low, and Terry had seen that mocking face.It was Joe Arnold!CHAPTER VITrapped!
CHAPTER IV
Island Prisoners
Prisoners on a desert island!
Dazed by Joe Arnold’s brutality, Terry and Prim looked about them for a way of escape, but there seemed no way out. Apart from the few huts in the cove where Joe Arnold had his camp, there was no sign of life. They were alone and at the mercy of these unscrupulous men who had every reason to destroy them.
Prim clung to her sister with a grip that hurt. “Whatever will we do now, Terry?” she asked in a hoarse whisper. “We’re up against it for sure.”
But Terry did not hear her. She was watching with flashing eyes as Bud Hyslop worked over the plane. The next instant she was running down the slope in frantic haste with Prim at her heels.
“You let that plane alone, Bud Hyslop! Take your hands off!” Terry picked up a large stone, raised it above her head and with a wide sweep of the arm, she started to throw the missile, but at that moment her hand was seized from behind and a low, mocking voice said, “Not so fast, young lady!”
Terry turned to face Joe Arnold.
“Let me go!” she demanded.
Joe Arnold released his grip with a vigorous shove that sent the girl spinning across the sands. Prim caught her as she staggered.
“Terry, listen to me,” said Prim with decision in her voice. “I don’t know what we are going to do, but one thing sure is that you mustn't make that man angry. He’s capable of anything. He’d think nothing of leaving us here to starve. He’d even kill us if it suited his purpose.” Prim shook her sister’s arm. “Don't talk to him at all if you can’t do it without getting angry.”
Terry was deathly white, not from fear but anger. “But look, Prim! You don’t seem to realize that Bud is going to take our plane away from us. Now we’ll be real castaways!”
Prim searched the sky. “Oh, if Allan and Syd would only come! I’m afraid something terrible has happened to them. I didn’t see them after the storm struck our plane. Where did they go?”
“Don’t talk about it, Prim. Let’s get busy and do something so we won’t have time to think. I don’t dare!” Terry said with trembling lips.
The girls stood watching as Bud and Joe wheeledSkybirdaround to head away from the beach and over the water. They started the engine. It coughed, it wheezed, it sputtered but at the same time the amphibian taxied over the smooth blue waters and took to the air.Skybirdwas flying away without them.
Joe Arnold waved his hand toward the departing plane, then turned and climbed the hill, looking back at the girls with a triumphant grin, far more menacing than an angry scowl would have been. Terry knew that he had never forgiven her for her part in the rescue of Allan and Syd when he had kidnapped them in the far north.
Now was his great opportunity to settle matters once for all. This was his chance. He had them at his mercy.
Everything had worked out to Joe’s advantage. Bud's plane had been wrecked some weeks before and on that account they had worked under a handicap, waiting to replace it. Now a fine little plane had miraculously dropped from the sky at their feet.
Joe Arnold smiled. “Luck comes that way to me,” he said to himself. “I have a few bad breaks, but often they work out for my good. If I had succeeded in getting the Dick Mapes Flying Field six months ago as I planned. I’d never have started this island base. At least not so soon.—And this has turned out to be the best graft I've ever struck.”
Bud Hyslop had flownSkybirdaround the tip of the island to the quiet waters of the little harbor. The engine was sputtering and protesting but Bud was able to bring the plane down safely on the shore. As he turned to Joe, he saluted and exclaimed, “That was some trick you played! How did you do it. Chief?”
Joe Arnold laughed heartily as he answered: “They thought they were following Allan Graham’s plane. I’m almost sure that the girls were starting out to go to Peru to see old Peter Langley. When I was up there Allan and Syd were away. Probably when they got back they learned that I was heading south and decided to catch up with the girls and go with them as a protection againstme.”
“What happened to the boys?” asked Bud.
“That’s the joke. Allan’s and Terry’s planes both got into a storm. I didn’t see Allan’s plane when it was over, so I hope he went to the bottom of the Caribbean. Terry didn’t see it either. But she saw mine and followed me, thinking it was Allan.”
“That was a neat dodge. How did you ever happen to think about it?” Bud not only thought his boss was smart, but took pains to tell him so.
Joe Arnold might have told Bud that he had not planned the ruse and that it had been entirely an accident. But instead of that he looked wise and said. “I think fast! That’s how I always win!”
Meanwhile his two captives had taken shelter from the sun under a spreading tree.
