A few more strokes only and the fortress was lost behind Cape Koempai, the first curve in the Kapoeas. La Cueille, who with eager eyes had been looking at his former residence, now dropped his oar and heaved a deep sigh. Johannes heard it and said:
“Are you sorry? Speak, it is not too late yet. We can land you at this corner. A pretended drunken bout will sufficiently account for your absence. You are at liberty to plead that excuse or any other you fancy as long as you do not betray us. Say—shall we land you?”
“Return to those cheeseheads? Sacré nom de tonnerre! never!” the Walloon cried energetically.
“Then stop your sighing; leave that to the women and children; men have to act.”
“C’était plus fort que moi,” La Cueille muttered. “The stories I have heard during the last two days come before me, and pardieu! when I saw that fortress where we might repose as safely as on our mother’s lap, far away from spectres, head-hunters, blood-drinkers, and so forth—that fortress which we might have [[62]]reached with only a few strokes; yes, I own it, I did feel tempted just then. But it is all over now.”
And taking his oar again he vigorously assisted to make the boat spin onward as fast as possible, so that the fortification was soon altogether lost to view. The fugitives passed a group of small islets called Poeloe telloe, and at day-break found themselves near the island Kanamit.
Dalim thought it better not to continue the journey any further and advised their taking refuge in a rivulet which runs into the right bank of the Kapoeas behind the island. When the canoe entered the narrow branch of this stream Johannes pointed to a spot and said:
“Just about there we once barely escaped from the canoes of the Dayaks. Our vessel got wrecked and we were attacked by the treacherous natives. Fortunately the Montrado arrived to our aid and drove them off by firing a single gun.”
“But,” asked Wienersdorf, “how are the natives disposed towards us now?”
“They are very untrustworthy, and if they were to discover that we are palefaces our lives would not be worth a moment’s purchase. But we are Dayaks now. Hèlo mikèh, don’t fear,” Johannes continued smilingly. “At all events we are seven, and we cannot do wrong in keeping our arms under our own control.”