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Kaipi's actions, as he mimicked the elderly scientist, convinced us that the interview was not pleasant to the archaeologist, and it was evident that it was at that moment Leith had declared himself as Barbara Herndon stated in her note. "He kick up plentee big row," explained Kaipi. "He kick porter men an' make damn big noise outside missee tent.
It was the tribal Houdin who laid the foundation of many a strange belief amongst savage races. "Must be waiting for him to come to them," said Holman. "We'll give them a few minutes longer." It was Kaipi's sharp eyes that made the discovery.
It was a marvellous maze that Nature seemed to have constructed especially for the diabolical work in which Leith was engaged. Kaipi's ear was still to the ground, and the anxious look upon his face convinced us that some one was close. "Coming back again," breathed the Islander. "One man, walk slow." Our own ears acquainted us of the approach at that moment.
But Leith was making toward the camp, and the horrible thoughts aroused by the spectacle which we had witnessed in the early night muzzled the thrills which the dangers of the climb sent through our bodies. The dance had terrified the Fijian by arousing thoughts of the deeds that would happen in its wake, and Kaipi's terror became a gauge for us to measure its dread significance.
We felt that Leith and Newmarch were friends, and we wondered what the silent, thin-faced captain would do when he heard the story of Black Fernando's discomfiture. On account of Kaipi's weak state we camped that evening on the same spot that we had occupied on the second night upon the Isle of Tears, and at daybreak next morning we set out for the little bay. We were all happy.
Legs and arms were completely numbed, and the many abrasions that we had come by during the towing process to which we had been subjected made Kaipi's efforts to restore circulation by rubbing a species of torture that would surely have earned the commendation of Torquemada if it had been brought under his notice. "Narrow squeak, Verslun," remarked Holman, as he endeavoured to get to his knees.
"Gee! we could tickle him with Kaipi's old knife blade till he ran us right into the haunt." "He's deaf," I said; "there's a good chance of roping him in if we could scale the cliff." "Me climb!" said Maru. "Him not hear. Me climb all alonga track, drop down, breakem him neck." "No, don't break his neck!" growled Holman. "We want him as a guide. Do you understand?
The fact that the pursuers had the advantage put a raw edge upon our tempers, and after an hour spent upon hands and knees Holman resolutely refused to shift his ground in response to Kaipi's signals.
A prick from Kaipi's knife blade would not make him budge an inch, and we clustered together and racked our brains to find the solution. "P'raps we're up against something," whispered Holman, "Feel if there's anything in front, Verslun." I walked forward a pace and groped in the blackness. My fingers touched solid rock. It hemmed us in on all sides.
He was stretched full length on the ground, listening as only a native can listen, and we waited for his report. We had much respect for Kaipi's hearing after checking the signals he made concerning the approaching "tivo" dancer on the previous afternoon. "What is it?" asked Holman. "Some one go by, much hurry," murmured the Fijian. We crouched in the bushes and listened.
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