“How I’d like to down that man!” exclaimed Terry with blazing eyes as she watched Joe Arnold’s figure disappear. “This is certainly the worst jam we’ve ever been in.”
“And Terry, this time there’s no way out that I can see,” said Prim, her body trembling with fear and nervousness.
But Terry was in a fighting mood. “Thereisa way out, I’m sure of it, and what’s more I’m sure we can find it! I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling Joe what I thought of him. He looked so smug and self-satisfied because he put something over on us.”
“You did well, Terry, not to talk to him. I was scared stiff you’d fly out at him.”
“I probably would have if you hadn’t gripped my arm the way you did. Sometimes you spoil a good scrap that way. It might have done Joe Arnold good to know what people think about him.”
Suddenly a loud shriek broke the silence of the island. Terry and Prim clung together but the next minute Terry pointed with a smile to two brightly colored macaws above her head.
“Did you ever see anything as gay as those birds? Aren’t they beautiful!” exclaimed Terry.
“I’d like them better if they wouldn’t squawk so loudly,” said Prim. “I do believe they have scared me out of a year’s growth.”
The macaws shrieked again as if protesting at the intrusion of the girls. Other strange birds took up the challenge and answered until the air was filled with their noise.
“Let’s go!” said Terry with the faintest glimmer of a smile. “They don’t seem to appreciate the honor of our company.”
Hand in hand the girls climbed the ridge but kept out of sight of Joe’s camp. Below them and around a sharp point of rocky shore, they looked down over a forest of tropical trees, tall, slender stems and around the lower part of their trunks wound a thick tangle of vines.
“I wonder if we will ever get out of here alive, Terry?” whispered Prim in a strained voice. “You’ve read stories of people who were stranded on desert islands and lived there until they were old and ready to die.”
“Well, this wouldn’t be such a bad place to live,” answered Terry. “If we had the family here and a nice house and books and things.”
“But I don’t like the idea of starving to death and that’s what we would do here.”
“We couldn’t starve to death! Look down there, I’ve been waiting for you to say something. Those trees to the right are bananas, your favorite fruit!”
“I’ll say so! Let’s go get them. I’m starved!” Suddenly Prim stopped short. “Terry,” she said hopefully, “could two girls live on bananas all their lives?”
“Possibly, but we wouldn’t need to go on a full banana diet. There are cocoanut palms!” replied Terry.
Prim brightened up. “And if it comes to the worst, we will try to catch some fish.”
“Fish!” cried Terry. “You know Ihatefish!”
“Well, clams, oysters! We might find them here!”
“They’re even worse,” Terry declared. “Youcan have my share. I’ll stick to bananas.”
The girls were clambering down the rocky ridge to the clearing. As they found their way around a thick mat of low-growing bushes, they came suddenly upon a collection of mud huts. They were among them before they knew it.
The girls drew back to the shelter of the vines, half expecting to be surrounded by a howling mob of savages. But not a sound came from the huts. Everything was quiet. No sign of life!
“Here’s where we’ve got to watch our step, Prim! Savages have a way of hiding in ambush and shooting poison arrows at their enemies,” whispered Terry.
“But we’re not their enemies. We’d—why Terry, we’d try tolikethem if they’d give us a chance,” Prim was looking anxiously around the shrub as she spoke.
Terry started to tiptoe toward the mud huts, although it was not necessary to guard her footfalls, for the soft green floor of the jungle gave back no sound. Prim tried to pull her sister back but Terry jerked away.
“Come on. We haven't any need to worry yet. This place is deserted. Look at those old mud huts, they are half destroyed by the rains.” Terry drew her sister with her as she peered into every hut as she passed.
“Look at those huts ahead. They’re altogether different. See how they’ve twined roots and vines and twigs together. They’re like great birds' nests. I think that is acleveridea! I wonder if these houses belonged to the chief and his family?”
“Come on in and make an afternoon call.” Terry laughed as she ran toward the doorway, then sprang back in terror.
“What’s the matter, Terry? What did you see?” cried Prim, clinging to her sister’s arm.
“Somebody was in that hut. I saw a child! It was a little one!” said Terry, then suddenly she broke loose from her sister and went once more toward the hut.
“Watch out, Terry,” cried Prim. “Children are apt to scream and that will bring the whole tribe down upon us.”
At that moment Terry burst into a happy laugh, a little face was peering around the side of the opening. A curious, wise little face that was wrinkled and hairy.
“It’s a monkey!” exclaimed Terry with relief. “Only a cute little monkey!”
