The Jungle Trail/Chapter 5

WAS but a short distance from the corner of the governor's house to the jungle's edge, and Bartolmeo Botello took it in half a dozen great leaps with Inez Malpartida clasped in his arms.

Here was black night where not even the faint light of the stars penetrated, and tangled undergrowth that made progress difficult, and curling roots ever ready to trip a foot.

Yet the matter of escape at the present moment was a mere trifle could Botello and his lady gain half a decent start of their foes, for they could progress some distance before the soldiers procured torches and sounded an alarm and began searching the jungle for a trail. The real danger would come later, when the search had been organized properly.

With the soft arms of Inez still clasped around his neck and her whispered entreaties to make good escape in his ears, Botello moved slowly, once he was under cover of the darkness, so as to make little noise.

Far to the right there was a sudden crashing in the brush, a series of grunts, and the cries of the governor's soldiers as they charged in that direction.

"That is Tarama, the good native, decoying them in an opposite way," Botello whispered. "I had anticipated such a move, for Tarama is quick to think and act. Now we have less to fear."

But he moved slowly for all that, fearing to stumble on some soldier who had strayed from his fellows, and knowing the slightest noise would attract guards their way. Inez Malpartida was on her feet now and walking beside him, while with one arm he pushed branches from before her and with the other held her close.

"The journey will be long and perilous, loved one," he breathed. "This is but the start of it. Day after day, night after night, we must be on our guard. They will pursue, knowing we are making for the camp of De Balboa. We will be unable to follow even the uncertain jungle trail, for fear of discovery. And there are natives who are hostile when they find one or two men of Spain abroad in the great wilderness. Mayhap it were wrong to take you with me."

"Where love is, there can be no fear," she whispered in answer. "And would you have me remain behind, when my love is yours and they would wed me to a man unworthy?"

"Not so, señorita. That is why you walk beside me now." "With you for guide, we'll win through!"

"Yet it is a perilous journey for a tender lady," he said. "Many strong men have quailed before it. There may be much suffering before we reach the end."

"Then must we suffer together, caballero. Death, even self-inflicted, would be better for me than marriage to such a man as Pasqual Garabito."

"Once started, we may not turn back, señorita. Here is one caballero who never will have lash laid across his naked back by order of any man whatsoever. And you must escape a hateful marriage. Wherefore, we must turn our faces toward the Great South Sea and win through, though perils by the score confront us. Tarama, good native, always will be near. He will be guide and guard for us, for the wilderness is his hearth-stone."

Now they had reached the bank of a tiny but turbulent stream, and Botello picked his lady up in his arms again and waded through the water, and on the other side he put her on her feet, and they continued through the black jungle.

Far behind them were choruses of cries as soldiers of his excellency beat the jungle, and once they saw a great light in the distance and guessed that a huge fire had been built in the plaza to illuminate the edge of the wilderness and aid the guards in their work of searching.

The brush before them cracked, and Botello stopped and drew his rapier, putting Inez quickly behind him.

"Master!" came a hiss.

"I am here, good Tarama."

"I have thrown them off and circled, master; yet they will be on the trail before long, mayhap. There are natives loyal to the governor who know the wilderness as well as I and can pick up a trail other men would not see."

"Go ahead, Tarama, to the hut of Fray Felipe, and tell him we come, and wherefore."

"Si, master!"

Tarama was gone even as he answered; they waited a moment in silence, listening, then followed him.

"For the last time, señorita, you believe there can be nothing for you except this perilous journey?" Botello asked.

"Unless my being in your company will hinder you, señor, and so delay your escape."

"Your presence will give me twice the usual cunning." he said. "A few more steps, and you may not turn back, señorita. Think well, I beg of you. I would have no regrets."

"You have said that you love me, señor."

"With all my heart!"

"Then there can be no regrets—unless at some time you cease to love."

"Never fear for that!"

"Onward, then!" she commanded in a whisper. "We must not fail to win through."

"One stop we must make," Botello said. "Yet that will take us but a short time, unless my old friend, Fray Felipe, proves to be unreasonable."

"I understand, señor."

"And are willing?"

"Can you ask it, señor? Did I not love you enough to wed, would I have risked maidenly modesty before his excellency by making plea for you?"

"It were too much, señorita! I am unworthy of it!"

"Say not again that you are unworthy. That casts poor reflection on my personal judgment."

"Your pardon. Dios! Was there ever man so pursued by good fortune?"

"And also by bad soldiers, señor," she reminded him.

