But Quambo stuck a big lump of tobacco in the skipper's hand, and he was silent after this. "Hist!" It was the voice of the guide again. He had clutched Fred's arm and was pointing away to the woods.
Fred could hear nothing for a time. At last, however, a confused noise of tom-tom beating, couch blowing, and yelling, was borne to his ears on the night breeze. It was only too evident that the escape of the prisoners had already been discovered, that the whole island was alarmed, and that the savages had found their trail.
Again and again Fred flashed his light towards the Island Queen, to induce the speedy return of the boat. But seawards all was silent.
And every minute the shouting and yelling in the woods drew nearer and nearer.
Both Frank and Fred did feel fear now. They stood almost face to face with a terrible death, knowing well too that if caught alive they would be put to the torture.
Nearer and nearer! Would the boat never come?
At last, oh, joy! a black spot suddenly appeared among the surf, and they made a dash towards it.
None too soon, for hardly had they left the shore ere the whole beach was lined by the howling savages. Spears whirled past them in the darkness, and shots were returned from the boat.
Fred presently heard a dull thud close beside him in the boat.
"Oh!" groaned the Yankee skipper. "That's got me. Poor Silas is to be sewed up at last."