“Isn’t he funny?” Prim was choking with laughter which she tried to hide, for the little creature looking up at them seemed so human that the girl felt she was being rude to laugh in its face.
Terry had a happy thought. She felt in her pockets and brought forth a little package. There were half a dozen crackers left from the supply Prim had provided.
“Say Terry, what’s the idea! Don’t feed him crackers. Are you crazy?” pleaded Prim.
But Terry was approaching the little animal and offering a bit of the cracker. The monkey shrank back, but only for a second. His curiosity was too great. As Terry dropped the morsel beside him, he grabbed it quickly and with a sudden leap slipped by them to the refuge of a tall tree. Then he devoured it greedily.
“Don’t be too generous, Terry. We may need every bite we can get before this jam is over.”
“All right, but I thought I’d better start by making friends with everything on the island. He’s a nice little fellow. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’d get quite friendly.”
The monkey stared down at them with interest and when they moved away he scrambled to another tree nearer to them.
“Just watch him,” laughed Prim. “Terry, you’ve made a big hit with that fellow.”
“It’s pleasant to find one friendly creature on the island. Come on and let’s see what the inside of these woven houses are like. I’m not anxious to sleep out in the open. I think I’ve heard something about the moon in the tropics making people crazy.” Terry led the way into the hut as she spoke, “Why, it’s not so bad, we might manage to sleep in here.”
“There’s nothing else to do. I wouldn’t want to take any chances with the moon,” said Prim. “We have troubles enough now without losing our minds.”
Terry laughed. “I guess you’re right. We’ll need all our wits to get ourselves out of this jam, and we’d better not get them addled.”
Terry’s laugh had relieved their taut nerves.
“If I could only be sure that Allan and Syd were safe, I could even take this disappointment and get some fun out of the situation. I’m really not frightened of Joe Arnold,—very much!” she exclaimed.
If Terry could have heard the conversation between Joe Arnold and Bud Hyslop at that moment she might have feared them, for Bud had just asked, “What are you going to do with those girls? One thing sure they’ll never leave this island alive, if I have my way.”
Joe Arnold turned on him with an angry snarl. “You haven’t a word to say here! What’s more you never will have. Just wait until you get your orders from me. I’ll see that they don’t get back to civilization for a long time, perhaps never, but I’ll settle with them in my own way and when I get ready. I want no suggestions from you or anybody. You understand? I’m boss here on this island!”
“Yes, that’s what I meant,” replied Bud Hyslop.
“And if they come into this camp just keep your eye on them. Especially Terry! She was here about two minutes and was nosing about the big rock as if she knew I had things hidden there,” snarled Joe Arnold.
“Did she see anything?” asked Bud.
“No, I got her away in time, but if she comes back she is apt to go right there. And if she’d ever get hold of those papers, we wouldn’t be safe anywhere.”
“Do you think Terry suspects and will try to get hold of them before they get away from the island?” inquired Bud once more.
“They’re not going to get away. At least not until I’m safe.”
But Terry and Prim knew nothing of this threat against their lives. They went about the preparation for the night and their greatest fear was from animals and insects that were strange and terrifying to them.
“I’m awful hungry, Terry. Come with me to get some bananas,” said Prim as she started toward the clearing.
“They look green to me, you’re apt to get good and sick if you eat them. Prim. I don’t think I would,” cautioned Terry.
“I’m sick now, I’m so hungry, so it won’t hurt to be a little sicker,” answered Prim as she reached up for one of the green bananas. “Anyway I think they’re ripe.” She passed one to Terry, who stripped back the skin and bit into it.
Terry rolled her eyes ecstatically. “Prim, we’re in luck! I’ve never tasted anything so good in all my life. I’m sure I could live on bananas like these. Now, Iknowwe won’t starve to death.”
Suddenly Prim caught her sister by the arm. From the clearing they could see a strip of the sea and across their line of vision came a small tramp steamer. It was headed from the south and was making straight toward the island.
“Now’s our chance! We’ll signal them and they will come to the rescue.” Prim was trembling with excitement. Together they ran to the top of the ridge. The heat was intense but the girls carried their flying coats with them, hoping that they would have a chance to escape.
The girls waved their hands toward the steamer, but their hearts sank as it steamed past the headland and turned toward the harbor. On the shore of the cove great preparations had begun. A launch was put out from the beach and made toward the ship. Bales were dropped into the boat and taken ashore. A dozen trips were made with loads of food in cases, gasoline in metal drums and bale after bale of goods.
