CHAPTER XXVII
AT THE WALL OF ROCKS
Had it not been such a serious situation, the two Rover boys would have been inclined to laugh at what was happening. But they realized that the canned food and other things in the camp meant a great deal to them, and they did not intend that the monkeys should make away with the stuff.
“Get out of there! Scoot! Scat!” yelled Fred, running forward.
He was followed by his cousin, and in a moment more both boys found themselves in the midst of the simians. The monkeys chattered and squeaked in alarm, but none of them seemed to be inclined to retreat. Many of them had found something to eat, and the others were snooping around, doing their best to tear open packages or break open some of the canned goods.
“Get out of here!” yelled Fred. He had scarcely spoken when one of the monkeys dropped a can of beans on his toes and leaped upon the youth’s left shoulder. “Hi! Get off of there!”
But instead of getting away, the monkey caught hold of Fred’s ear and held tight, shrieking and chattering loudly as he did so.
In the meanwhile two other monkeys leaped upon Andy, one on his shoulder and the other on his back, holding tight to the alarmed boy’s collar. The other simians ran back and forth, chattering most infernally. One had picked up a pan brought in from the wreckage, and this he banged upon any object that came to hand.
A MONKEY CAUGHT HOLD OF FRED’S EAR AND TWO OTHERS LEAPED UPON ANDY.
“For gracious’ sake! what’s that racket in camp?” exclaimed Jack, looking up suddenly.
“Hi! Hi! Come here! Some monkeys have attacked the two boys!” yelled Ira Small at the top of his lungs. And then, somewhat scared at the unexpected turn of affairs, the lanky sailor blazed away with a shotgun he was carrying.
The aim of the old tar was poor, and the shots scattered into the jungle back of the camp. But the noise had its effect, and in a twinkling all but two of the monkeys began to take their departure. But they did not go empty handed. With loose food, canned stuff and other things in their paws, they scrambled into the jungle, and, amid a wild chattering, disappeared.
“Monkeys, of all things!” burst out Randy, rushing forward beside the young major. “Who ever thought they would come to attack us!”
“They’re probably hungry, just the same as that lion was,” answered Jack. “There they go!”
The two monkeys that remained were the ones that had clung fast to Fred’s ear and one of those which had fastened itself to Andy’s collar. These continued to chatter and squeak, but held fast as if seeking companionship and protection.
“Gee, do you know what I think?” declared Andy, suddenly. “This little beggar is tame. He isn’t half as wild as those others were.”
By this time the other monkey had let loose of Fred’s ear, and now sat perched on the lad’s hand, looking up into Fred’s face so comically that the youth was compelled to grin.
“If you’re going to be friendly, all right,” said the boy. “Just the same, you had me pretty well scared.” And then he stroked the monkey, and the frisky little animal seemed well content to nestle in the crook of his arm.
“I’ll wager that these two monkeys were pets of the people on board the steam yacht,” declared Jack, when the momentary excitement had come to an end and the party had made sure that all the other monkeys had disappeared. “If it wasn’t so, these fellows wouldn’t stay here a minute.”
“I guess you’re right,” answered Fred. “Just the same, what are we going to do with the two little beggars? We don’t want to feed them, and I’m certain that I don’t want to kill them.”
“We’ll have to feed them and then chase them back into the woods,” suggested Andy.
“You’ll have fine work chasin’ ’em away after you’ve fed ’em,” declared Ira Small, coming as close to grinning as the boys had ever seen. “Feed a monkey once, an’ you’ll have him around you forever. The only way to git rid of ’em is to douse ’em with cold water.”
“Oh, if they want to stay, let them,” answered Jack. “They’ll help us pass the time when we haven’t anything else to do.” The cuteness of the two little simians appealed to him, just as it did to all the other boys.
A little later, after the monkeys had been fed to their hearts’ content, the Rover boys tied them to nearby trees so that they might not get into further mischief.
It was not until the following morning that all started out in the clumsy scow, if such it might be called, to make the trip around the eastern end of the island to where the wreck of the Coryanda lay. On the way they thought they might land once or twice on the sandy beach below the rocks in an endeavor to find some passageway leading to the spot where they thought the pirates’ gold might be hidden.
At first Jack and Randy had thought to take the trip, in company with Ira Small; but Fred and Andy had protested so vigorously that it was finally decided that all should go, even though the scow might be rather crowded.
The clumsy craft had been provided with four extra long sculls, or sweeps, and everybody, even to Andy, went barefooted, knowing that they might be standing in several inches of water most of the time. They carried their shoes in a water-tight canister, so that they might have these foot coverings whenever they landed. They also carried with them a supply of food, not knowing how long they would be away.