He clasped her closer, and chuckled, and hurried forward now at better speed. Here and there was a cleared space, and they hurried boldly across, making every effort to gain time. They circled away from the jungle trail made by Vasco Nunez's men, and presently in the distance saw a tiny pin-point of light twinkling through the jungle.

"Fray Felipe is in his home, thank the saints!" Botello said. "I had been half afraid he might be in the wilderness on some mission to the natives. Now if Tarama has explained matters, mayhap more time will be saved to us."

They came to the edge of another clearing now, and ran across it hand in hand like two happy children, which they were in their hearts despite the pursuit. As they reached the hut, Tarama glided from a clump of brush and hurried toward them, and led them to the door, upon which he beat with his bare fist. It was opened immediately, and they slipped inside.

It was not more than ten feet square, that hut made of logs and vines and clay. In one corner was a bunk, in another a chair, in a third a table. In the last corner of all were things having to do with religion. Before the bunk stood Fray Felipe, who raised his hand as they entered; and Tarama closed the door behind them and glided behind the bole of a palm outside to watch for enemies.

A man of fifty was Fray Felipe, and of ordinary stature. Cities and towns were not to his liking—even such a hamlet as Antigua. So here, at the edge of the wilderness, he had built his hut, and here he lived for the greater part of the time. His work was his own. having to do with the natives, and he walked abroad through the wilderness without fear of harm, since all natives were his friends.

Now he stood straight before them with his arms folded across his breast, his head bent forward slightly, and his gleaming eyes shining from beneath shaggy brows.

"You know?" Botello asked.

"Tarama has told me, son."

"Well, fray?"

"It is wrong to break a law, my son—that we all know. But there may be times when it were worse to obey the law. Tarama has told me you acted in defense of your life."

"The man made a foul stroke."

"I doubt it not, knowing Señor Garabito as I do. Nor do I blame you, my son, for ordering him to keep away from decent folk, knowing facts about the subject. Yet it had been a demonstration of fortitude had you accepted the punishment ordered you."

"Fray! You would have a caballero of Spain whipped across his back like a native thief?"

"The priest spoke a moment ago," Fray Felipe said then, his face softened by a smile. "Now let Felipe, the man, speak. You are right, señor. No caballero, especially an honorable man as yourself, should be whipped and disgraced in such a manner, especially by order of such an unjust man as the present governor of Darien. I blame you not!"

"Then—" Botello cried eagerly.

"A moment, my son. You perceive it is the priest speaks to you again now? Even as priest, I counsel you to make good your escape and join your comrades at the Great South Sea. Out at elbows they are, and half-starved at times, yet they are gentlemen true who always have been God-fearing and courageous and loyal. I hope to rejoin them myself, soon, for I find this spot by far too near the tainted air of Antigua."

"I thank you, fray." "But this lady—high born and gentle—?"

"A true woman, fray!"

"I doubt it not. It were unseemly for her to be with you so, however."

"Our love is strong, fray," Botello replied. "At my farce of a trial she risked reputation by stepping forward and making plea for me. For that she would have been punished."

"Punished? This señorita?"

"By the governor's order she was to have been wedded to this same Pasqual Garabito. Could I leave the woman I love, and who loves me, to such a fate, fray?"

"I cannot counsel that any woman should be wife to such a man."

"Then what else to do, but flee together? That brings us to the subject nearest our hearts, fray. The pursuit is close behind. Some one may think of this hut and make an investigation here. We would be wed, and have your blessing, and then be on our way to the camp of Vasco Nunez de Balboa."

Now Fray Felipe bowed his head on his breast and paced back and forth, two short steps in either direction, thinking deeply. It was irregular, this that Señor Botello wished, and held somewhat of danger in it. since his excellency, the governor, would seek to punish any man who thwarted his plans. Yet 'twas not of the danger the fray thought most, but of the irregularity.

"There is scant time, fray," Botella reminded him.

"I like it not, my son."

"We may not turn back now, fray. To do that means disgraceful punishment for me, which does not matter so much, but it means, also, marriage to an unworthy man for the señorita. And surely you would not have us begin our long and perilous journey without being joined in wedlock?"

"My son!"

"There you have the situation, fray."

Now Fray Felipe stepped forward a pace, his head held high again, and took the hands of Inez between his own.

"You wish this, my daughter?"

"More than I have wished for anything in all my life, good fray. I love Señor Botello truly, and know him for an honorable man, and will be a good wife to him."

"The dangers you will have to face—"

"Will be as nothing if I am by his side!"

"Si! You will make a rare wife," the fray said. "Then I'll do as you desire, and give you my blessing, and pray that all will be well with you."

Botello gave a glad cry and stepped, forward. But now the door was thrown open quickly, and Tarama rushed in and slammed it shut behind him.

