19. The Prisoner's Escape
"Do you think they will ever return?" asked Terence.
"I think they have had enough," replied Mr. McKay. "They've had a lesson."
"And so have we," added Ellerton, dolefully regarding the fragments of the storehouse and the shattered line of rails.
"And our boat; how shall we be able to leave the island now?" asked Andy.
"Perhaps the damage done to that is not so great as we imagine. With the help of these canoes we may be able to raise her. But we'll go into that question later. At present I feel as if I could enjoy a good square meal."
So back to the dwelling-house they went, where Quexo, who had been quaking all the time, was reassured.
"Don't you think we could rig up an electric alarm?" said Terence during the progress of the meal. "There's plenty of insulated copper wire in the small store."
"It would be as well," replied Mr. McKay. "We might have a return visit; though, as I said before, I don't anticipate one."
"But some natives from another island might try and surprise us," said Andy. "News travels quickly, and perhaps we might again be favoured with the unwelcome attentions of these savage gentry."
"And I tell you what," continued Terence, waxing enthusiastic, for electrical engineering was his strong point, "we brought one of the
San Martin's searchlights ashore. I'll try and fix it up and connect it with the dynamo."
"We'll see what's to be done. But now, how about Blight? It's time we paid him a visit."
"I guess he's been wondering what the dust-up was about," remarked Andy, as he prepared the prisoner's daily ration.
Andy and Terence were deputed to visit the prisoner, and, armed as usual and carrying a supply of food and water, they set off for the fenced-in dwelling.
From the elevation of the upper terrace they could see the distant dark brown sails of the canoes, for the wind was light and their progress had been slow.
"They'll have a nice yarn to pitch into their friends when they return," observed Terence.
"They stood a good chance of pitching into us," replied Andy grimly. "The rascals!"
For his mind was still sore on the subject of the scuttled yawl.
On arriving at the fence Andy put down his load, and producing a key unlocked the door. The space without the cave was deserted.
"Strange," muttered Andy. "Blight is generally anxious for his food."
Carefully relocking the door, the lads made their way to the mouth of the cave. Here, too, silence reigned.
"Blight! Where are you?"
There was no answer. Andy repeated the call, but without result.
"Is he asleep, or is he dead?" asked Terence, and gripping their pistols the two lads entered the cave.
Contrasted with the brilliant sunshine without, the apartment seemed plunged into utter darkness, but by degrees the lads' eyes grew accustomed to the gloom.
"Be careful," whispered Andy. "Perhaps he's up to some of his tricks."
"You locked the door in the fence?"
"Yes."
"Then let us explore the cave thoroughly."
This they did, penetrating into the cavern and examining every recess as they advanced, till the daylight which filtered in was insufficient to allow them to continue their search.
"Where's his lamp? I know the pater let him have one."
"I saw it on a ledge close to the entrance. Have you any matches?"
Andy had; matches were becoming scarce on McKay's Island, and whenever possible a burning glass was used for obtaining fire. Being, in this case, without his magnifying glass, Andy had to use one of the precious hoard of matches that he kept in a watertight gun-metal case, and lighting the lamp the two explorers resumed their search.
"He's gone right enough," exclaimed Terence, as they "drew blank."
"But where? And how?"
"Goodness only knows. Let's run back and tell the others."
Mr. McKay was greatly upset at the news, and seizing a light rifle he strode off towards the prisoner's quarters, accompanied by the three lads.
"Did you leave the door open?" he inquired, as they came in sight of the fence.
"Yes," replied Andy. "I was in a hurry to tell you, and what does it matter now that the man has escaped?"
"For all we know he might have been lying concealed within the fence the whole time you were looking for him, and finding the door unlocked after you left he coolly walked out. Andy, I'm surprised at such carelessness."
It was seldom that Mr. McKay was annoyed with his son, but the apparent laxity was enough to justify his displeasure.
With Blight roaming about the island, the existence of the others would be a continual round of anxiety. The man was no ordinary criminal. He was versed in all the wiles of the savage life, possessed of considerable strength, skill, and reliance, and was not above resorting to treachery and murder to gain his ends.
A careful examination of the outside of the fence revealed no signs of a burrow under the iron sheeting, but close to the part of the wall that touched the cliff there were unmistakable signs of a man's feet.