“Whatever does it all mean?” asked Prim in her sister’s ear.
“It’s my opinion,” declared Terry, “that every word we’ve heard against that man is true. Someone said he was a smuggler. Now I believe it.”
Joe Arnold was busy directing the blacks as they stowed away the bales in the old mud huts in the camp.
“What kind of smuggled goods would come in bales?” asked Prim. “I can’t imagine what it can be.”
“It might be lots of things, but probably it’s silk. There’s big money in that,” explained Terry.
Terry did not voice all her thoughts. She was thinking that they had very little chance of getting back to their homes with the secret of Joe’s smuggling base known to them. She realized that the situation was far more serious than she imagined. He was not merely attempting to get the flying field away from her father. Joe Arnold was mixed up in a crooked business. He would take desperate means to keep them from getting back to tell where his smuggling hang-out was situated.
Terry started back down the slope, dragging Prim with her. “Come away, I hate that man! I don’t want to know what he’s doing.”
Night was fast approaching and the girls watched with dread the shadows creeping down over the jungle. They put their heavy flying coats on the ground, gathered large banana leaves for pillows and decided to sleep out in the open.
But no sooner had darkness come than weird sounds filled the jungle behind them. Crickets shrilled in the trees. Wild animals howled and slinking forms scurried by at the edge of the forest. Frogs kept up a continual, deafening chorus, and there were shrill cries of night birds. Terry and Prim held each other closely and stared into the darkness toward the jungle, trembling with fear.
“Look at the sky, Prim,” said Terry trying to keep her mind from the strange and terrifying sounds of the tropical night. “You can see millions more stars down here than we can at home.”
But even the brilliance of the moon could not hold their attention for long at a time. The rustling sounds all around them made their hearts thump.
“I can’t stand it out here, Terry! Let’s go into the hut,” Prim pleaded in an anxious voice.
Although the noises continued, the girls felt a certain protection when inside the four walls, even though the opening in the front was no protection at all.
“Now Prim, I want you to go to sleep and get some rest, and I’ll watch. In an hour and a half I’ll waken you and you can take your turn.” Terry took Prim in her arms as if she were a small child.
Prim burst into tears and threw herself on the floor of the hut, burying her head in her sister’s lap. Terry stroked her head soothingly. And Prim was soon fast asleep.
When the hour and half was up, Terry did not have the heart to waken Prim. She looked pale and tired. Moving her head to the pillow of banana leaves, Terry lay down beside her. She had no desire to sleep.
Once she thought that some small animal had come into the hut. She sat up and strained her eyes into the dark corners, but could see nothing. The moon had set and the black night seemed a protection after the bright moonlight. Terry grew very drowsy. She had no energy with which to waken Prim.
The next thing Terry knew it was broad daylight. The sun was already sending its fiery blasts toward the earth. Prim was still sleeping; she had never stirred.
Terry sat up suddenly. In the doorway was a woman, a black savage. The girl’s heart stopped beating for a moment. The strange creature stared at her and then giving forth a loud, weird, throaty call, she clapped her hands to beckon to her followers, who answered with yells and howls.
Prim awoke with a cry of terror. The two girls, pale and terrified, stood waiting their doom. They were trapped in a hut and outside was a band of savage blacks. What terrible fate was in store for the trembling victims?
CHAPTER V
The Cave of Wonder
The jungle woman stepped back and was talking excitedly with the other savages. Terry grabbed Prim by the arm. “Let’s get outside,” she said. “There may be some way of escape even yet. Don’t give up!”
The two girls stepped out of the hut to be met by the grinning faces of a dozen or more native women, who rolled their eyes and jabbered shrilly. Prim clutched at Terry.
“They’re cannibals! They'll eat us! Look at their sharp teeth. Let’s run!”
But the woman who had fiercely stared at them in the hut now stepped forward and offered a gift. It was a big package, something wrapped in leaves.
Terry accepted it, trying to force a smile and while she opened the leaves she said in an undertone to Prim, “We’ll have to make them a gift in return. What have we got? Think fast, Prim.”
For answer Prim unfastened the silver necklace with its bright pendant and Terry passed it to the woman. There were grunts of approval, smiles and nods as the other savages pressed close to examine the royal gift. They all seemed satisfied.
