CHAPTER XXIII.
A HURRICANE ON THE MOUNTAIN.
The party watched the oncoming of the storm with anxiety, for they felt that a downpour on the top of that high mountain would be no light affair.
Danny had began to build a fire preparatory to cooking the evening meal, but now old Jacob stopped him.
"There is an overhanging cliff," he said, pointing with his long finger. "We had better look for shelter there afore we think of eating."
"You are right," said Robert Menden. "This coming storm may prove what the boys would call a corker."
They took up their traps, which had been hidden in the brush while they were in the cave, and set off for the cliff which loomed up less than quarter of a mile away. It was a difficult road, through brush and creeping vines and over rough rocks, and before it was finished, the big raindrops were beginning to patter down on the broad tropical leaves.
"Here's a pretty good place," said Dick, pointing to a hollowed-out spot eight or more feet in depth. There were several wild plantains in front of it, and it certainly looked a very good shelter.
"I can't make no fire here," said Danny. "De rain will pnt it out in no time."
"Build up close to the rocks, Danny," replied Don. "Here, I will show you;" and soon they had a fairly good blaze started, and Danny placed some water to boil.
By this time the storm was on them in all of its fury. The rain came down in sheets, so that they could not see fifty feet in front of them. The wind made the trees groan and creak as it swayed them in one direction or another.
"This is a small-sized hurricane, I reckon," observed old Jacob. "Hark!"
He put up his hand and they all listened. From afar came a dull, humming sound. It was coming closer.
"It's a hurricane, ez sure ez guns!" shouted the Yankee sailor. "I hope we are safe here."
"We ought to be," replied Leander. "Oh, my! Listen!"
The humming seemed to fill the air all around them, while the sky grew as black as night. Then came a wild rushing of wind and at a distance they heard several forest trees go down with a crash. A tree directly before their shelter followed, and then the full force of the hurricane was upon them.
In a twinkle, one and another of the boys found himself lifted up and dashed against the rocks. The wind soused the rain in all around them, and the embers of the fire were hurled hither and thither, some sailing up into the air to disappear in the raging element. In front of the shelter the brush was torn up by the roots, and the very rocks seemed to quake and quiver, as if about to tumble down upon their heads.
"This is fearful!" groaned Bob; but nobody heard him, nor were the remarks from the others audible. The wind had found a crack in the rocks and through this it was whistling with the loudness of a steam calliope.
Swish! crack! bang! down came another tree before their hiding-place, and the uppermost branches were thrust at them, hemming all in against the wall. But this gave additional shelter, and now the wind that came after could not reach them.
In a few minutes the first fury of the hurricane was spent; but it continued to blow and rain at a lively rate, and this kept up until almost morning. To make even a torch-light was impossible, and they huddled together in the dark, side by side, with their backs to the cliff, silently praying that God might see them through this peril in safety. And their prayer was heard; for morning found them wet, sleepy and hungry, but still unharmed by a hurricane which, in other quarters, had done untold damage.
"My gracious! that was worse than the blizzard we had on Snow-Top Island!" declared Leander. "I'll tell yoll what—I wouldn't want to be out in the Dashaway in such a blow."
"I trust the storm ain't found the yacht," replied old Jacob, dubiously. "If it got in the harbor it would play high jinks with the shipping."
"Oh, I hope it passed by San Juan," said Dick. The Dashaway was his pride, and he did not wish to see the beautiful vessel harmed.
It was with difficulty that the entire party found enough dry wood with which to kindle a fire. All were soaked to the skin, and it was decided to remain in camp until noon.
"Perhaps we would have been better off in the cave," said Bob. "I wonder if Joseph Farvel remained down there."
"As like as not," said Robert Menden. "But I think staying in such a hole in a hurricane is dangerous. You don't know what pranks a storm might play."
"Yes; if the wind got in there it would haul down a good bit o' the roof," said old Jacob.
While Danny was nursing the fire into a big blaze, several flocks of birds flew over the cliff. At once the boys got out their firearms and half a dozen shots brought down twice that number of the feathered specie. The birds were speedily dressed, and cooked, and made a welcome addition to their otherwise scant breakfast.
Robert Menden was anxious that no more time be lost, and promptly at noon, with clothing once more dried, they started off again for the caves. Carlos Remora had disappeared entirely, nor did he show up again, thinking that all of the party were buried under the fallen ceiling of the cave.
The side of the mountain was wet and slippery, and they had to proceed with care, for fear of slipping into some hollow and becoming seriously hurt.
On all sides were the evidences of the terrific storm—shattered trees, bushes laid flat, and here and there a ripped-up portion of grass, as if some giant's hand had reached down and twisted it up from the roots.
"It's wonderful what a power the wind has when it lets itself loose," remarked Dick. "I'm awfully glad we weren't caught out in the open."
"That's so," said Don. "We would have been blown to Kingdom Come."
When they reached the entrance to the Dark Cave they looked around for some trace of Remora and of Joseph Farvel's party; but the storm had obliterated all footprints and other signs.
With lighted torches they passed inside and down the first slope, which was now familiar to them. Their future operations had been talked over during the breakfast hour, and it had been decided to try a central branch of the great cave—one which Carlos Remora had told them had a very uneven flooring and was, consequently, but little travelled.
They had just reached the ending of the first slope when Dick saw a white object sticking up on the end of a stick.
"Hullo! what's that?" he cried.
"What's what, Dick?"
"That thing on the stick?"
"It's a sign of some sort," exclaimed Bob; and running forward he held the torch to it. It proved to be a piece of white paper stuck on a bit of tree bark. On the paper was written:
"WARNING!
"Be it known to all that I, by right of inheritance and also discovery, do hereby lay claim to everything of value which is to be found in this cave or any of its branches. I warn all outsiders, and especially Robert Menden and his party, to keep away from my property.
"JOSEPH FARVEL."
"Oh, what cheek!" burst out Dick.
"He had better claim the earth and have done with it," put in Leander.
"Will you pay any attention to that?" asked Don, turning to Robert Menden.
"Do you think I should?" queried the Englishman, with a twinkle in his eye.
"No."
"Nixey," cried Danny, who could not always get away from his old-time slang.
"He hasn't any more right here nor any o' us," burst out old Jacob. "Jest let him try to stop me, thet's all. He'll reckon he fell in with a second hurricane!"
At this they all laughed. And that laugh settled matters. They would go ahead and pay no attention to the warning left by their enemy.