“You are keeping your word, sir,” said Rodd. The Spaniard smiled, and remained in his place, while Joe Cross and the lads paddled the boat out again to a spot the Spaniard pointed out, and there dropped the grapnel, before beginning to fish, using small pieces of fat pork for their bait.
Long before the fire had burnt up enough for cooking purposes or the great kettle had boiled in the shade of the huge tree that had been chosen for kitchen, bites had become frequent, and fine carp-like fish, whose golden scales glittered in the light, were being hauled into the boat; but eager though the lads were, and full of enjoyment of their sport, it was hot out there in the sun, and arms were beginning to ache, while hunger asserted itself more and more.
“I say, Morny,” cried Rodd, “enough’s as good as a feast.”
“Yes, sir,” cried Joe, “and we have got enough and the feast to come, for these look as if they’d be good. Shall we put ashore?”
Rodd nodded assent, and soon after Joe and a couple of his mates had been busy with their knives on the sandy river bank, the unwonted sound made by a frying-pan arose from the fire, with the result that there was no doubt about the carp-like fish being good, and the al fresco dinner proving a success.
The afternoon was wearing on when the preparations for a fresh start were made, the Spaniard promising the doctor that he would point out another good resting-place for the night before it was dark.
“All aboard!” cried Joe just then. “Why, look at that now! Well, there’s plenty of fish left, Mr Rodd, and in this ’ere hot country we had better have it fresh.”
“Why, I didn’t expect to see them again, uncle,” cried Rodd, and he pointed across the river to where the two blacks with their canoe had suddenly appeared, as if they had been in hiding and watching the cooking going on till it seemed to them that their time had come, when they lay there with their boat just as before, apparently waiting till the strangers had gone on.
“Do they mean to keep on following us like this, captain?” asked Rodd.
“Quien sabe?” he said. “It is a free country, and you will not mind?”