“Hello, here are some canoes!” Phil exclaimed; “and they’ve been tied here recently,” he added anxiously, as he saw clearly the fresh footprints and the grass trodden down near the landing.
“HELLO, HERE ARE SOME
CANOES!”
The lads’ intention had been to investigate the depth of the water in the river, but their startling discovery made them forget all else save the visible evidence that a small body of men had recently landed at this very spot and had taken the almost obliterated trail to the abandoned house. Maria and her brother might even now be prisoners among their enemy. The two midshipmen gazed at each other through eyes wide with apprehension. What was to be done?
“We can’t desert the girl,” Sydney declared, gazing at the trodden grass. “Otherwise we might reach the horses and escape before they discover us.”
“Come,” Phil exclaimed, “there are not many of them, and maybe,” he added reassuringly, “they are not all armed.”
The two lads walked noiselessly toward the house along the dim trail.
The building was now in plain sight. The wide porch with its profusion of clinging vines was deserted. The long flight of bamboo steps was half in ruins. To the right not a hundred yards distant their horses were standing, their noses deep in the rich grass.
At the foot of the steps the midshipmen halted. There was a mysterious silence in the air about them and they imagined that from the deserted building unfriendly eyes were peering down upon them.
Phil gave a sigh of relief as he saw Maria, leading little Juan, come slowly through the tall grass toward them from the neighborhood of the horses. He made up his mind quickly. Nothing further could be gained here, and the evidence that others had been on this spot very recently was too strong not to take the warning. He caught Sydney’s arm and wheeled him away from the house. The lads had not taken a half dozen steps before a shrill cry from Maria riveted them in their tracks. Over their shoulders they saw that now the porch was filled with natives who were pointing their rifles at them menacingly.