Terry had opened the package now and disclosed a big fish baked to a turn and garnished with leaves. “Horrid stuff!” she thought. “How Ihatefish! But I’d better pretend to like it!”
Terry broke a bit from the fish, tasted it and tried to look pleased. Then she passed some to Prim and offered to share her gift with the women.
“Me Pedro’s wife. Me Rosa. Come!” said the leader.
The savage repeated the words as if they meant nothing to her. Perhaps Pedro had spent hours teaching her those few phrases.
“Don’t go, Terry,” begged Prim. “They’ll get us to their village, then eat us!”
But Terry laughed. “Why no, Prim, we’ve exchanged gifts. We’re friends, like sisters.”
Prim grumbled as Terry nodded her willingness to go and followed after the chief’s wife who led the way straight toward the jungle. At first the girls could not see an opening in that wall of tangled leaves, but when they reached the trees, Rosa led them into a dark green tunnel and Terry and Prim followed, wondering what was coming next.
They must have walked for half a mile through that passageway cut from the creepers, when the girls saw light ahead and soon emerged on a clearing, among mud huts, a swarm of natives and naked children.
When the girls appeared, a cry went up from the blacks that sent a chill to the heart. It was a sharp, penetrating cry that made shivers run up and down the spine.
But only for a moment were the girls afraid. The natives were friendly, there was no doubt about that. The children stared at them with wonder in their big eyes. The girls lost no time in giving the little ones the few pieces of chocolate they had in the deep pockets of their flying coats.
“I’ll take back everything I ever said, Prim, about you wearing a necklace with flying togs and making me, as well as yourself, carry a supply of chocolate. They have served us in good stead today,” said Terry, her eyes glowing as she watched the children devour the sweets.
Prim was smiling triumphantly at Terry. “Your apology is accepted, my dear! Only don’t let it happen again! And if they are going to spread a feast for us, I wish they’d hurry up, for my stomach is crying for food. Those bananas I ate last night weren’t so very filling after all. And I don’t care whether I ever see another one.”
“No wonder, Prim! I was counting how many you ate and after the twelfth I stopped,” answered her sister with a laugh.
The girls tried by gestures and smiles to indicate their pleasure at everything around them. They complimented Rosa, the chief’s wife, for her fine hut. They admired the babies and by different signs expressed their delight. That they were understood was shown in the shining face of their hostess.
Prim gave a sigh of relief as a young native girl, walking like a princess, was seen approaching with a huge bowl of steaming food. Plaited mats were spread for the guests and food was offered them while the whole village made a circle around them to watch them eat.
Terry, never a big eater, was inclined to be a bit fussy about her food, but today she ate a portion of everything offered, whether it tasted good or not. Prim watched her in surprise and chuckled at the joke on her sister as she pretended to enjoy the fish.
“I don’t care, Prim, go on and make fun of me! I’d rather eat than be eaten!” she retorted. “It’s not too late for them to change their minds, even yet!”
Half an hour went by and Terry and Prim had succeeded in making friends with the shy little children. Suddenly Pedro walked into the clearing. He was scowling angrily. Once more the girls started in fear.
Pedro explained in the few words of English that he knew, how Joe Arnold was very angry and had hit him.
“Joe Arnold much bad man! Bud, much, much bad, too! He kill you, maybe!”
“That’s what I expected!” whispered Terry to her sister.
“No can do!” the black dramatically cried, waving an arm around his little settlement. “No! My people, they watch, they hide you far away! Joe no find!”
Terry explained to the chief what she wanted to do. They must put up some sort of signal so that Allan and Syd, their friends, would see it if they flew over the island.
“If only we had some white cloth,” said Prim. “We could put out one of those signals we talked about once, a big letter T, on the top of a ridge. I’m sure the boys would understand that.”
“They might if we had cloth to do it with, but we haven’t. So that’s out!” answered Terry.
Pedro had risen suddenly. He understood. He called to his wife and spoke to her in their own language. Rosa bobbed into her hut as fast as she could and in a few minutes returned bringing a roll of white goods which she presented to the girls.
At that moment a sharp whistle broke the quiet of the jungle village with a discordant note. Pedro jumped to his feet and the next moment Rosa was shoving the girls before her into the hut. Someone was coming! The whistle was a warning from one of the boys who was guarding the village.
When Joe Arnold strode into the settlement a few minutes later, Rosa was busily plaiting a mat. All the women were at work and scarcely looked up as the man faced Pedro.
