按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Tudor； having pulled through the fever and started to mend； was still
frightfully weak and very much starved。 So badly swollen was he from
mosquito…bites that his face was unrecognizable； and the acceptance of his
identity was largely a matter of faith。 Joan had her own ointments along；
and she prefaced their application by fomenting his swollen features with
hot cloths。 Sheldon； with an eye to the camp and the preparations for the
night； looked on and felt the pangs of jealousy at every contact of her
hands with Tudor's face and body。 Somehow； engaged in their healing
ministrations； they no longer seemed to him boy's hands； the hands of Joan
who had gazed at Gogoomy's head with pale cheeks sprayed with angry
flame。 The hands were now a woman's hands； and Sheldon grinned to
himself as his fancy suggested that some night he must lie outside the
mosquito…netting in order to have Joan apply soothing fomentations in the
morning。
175
… Page 176…
ADVENTURE
CHAPTER XXVTHE HEAD…
HUNTERS
The morning's action had been settled the night before。 Tudor was to
stay behind in his banyan refuge and gather strength while the expedition
proceeded。 On the far chance that they might rescue even one solitary
survivor of Tudor's party； Joan was fixed in her determination to push on；
and neither Sheldon nor Tudor could persuade her to remain quietly at the
banyan tree while Sheldon went on and searched。 With Tudor； Adamu
Adam and Arahu were to stop as guards； the latter Tahitian being selected
to remain because of a bad foot which had been brought about by stepping
on one of the thorns concealed by the bushmen。 It was evidently a slow
poison； and not too strong； that the bushmen used； for the wounded
Poonga…Poonga man was still alive； and though his swollen shoulder was
enormous； the inflammation had already begun to go down。 He； too；
remained with Tudor。
Binu Charley led the way； by proxy； however； for； by means of the
poisoned spear； he drove the captive bushman ahead。 The run…way still
ran through the dank and rotten jungle； and they knew no villages would
be encountered till rising ground was gained。 They plodded on； panting
and sweating in the humid； stagnant air。 They were immersed in a sea of
wanton； prodigal vegetation。 All about them the huge…rooted trees
blocked their footing； while coiled and knotted climbers； of the girth of a
man's arm； were thrown from lofty branch to lofty branch； or hung in
tangled masses like so many monstrous snakes。 Lush…stalked plants；
larger…leaved than the body of a man； exuded a sweaty moisture from all
their surfaces。 Here and there； banyan trees； like rocky islands； shouldered
aside the streaming riot of vegetation between their crowded columns；
showing portals and passages wherein all daylight was lost and only
midnight gloom remained。 Tree…ferns and mosses and a myriad other
parasitic forms jostled with gay…coloured fungoid growths for room to live；
176
… Page 177…
ADVENTURE
and the very atmosphere itself seemed to afford clinging space to airy fairy
creepers； light and delicate as gem…dust； tremulous with microscopic
blooms。 Pale…golden and vermilion orchids flaunted their unhealthy
blossoms in the golden； dripping sunshine that filtered through the matted
roof。 It was the mysterious； evil forest； a charnel house of silence；
wherein naught moved save strange tiny birdsthe strangeness of them
making the mystery more profound； for they flitted on noiseless wings；
emitting neither song nor chirp； and they were mottled with morbid
colours； having all the seeming of orchids； flying blossoms of sickness and
decay。
He was caught by surprise； fifteen feet in the air above the path； in the
forks of a many…branched tree。 All saw him as he dropped like a shadow；
naked as on his natal morn； landing springily on his bent knees； and like a
shadow leaping along the run…way。 It was hard for them to realize that it
was a man； for he seemed a weird jungle spirit； a goblin of the forest。
Only Binu Charley was not perturbed。 He flung his poisoned spear over
the head of the captive at the flitting form。 It was a mighty cast； well
intended； but the shadow； leaping； received the spear harmlessly between
the legs； and； tripping upon it； was flung sprawling。 Before he could get
away； Binu Charley was upon him； clutching him by his snow… white hair。
He was only a young man； and a dandy at that； his face blackened with
charcoal； his hair whitened with wood…ashes； with the freshly severed tail
of a wild pig thrust through his perforated nose； and two more thrust
through his ears。 His only other ornament was a necklace of human
finger…bones。 At sight of their other prisoner he chattered in a high
querulous falsetto； with puckered brows and troubled； wild…animal eyes。
He was disposed of along the middle of the line； one of the Poonga…
Poonga men leading him at the end of a length of bark…rope。
The trail began to rise out of the jungle； dipping at times into festering
hollows of unwholesome vegetation； but rising more and more over
swelling； unseen hill…slopes or climbing steep hog…backs and rocky
hummocks where the forest thinned and blue patches of sky appeared
overhead。
〃Close up he stop；〃 Binu Charley warned them in a whisper。
177
… Page 178…
ADVENTURE
Even as he spoke； from high overhead came the deep resonant boom
of a village drum。 But the beat was slow； there was no panic in the sound。
They were directly beneath the village； and they could hear the crowing of
roosters； two women's voices raised in brief dispute； and； once； the crying
of a child。 The run…way now became a deeply worn path； rising so
steeply that several times the party paused for breath。 The path never
widened； and in places the feet and the rains of generations had scoured it
till it was sunken twenty feet beneath the surface。
〃One man with a rifle could hold it against a thousand；〃 Sheldon
whispered to Joan。 〃And twenty men could hold it with spears and
arrows。〃
They came out on the village； situated on a small； upland plateau；
grass…covered； and with only occasional trees。 There was a wild chorus
of warning cries from the women； who scurried out of the grass houses；
and like frightened quail dived over the opposite edge of the clearing；
gathering up their babies and children as they ran。 At the same time
spears and arrows began to fall among the invaders。 At Sheldon's
command； the Tahitians and Poonga… Poonga men got into action with
their rifles。 The spears and arrows ceased； the last bushman disappeared；
and the fight was over almost as soon as it had begun。 On their own side
no one had been hurt； while half a dozen bushmen had been killed。
These alone remained； the wounded having been carried off。 The
Tahitians and Poonga…Poonga men had warmed up and were for pursuit；
but this Sheldon would not permit。 To his pleased surprise； Joan backed
him up in the decision； for； glancing at her once during the firing； he had
seen her white face； like a glittering sword in its fighting intensity； the
nostrils dilated； the eyes bright and steady and shining。
〃Poor brutes；〃 she said。 〃They act only according to their natures。
To eat their kind and take heads is good morality for them。〃
〃But they should be taught not to take whit