"Master! Master, they are at hand!" he whispered hoarsely. "On every side they crept forward, catching me off my guard. They have surrounded the hut!"

The native dropped on his knees before Botello, half sobbing, seeming to beg for forgiveness because he had failed in his duty. Botello felt no censure for him, since his task had been difficult, for in the blackness of the jungle it had been an easy matter for foes to approach near before being seen, especially since native guides were with them.

Inez Malpartida gave a little cry of disappointment and fear. Botello half drew his rapier from its scabbard. But Fray Felipe sprang quickly to the table and snuffed the light on it; and then they heard him fumble at the door, and a heavy bar drop into place.

"Son! Daughter!" he whispered. "To me—here! In the dark of night you must be wed, for it appears the only way now, yet may your hearts and souls be illuminated by your love. Tarama, crouch you here behind me, and be silent!"

Now they could hear the voices of men outside the hut, gradually growing louder, and light came in between the logs. Some soldier battered at the door with the haft of his pike, yet the heavy bar held securely.

"Within there, fray!" a stentorian voice called.

More battering at the door, while Tarama crouched against the wall, more in fear for his master than for himself, and Botello scarcely could take hand from the hilt of his rapier, so certain was he that all things ended here.

"The door will hold until we have accomplished our purpose," Fray Felipe whispered, as if he had read their thoughts. "Forget your weapon, my son, and have thought of nothing save your lady and what true marriage means. Be of good courage, daughter!"

And then he began the service there in the dark, whispering the words and directing their whispered responses, while Tarama knelt behind the fray, realizing that this was a moment of great seriousness for his beloved master and friend.

Whereupon, getting no response from inside the hut, those soldiers outside set up a clamor to wake jungle life, pounding at the door and against the heavy log walls, and threatening the torch.

"Open, fray, in the name of his excellency!" roared an officer. "We know you are within, having seen the native enter and your light go out! Open, lest we tear down your hut and bury you beneath its logs!"

But Fray Felipe, in a low whisper, went on through the ceremony, never faltering, not making even the least haste, pronouncing each word slowly and with due regard for its meaning; and Botello and Inez gave their responses in quivering whispers, for Inez feared her happiness would be lost now as soon as found, and Botello was almost beside himself with dread of what might happen when the soldiers ultimately battered down the door.

Inez would be his wife, and so Garabito would be balked of getting her, but that he would be separated from his bride he did not doubt, and perhaps even punished in such manner that he would be ashamed to hold up his head among caballeros.

"For the last time, fray—open!"

But Fray Felipe was done now, and he whispered a last prayer, and blessed this new husband and wife; and in the darkness Señor Botella clasped Inez in his arms and kissed her lingeringly upon her lips, little doubting it would be the last kiss for some time to come, if not forever.

"Smash in the door!" the officer commanded now; and the soldiers began hammering at it earnestly with their weapons, while others attacked the walls again.

"Stand back now, fray—and you, my beloved!" Botello whispered. "It is time to draw blade and have at these noisy ones. There is small chance we may win through, yet it is well worth the trying. Tarama, to my side, and do not hesitate to use your knife if you have love for me!"

But even as he started to draw the rapier from his scabbard, Fray Felipe clasped him by the arm and drew him close beside Inez, whispering so that Tarama also could hear.

"Be not despondent so soon, my son," he said. "There is a way out of the trap. Follow closely."

He went to the rear wall of the hut, and there he toiled for an instant until a section of a log was pulled away.

"By crawling through there you enter the hollow bole of a giant tree," he said. "I discovered it while erecting my poor hut, and thought it might have a use one day. Beneath the great roots of the tree is a tunnel through the earth, washed there by the heavy rains as the water swirled around the roots in the soft ground. Crawl through, and you emerge on the bank of a stream. You may have to dig with poniard, for the tunnel never has been used its entire length, and it has been some moons since I have explored it. Go quickly, and bless you—bless you all three!"

"All three? And you?" Botello asked.

"Fear not for me. I go to deal with these rogues. Quickly, that I may replace the log before they batter down the door. Mayhap I will join you some day in De Balboa's camp."

He stooped and kissed Inez on the forehead, and thrust Botello and Tarama from him.

"I like this not—deserting you," Botello whispered.

"Go, my son, while yet there is time. Your first duty is to your fair wife."

So Tarama entered the blackness of the giant tree's bole first, and Inez after him, and Botello crawled in last, his poniard gripped in his hand, and Fray Felipe's last words whispered in his ear:

"Should the passage be closed, remain in it until I fetch you word that all is safe."