It was an ideal day for the trip. There was hardly any wind, and consequently the surf at the keys and along the beach had greatly subsided. They got afloat without much trouble, and then the old sailor took command, telling them how they might progress to the best advantage.
“Ain’t no need to go out any further than jest to keep from bein’ throwed up on them rocks,” he said, after they had passed the entrance to the little bay. “An’ every one keep his eyes peeled for anything that looks like an openin’.”
“Were there any marks leading to the treasure—I mean anything in the way of a signboard?” questioned Randy of the lanky sailor.
“There was supposed to be a triangle,” answered Ira Small. “A triangle of three arrows. Them sailors said the triangle led to the circle.”
“Then, having found the circle, we’ll have to keep our eyes open for the triangle,” murmured the young major.
Slowly and not without some danger, they finally rounded the eastern point of the island. Although they had watched closely, no one had discovered any opening that might lead to the bowl of the thirteen rocks. Here and there they had discovered small bunches of brushwood and vines growing among the rocks, and had seen higher up innumerable nests of sea birds, but that was all.
“But the opening must be there—that is if the yarn about the treasure is true,” declared Jack.
“We’ll have to make a more careful search when we’re coming back,” said Fred.
“Perhaps the opening is behind some of those vines or bushes,” put in Andy.
Having rounded the eastern end of the island, it did not take them long to reach the vicinity of the spot where the Coryanda had been cast up among the rocks. Here were innumerable little keys, and Ira Small rightfully guessed that it was only the force of the hurricane that had driven the water-logged steam yacht in so far and with such dire results.
“She’s busted clean an’ clear,” was the lanky sailor’s comment. “Busted, lengthwise an’ sidewise. They won’t never be able to do a thing with her. She’s gone forever.”
“We’ll have to go slow about going aboard,” said Jack. “No more wild beasts for me!”
“Or snakes, either,” added Fred.
They had brought along the shotguns and pistols, and had seen to it that every weapon was fully loaded. Now, as they came up beside the rocks on which the Coryanda rested, Jack told Fred and Andy to remain at the sweeps while he and Randy and the old sailor held their weapons ready for use should the occasion require.
But all seemed calm and peaceful in the vicinity of the wreck, and, gaining courage, the whole party presently landed, made fast, and mounted to the deck of the old steam yacht at a point close to the cabin.
A glance around showed them that everything was in the wildest disorder. Evidently the water-logged yacht, driven by the hurricane, had pounded on the rocks time and again before some extra large wave had cast her up and broken her into practically four pieces, two forward and two aft. Hatchways and the runway for the animals were wide open, and in one spot they could look down an opening to the very keel of the vessel.
“Be careful how you move around,” warned Randy. “Otherwise, somebody may slip through one of those openings and break his neck.”
On account of the condition of the steam yacht, and because there might still be some of the wild beasts or snakes present, they moved around the wreck with great caution. Thus an hour or more passed. They found a sheep and a little deer, both wedged in the wreckage and dead.
“The animals and the snakes seem to be gone,” declared Jack, at last. “And all of the monkeys have gone, too, and also the parrots. About all that are left are a few of the small birds, and I guess we might as well give them their liberty.” And this was done.
When the noon hour was reached all were tired and hungry and glad enough to sit down on the deck and eat a portion of the food they had brought along. As they did this they talked over the situation.
“There are plenty of stores here, and most of the stuff seems to be in good condition,” remarked Jack. “So, no matter what else happens, we’re not liable to starve to death.”
“I suppose we could stay on board if we wanted to?” suggested Fred. “It might be safer to sleep in the cabin here, even in its partly wrecked condition, than to bunk out on the beach with those wild animals at large.”
“Oh, I don’t want to stay all the time,” put in Randy. “We can’t stretch our legs here. Besides, it might be dangerous if another hurricane struck us. I saw some rifles on board, and if we arm ourselves with those, I’d rather be back in the vicinity of the old camp.”
“Well, whatever the crowd want to do——” began Jack, and then came to a sudden stop. A distant humming had reached his ears, and this humming steadily increased in volume.
“What do you suppose that is?” questioned Andy, looking at Jack curiously. He, too, had noticed the humming.
“Sounds like an aeroplane motor,” was the quick reply. “Hear how loud it’s getting!”
“There it is!” shouted Randy, pointing skyward. “It’s an aeroplane as sure as you’re born!”
“Yes, and it’s heading this way!” cried Fred.