CHAPTER V

The Cave of Wonder

The jungle woman stepped back and was talking excitedly with the other savages. Terry grabbed Prim by the arm. "Let's get outside," she said. "There may be some way of escape even yet. Don't give up!"

The two girls stepped out of the hut to be met by the grinning faces of a dozen or more native women, who rolled their eyes and jabbered shrilly. Prim clutched at Terry.

"They're cannibals! They'll eat us! Look at their sharp teeth. Let's run!"

But the woman who had fiercely stared at them in the hut now stepped forward and offered a gift. It was a big package, something wrapped in leaves.

Terry accepted it, trying to force a smile and while she opened the leaves she said in an undertone to Prim, "We'll have to make them a gift in return. What have we got? Think fast, Prim."

For answer Prim unfastened the silver necklace with its bright pendant and Terry passed it to the woman. There were grunts of approval, smiles and nods as the other savages pressed close to examine the royal gift. They all seemed satisfied.

Terry had opened the package now and disclosed a big fish baked to a turn and garnished with leaves. "Horrid stuff!" she thought. "How I _hate_ fish! But I'd better pretend to like it!"

Terry broke a bit from the fish, tasted it and tried to look pleased. Then she passed some to Prim and offered to share her gift with the women.

"Me Pedro's wife. Me Rosa. Come!" said the leader.

The savage repeated the words as if they meant nothing to her. Perhaps Pedro had spent hours teaching her those few phrases.

"Don't go, Terry," begged Prim. "They'll get us to their village, then eat us!"

But Terry laughed. "Why no, Prim, we've exchanged gifts. We're friends, like sisters."

Prim grumbled as Terry nodded her willingness to go and followed after the chief's wife who led the way straight toward the jungle. At first the girls could not see an opening in that wall of tangled leaves, but when they reached the trees, Rosa led them into a dark green tunnel and Terry and Prim followed, wondering what was coming next.

They must have walked for half a mile through that passageway cut from the creepers, when the girls saw light ahead and soon emerged on a clearing, among mud huts, a swarm of natives and naked children.

When the girls appeared, a cry went up from the blacks that sent a chill to the heart. It was a sharp, penetrating cry that made shivers run up and down the spine.

But only for a moment were the girls afraid. The natives were friendly, there was no doubt about that. The children stared at them with wonder in their big eyes. The girls lost no time in giving the little ones the few pieces of chocolate they had in the deep pockets of their flying coats.

"I'll take back everything I ever said, Prim, about you wearing a necklace with flying togs and making me, as well as yourself, carry a supply of chocolate. They have served us in good stead today," said Terry, her eyes glowing as she watched the children devour the sweets.

Prim was smiling triumphantly at Terry. "Your apology is accepted, my dear! Only don't let it happen again! And if they are going to spread a feast for us, I wish they'd hurry up, for my stomach is crying for food. Those bananas I ate last night weren't so very filling after all. And I don't care whether I ever see another one."

"No wonder, Prim! I was counting how many you ate and after the twelfth I stopped," answered her sister with a laugh.

The girls tried by gestures and smiles to indicate their pleasure at everything around them. They complimented Rosa, the chief's wife, for her fine hut. They admired the babies and by different signs expressed their delight. That they were understood was shown in the shining face of their hostess.

Prim gave a sigh of relief as a young native girl, walking like a princess, was seen approaching with a huge bowl of steaming food. Plaited mats were spread for the guests and food was offered them while the whole village made a circle around them to watch them eat.

Terry, never a big eater, was inclined to be a bit fussy about her food, but today she ate a portion of everything offered, whether it tasted good or not. Prim watched her in surprise and chuckled at the joke on her sister as she pretended to enjoy the fish.

"I don't care, Prim, go on and make fun of me! I'd rather eat than be eaten!" she retorted. "It's not too late for them to change their minds, even yet!"

Half an hour went by and Terry and Prim had succeeded in making friends with the shy little children. Suddenly Pedro walked into the clearing. He was scowling angrily. Once more the girls started in fear.

Pedro explained in the few words of English that he knew, how Joe Arnold was very angry and had hit him.

"Joe Arnold much bad man! Bud, much, much bad, too! He kill you, maybe!"

"That's what I expected!" whispered Terry to her sister.

"No can do!" the black dramatically cried, waving an arm around his little settlement. "No! My people, they watch, they hide you far away! Joe no find!"

Terry explained to the chief what she wanted to do. They must put up some sort of signal so that Allan and Syd, their friends, would see it if they flew over the island.

"If only we had some white cloth," said Prim. "We could put out one of those signals we talked about once, a big letter T, on the top of a ridge. I'm sure the boys would understand that."