“You lazy good-for-nothing! Get back to work! This is my busiest day and you lay off! The men won’t work unless you’re there!”
Pedro knew that this was no time to show fight. “Yes sir! I come by-em-by,” he answered.
“Now!” shouted Joe. Then he turned with a menacing glare at Rosa. “Did those girls sleep here last night?” He shook his fist at the woman.
Rosa jabbered in reply and looked bewildered, so Joe turned to Pedro and repeated the question.
Pedro shook his head.
“Then what’s happened to them? Not that I care much!” stormed Joe as he stared about him.
“We no see ’em!” repeated Pedro.
Joe Arnold went from one hut to another, peering inside. As he neared the chief’s large house, he was met by Rosa’s broad grin. She was sitting in the doorway and her large body completely filled the opening. She refused to get up, pretending not to understand what he wanted.
Suddenly Joe turned and faced Pedro. “Now let me tell you one thing, Pedro. Listen to what I’ve got to say! If you or your people shelter those girls, you’ll be sorry. I’ll clean you out!” And with that threat Joe Arnold strode back through the jungle track.
When he got far enough away, Rosa began to laugh in a low rumble which gradually increased in volume, until it reached a high, full roar. The other women joined in and the clearing was filled with their raucous shouts.
That was their answer to Joe Arnold’s threat.
It was very evident that the girls were being treated as honored guests. Terry found it hard to sample all the food that was brought her, but Prim was in her glory. She liked to eat. She liked strange dishes, and she ate enough for two. Terry had to pretend to be ill in order not to offend her hostess. And then as suddenly she had to pretend to get well again, for the kind-hearted woman insisted that she must give her medicine.—And it was made of fish oil!
That night when Pedro returned from the shore, the news he brought was not good. Joe was planning on taking the girls in the launch over to a small island to the eastward where they would be absolutely alone. There were still wild beasts on that island. It meant certain death.
That night the girls slept in the hut belonging to Pedro. They stretched out on mats and the native women stood guard. Not a breath of air was stirring in that close interior. Terry and Prim felt as if someone were clutching at their throats it was so hard to get a breath. They were not troubled with fears of capture, for Pedro had stationed sentinels beyond the clearing to give warning if anyone approached. But in spite of this the girls slept fitfully. The air was stifling.
At the first glow of dawn Rosa appeared at the door of the hut. She said, “Come!” And there was an excited light in her eyes as she rolled them.
The girls lost no time in obeying her command. A guard of young men went ahead, then came Pedro and his wife, followed by Terry and Prim with two tall and powerful guards. The young women of the tribe came next, and the procession ended with more guards.
“We don’t know where we’re going,” said Prim in a whisper to her sister as they walked along. “But we’re going in style!”
It was a long walk through the jungle passage, a mile perhaps, but it was hard for the girls to tell how far they had come. The damp heat of the tunnel was oppressive. Perspiration streamed from their bodies. Their thick clothes were unbearably hot, although one of the guards carried their heavy coats.
Terry and Prim arrived at the next clearing, pale, hollow-eyed and ready to drop. But the end of their journey was not yet. They had reached the edge of the jungle and now had to climb up a steep ridge to a broad plateau. But the hot air was a relief after the humid atmosphere of the passage through the vines and creepers of the jungle. Suddenly they stopped, looking toward the sky, Joe Arnold might be watching from the air.
Terry and Prim scanned the horizon for signs of an approaching plane. It was hopeless. They both knew that it would never occur to the boys, if they were saved from the storm, to hunt for them to the eastward.
Finally as they reached the ridge, the blacks stopped and prepared to camp.
“What’s the matter with these people?” whispered Prim. “Do they imagine they can hide us on the very top of the ridge? What are they going to do?”
“I haven’t the least idea, Prim, but I’m going to trust Pedro. I believe he is honest and really wants to help us,” answered Terry as she watched the blacks.
Suddenly Pedro dropped to the ground. Terry looked just in time to see the earth swallow him up. She rubbed her eyes and looked again. Pedro had disappeared. Then Terry saw what was going on. Evidently these people had a subterranean hiding place, the opening of which was at the summit of the ridge. The entrance was narrow and Rosa had some difficulty in getting her large body through. She squeezed and struggled, and Pedro pulled from below until she finally slid through. Terry was invited to follow.
What were they up to? How could she explain to them that she must be above ground to watch for her friends?