"There you are! He did not escape by the door after all, Andy," remarked his father. "See, these two footprints close together show us that he jumped, and, what is more, jumped skilfully, for there are no traces of his heels. We'll find out how he scaled the fence by examining the other side."
Entering the door, the gaolers found that Blight had cut a number of niches in the rock and had thus managed to climb to the top of the fence. The cutting of these footholds must have taken a considerable time, and in spite of the daily examination of the ground for any sign of a tunnel, the niches had escaped observation.
"You see how he hoodwinked us," said Mr. McKay, pointing to the little heap of dried grass and mud. "He dug out those footholds and filled them up with grass and clay, so that they presented the same appearance as the rest of the cliff. Now, lads, we must find him, and the sooner the better."
Accordingly they returned to the house, where Terence was told off to remain on guard with Quexo in the event of the escaped prisoner breaking in and securing arms. The mulatto, though far from having recovered from his injuries, was strong enough to use a pistol, so the two could hold the dwelling-house against a surprise.
Having supplied themselves with enough provisions for the day, the two McKays and Ellerton set out on the trail of the fugitive. Mr. McKay and his son took rifles and revolvers and also an axe to "blaze" the palm-trees, while Ellerton, by reason of his damaged arm, carried a revolver only in addition to his canvas knapsack containing his share of provisions.
Tracking was a new experience to the English lad, and he could not help wondering at the keenness displayed by father and son as they followed the scantiest trail.
Andy would walk with considerable speed for a hundred yards, his eyes fixed upon the ground; while Mr. McKay would follow at his heels, at the same time keeping a sharp look-out on all sides in order to guard against a sudden attack.
Then the order would be reversed, Mr. McKay following the trail, and his son acting as a cover to his father.
For nearly a mile the track was fairly well-defined, though Ellerton had to confess that he would have failed to notice it.
The fugitive had skirted the base of the cliff, then plunging into the palm grove, he had gone by a round-about way towards the left; and was evidently heading for the thickly-wooded belt of land surrounding the base of the highest peak of the island.
Then the pursuers met with an unexpected rebuff. The trail led up to a broad tract of barren country, the surface of the land consisting of rocky mounds covered with a deposit of lava--the result of volcanic action many years previously.
"This kind of stuff extends right up to the base of the peak," said Andy. "We had a rough scramble when Quexo and I climbed the mountain. I know what it's like. There are hundreds of rifts where a man might hide himself."
"He's covered his tracks," announced Mr. McKay. "See, he's gone in that direction, then back again and off in entirely the opposite way."
"And the trail is getting very much fainter," added Andy.
"It's my belief that he's lying low within a few yards of us," continued his father. "It's an admirable hiding-place, but it's certain that he must have food, so he's bound to make for the cocoanuts and bread-fruit trees sooner or later. That's why he's doubled on his tracks."
"We must double on our tracks before long," replied Andy. "That is, if we don't want to spend a night in this wilderness."
"That's what I intend to do," said his father in a low voice. "I want you two to go back to the house. Make plenty of noise, and grumble at having been unsuccessful. I'm going to remain here."
"Alone?" queried Andy.
"Hist! Don't speak so loud. Yes, alone. You don't imagine I'm afraid to tackle an unarmed man, do you? Now, listen to what I have to say. It will be dark in an hour or so, but the moon will rise at nine o'clock. Make your way here at sunrise to-morrow, and I'll warrant you'll find me safe enough--and not alone, I hope."
Andy knew that it was no good arguing, and the two lads set off towards their home. The blazed track was followed without difficulty, and just as the sun set they emerged from the forest and gained the terrace on which the house stood.
"Where's Mr. McKay?" asked Terence.
"Left behind."
"Left behind? What for? Has anything gone wrong?"
"I hope not. He insisted, so there was no help for it. We've to rejoin him at sunrise to-morrow," replied Andy.
All that night the lads did not attempt to sleep. Filled with anxiety, they listened intently for the sound of a rifle shot. The air was perfectly still, and though the strained nerves of the watchers caused them to hear a variety of imaginary sounds, no reassuring report of firearms broke the echoes of the palm-groves.
"Look here," exclaimed Ellerton, after hours of weary vigil, "the moon's up quite enough to allow us to find our way; so let's make a start."
Andy shook his head.
"You ought to know the pater well enough by this time, Hoppy. It's rotten hanging about here, I admit, but it's part of the game. So let's make the best of it."