"They might if we had cloth to do it with, but we haven't. So that's out!" answered Terry.

Pedro had risen suddenly. He understood. He called to his wife and spoke to her in their own language. Rosa bobbed into her hut as fast as she could and in a few minutes returned bringing a roll of white goods which she presented to the girls.

At that moment a sharp whistle broke the quiet of the jungle village with a discordant note. Pedro jumped to his feet and the next moment Rosa was shoving the girls before her into the hut. Someone was coming! The whistle was a warning from one of the boys who was guarding the village.

When Joe Arnold strode into the settlement a few minutes later, Rosa was busily plaiting a mat. All the women were at work and scarcely looked up as the man faced Pedro.

"You lazy good-for-nothing! Get back to work! This is my busiest day and you lay off! The men won't work unless you're there!"

Pedro knew that this was no time to show fight. "Yes sir! I come by-em-by," he answered.

"Now!" shouted Joe. Then he turned with a menacing glare at Rosa. "Did those girls sleep here last night?" He shook his fist at the woman.

Rosa jabbered in reply and looked bewildered, so Joe turned to Pedro and repeated the question.

Pedro shook his head.

"Then what's happened to them? Not that I care much!" stormed Joe as he stared about him.

"We no see 'em!" repeated Pedro.

Joe Arnold went from one hut to another, peering inside. As he neared the chief's large house, he was met by Rosa's broad grin. She was sitting in the doorway and her large body completely filled the opening. She refused to get up, pretending not to understand what he wanted.

Suddenly Joe turned and faced Pedro. "Now let me tell you one thing, Pedro. Listen to what I've got to say! If you or your people shelter those girls, you'll be sorry. I'll clean you out!" And with that threat Joe Arnold strode back through the jungle track.

When he got far enough away, Rosa began to laugh in a low rumble which gradually increased in volume, until it reached a high, full roar. The other women joined in and the clearing was filled with their raucous shouts.

That was their answer to Joe Arnold's threat.

It was very evident that the girls were being treated as honored guests. Terry found it hard to sample all the food that was brought her, but Prim was in her glory. She liked to eat. She liked strange dishes, and she ate enough for two. Terry had to pretend to be ill in order not to offend her hostess. And then as suddenly she had to pretend to get well again, for the kind-hearted woman insisted that she must give her medicine.--And it was made of fish oil!

That night when Pedro returned from the shore, the news he brought was not good. Joe was planning on taking the girls in the launch over to a small island to the eastward where they would be absolutely alone. There were still wild beasts on that island. It meant certain death.

That night the girls slept in the hut belonging to Pedro. They stretched out on mats and the native women stood guard. Not a breath of air was stirring in that close interior. Terry and Prim felt as if someone were clutching at their throats it was so hard to get a breath. They were not troubled with fears of capture, for Pedro had stationed sentinels beyond the clearing to give warning if anyone approached. But in spite of this the girls slept fitfully. The air was stifling.

At the first glow of dawn Rosa appeared at the door of the hut. She said, "Come!" And there was an excited light in her eyes as she rolled them.

The girls lost no time in obeying her command. A guard of young men went ahead, then came Pedro and his wife, followed by Terry and Prim with two tall and powerful guards. The young women of the tribe came next, and the procession ended with more guards.

"We don't know where we're going," said Prim in a whisper to her sister as they walked along. "But we're going in style!"

It was a long walk through the jungle passage, a mile perhaps, but it was hard for the girls to tell how far they had come. The damp heat of the tunnel was oppressive. Perspiration streamed from their bodies. Their thick clothes were unbearably hot, although one of the guards carried their heavy coats.

Terry and Prim arrived at the next clearing, pale, hollow-eyed and ready to drop. But the end of their journey was not yet. They had reached the edge of the jungle and now had to climb up a steep ridge to a broad plateau. But the hot air was a relief after the humid atmosphere of the passage through the vines and creepers of the jungle. Suddenly they stopped, looking toward the sky, Joe Arnold might be watching from the air.

Terry and Prim scanned the horizon for signs of an approaching plane. It was hopeless. They both knew that it would never occur to the boys, if they were saved from the storm, to hunt for them to the eastward.

Finally as they reached the ridge, the blacks stopped and prepared to camp.

"What's the matter with these people?" whispered Prim. "Do they imagine they can hide us on the very top of the ridge? What are they going to do?"

"I haven't the least idea, Prim, but I'm going to trust Pedro. I believe he is honest and really wants to help us," answered Terry as she watched the blacks.