“Come!” The girls heard Rosa’s voice coming from the cavern. Terry sat down and putting her feet through the opening, found that they rested on a slippery rock. Getting a foothold she put up a hand for Prim. Slipping and sliding down the slope the two girls found themselves in a strange purple glow. When they reached the first level place, Pedro and Rosa were waiting for them.
Terry stood gazing about her. They were in an enormous cave, lined with crystals, and the sunlight which shone through the opening, caught the facets of the crystals and shot out in flashes of color: red, orange, yellow, blue, indigo, violet, and all the thousands of shades between. It was a gorgeous spectacle. The girls were breathless. They had often read of the crystal caves and wished that they could see one.
Finally Terry turned to her sister. “Would you believe it, Prim? For a few seconds I thought something had happened to us, that we had fallen down and been killed.”
“Killed! What are you talking about, Terry? Have you gone crazy from all this excitement?” cried Prim anxiously.
“I thought—well you see I wondered if this was heaven. It’s so beautiful, it might easily be. Even yet I can hardly believe it’s real,” said Terry with a little catch in her voice. “I want to cry!”
“You cry! That’s a joke! Let me see you do it once!” teased Prim. “It’s not often you feel that way, so go ahead. Don’t let me stop you.”
But Terry did not cry. She turned to Pedro and Rosa and thanked them for bringing her to this wonderful cave.
Sea water rose in the cave and made a lake. Finally as their eyes got used to the darkness below they could see a boat. It was built of woven twigs and covered with skin. A small boy who had followed them into the cave, dived into the dark water and swam to the boat. Others followed and the small craft was soon full of little dark figures. With whoops of delight they paddled the boat wildly about the lake.
“Even savage boys have to show off,” said Prim with a laugh.
“Don’t laugh, Prim. They are doing their best to entertain us,” Terry answered as she clapped her hands, which sent the boys into still wilder stunts.
The girls were now in a worse jam than ever. Here they were perfectly safe, they felt sure. But how could they watch for Allan and Syd? How could they signal for help? When Terry explained this to Pedro, he produced the white cloth that Rosa had given them. Terry tore it to the proper size and shape to make an enormous letter T. Much against his wishes Pedro allowed the girls to climb out of the cave and direct the spreading of the cloth on the ground, where it could be seen from the sky.
“It’s only a long chance, Prim, but it’s the only thing I can think of. If we made a smoke signal or anything like that, Joe Arnold would suspect at once,” explained Terry.
“I know, but don’t you think he’ll suspect if he sees this white cloth spread out on the ground?” asked Prim.
Terry expressed her fears to Pedro, who was arranging the work of some men near-by. The big chief assured her that he would attend to that. His people would camp on the hill, then Joe Arnold would think that the cloth had something to do with the work of the tribe.
In less than an hour one or two huts were ready, a crude cooking place had been built and the women were preparing breakfast.
Terry and Prim wanted to stay above ground, but Pedro shook his head vigorously and explained that Joe Arnold was “very much bad,” and was planning to take them away where they would surely be killed.
Terry and Prim slid down the opening and reached the level in safety.
“After all, Prim, we have nothing to complain of. It’s a gorgeous place to be imprisoned. Let’s make the best of it and enjoy it, for we’re not apt to see anything like it again,” comforted Terry as she saw Prim’s frowning face.
“It’s all right here, but I’d rather stay in the open. Besides I’m beginning to like that savage tribe. I’ll say that Pedro is a prince.”
“Oh no, he isn’t,” laughed Terry. “He’s the whole show! He’s the Big Chief. He’s king! And Rosa is a queen, a very big queen!”
The queen herself brought them their breakfast, more strange food, more fish, more bananas. Pedro had already eaten and was on his way with his men to the beach to help Joe and Bud.
The morning seemed long. There was nothing to do but watch the flashes of color in the dome. And even Terry lost some of her enthusiasm at the monotony of the playing light. Finally it got on her nerves.
Suddenly a black face appeared at the opening. A hissing sound came from the thick lips, then the face disappeared.
“What do you make of that?” asked Prim. “Do you suppose that hiss can be translated to mean the same as in our language? Are they hissing us, and why?”
Terry was already making her way up the steep wall of the cave. “I don’t know what it’s all about, but I’m going to find out,” she called back.
As Terry reached the opening, she heard the hum of a motor overhead. Then she ducked back quickly, for there was only one man in the plane. He had banked and circled low, and Terry had seen that mocking face.
It was Joe Arnold!
CHAPTER VI
Trapped!