Suddenly Pedro dropped to the ground. Terry looked just in time to see the earth swallow him up. She rubbed her eyes and looked again. Pedro had disappeared. Then Terry saw what was going on. Evidently these people had a subterranean hiding place, the opening of which was at the summit of the ridge. The entrance was narrow and Rosa had some difficulty in getting her large body through. She squeezed and struggled, and Pedro pulled from below until she finally slid through. Terry was invited to follow.

What were they up to? How could she explain to them that she must be above ground to watch for her friends?

"Come!" The girls heard Rosa's voice coming from the cavern. Terry sat down and putting her feet through the opening, found that they rested on a slippery rock. Getting a foothold she put up a hand for Prim. Slipping and sliding down the slope the two girls found themselves in a strange purple glow. When they reached the first level place, Pedro and Rosa were waiting for them.

Terry stood gazing about her. They were in an enormous cave, lined with crystals, and the sunlight which shone through the opening, caught the facets of the crystals and shot out in flashes of color: red, orange, yellow, blue, indigo, violet, and all the thousands of shades between. It was a gorgeous spectacle. The girls were breathless. They had often read of the crystal caves and wished that they could see one.

Finally Terry turned to her sister. "Would you believe it, Prim? For a few seconds I thought something had happened to us, that we had fallen down and been killed."

"Killed! What are you talking about, Terry? Have you gone crazy from all this excitement?" cried Prim anxiously.

"I thought--well you see I wondered if this was heaven. It's so beautiful, it might easily be. Even yet I can hardly believe it's real," said Terry with a little catch in her voice. "I want to cry!"

"You cry! That's a joke! Let me see you do it once!" teased Prim. "It's not often you feel that way, so go ahead. Don't let me stop you."

But Terry did not cry. She turned to Pedro and Rosa and thanked them for bringing her to this wonderful cave.

Sea water rose in the cave and made a lake. Finally as their eyes got used to the darkness below they could see a boat. It was built of woven twigs and covered with skin. A small boy who had followed them into the cave, dived into the dark water and swam to the boat. Others followed and the small craft was soon full of little dark figures. With whoops of delight they paddled the boat wildly about the lake.

"Even savage boys have to show off," said Prim with a laugh.

"Don't laugh, Prim. They are doing their best to entertain us," Terry answered as she clapped her hands, which sent the boys into still wilder stunts.

The girls were now in a worse jam than ever. Here they were perfectly safe, they felt sure. But how could they watch for Allan and Syd? How could they signal for help? When Terry explained this to Pedro, he produced the white cloth that Rosa had given them. Terry tore it to the proper size and shape to make an enormous letter T. Much against his wishes Pedro allowed the girls to climb out of the cave and direct the spreading of the cloth on the ground, where it could be seen from the sky.

"It's only a long chance, Prim, but it's the only thing I can think of. If we made a smoke signal or anything like that, Joe Arnold would suspect at once," explained Terry.

"I know, but don't you think he'll suspect if he sees this white cloth spread out on the ground?" asked Prim.

Terry expressed her fears to Pedro, who was arranging the work of some men near-by. The big chief assured her that he would attend to that. His people would camp on the hill, then Joe Arnold would think that the cloth had something to do with the work of the tribe.

In less than an hour one or two huts were ready, a crude cooking place had been built and the women were preparing breakfast.

Terry and Prim wanted to stay above ground, but Pedro shook his head vigorously and explained that Joe Arnold was "very much bad," and was planning to take them away where they would surely be killed.

Terry and Prim slid down the opening and reached the level in safety.

"After all, Prim, we have nothing to complain of. It's a gorgeous place to be imprisoned. Let's make the best of it and enjoy it, for we're not apt to see anything like it again," comforted Terry as she saw Prim's frowning face.

"It's all right here, but I'd rather stay in the open. Besides I'm beginning to like that savage tribe. I'll say that Pedro is a prince."

"Oh no, he isn't," laughed Terry. "He's the whole show! He's the Big Chief. He's king! And Rosa is a queen, a very big queen!"

The queen herself brought them their breakfast, more strange food, more fish, more bananas. Pedro had already eaten and was on his way with his men to the beach to help Joe and Bud.

The morning seemed long. There was nothing to do but watch the flashes of color in the dome. And even Terry lost some of her enthusiasm at the monotony of the playing light. Finally it got on her nerves.

Suddenly a black face appeared at the opening. A hissing sound came from the thick lips, then the face disappeared.

"What do you make of that?" asked Prim. "Do you suppose that hiss can be translated to mean the same as in our language? Are they hissing us, and why?"

Terry was already making her way up the steep wall of the cave. "I don't know what it's all about, but I'm going to find out," she called back.

As Terry reached the opening, she heard the hum of a motor overhead. Then she ducked back quickly, for there was only one man in the plane. He had banked and circled low, and Terry had seen that mocking face.

It was Joe Arnold!