"Is it possible that I am on the island where Robinson Crusoe spent his lonely years?"
"It is so."
"I can hardly believe it."
"Nevertheless it is a fact."
"If I ever get away from it I will read the story all over again."
The man laughed.
"That"s natural.
"But do you live here alone?"
"Oh, no; there are six Chilian families here with me. But you are beating me at asking questions, for you have learned all there is to be learned of me, while I cannot name you from any descendant of old Adam."
Without further delay Jack told his companion the story of his adventures.
Chapter VI
A Terrible Mistake
Jack found Robinson Crusoe"s island a pleasanter place than he had expected. Among the ridges were many pretty valleys which were covered with patches of woods or gra.s.s. Everything bore a peculiar hue of green, from the groves of myrtle, pimento and corkwood to the gra.s.sy plots, the natural fields of oats and even to the moss-covered rocks of the spinelike mountains.
The coast, as far as he could see, overhung the sea or rose perpendicular to such a height as to make it inaccessible, except at one place where a rent in the wall allowed man to enter the almost sacred domain.
The rude, picturesque huts of Mr. Pearce and his a.s.sociates stood in a romantic valley, where the American told him had stood the "castle" of the Crusoe inhabitant of the island, Alexander Selkirk, whose strange story has been read the wide world over.
Jack had been at the island nearly a week, and he was looking forward to an opportunity to go to the mainland in a few days, when Mr. Pearce informed him that something singular had transpired during the night.
"Though no vessel is in sight this morning, I am sure some one landed here last night between midnight and daylight."
"Do you think there is anything to fear from such a visit, providing some one has been here?" asked Jack.
"I don"t know. This island was used several years as a penal colony for Chili, but an earthquake so upset things that the one hundred and fifty odd prisoners escaped, and since that no one has been sent here. But it has been the refuge of two or three outlaws since, as if the place had a strange fascination for them. Perhaps they think it is a safe place to flee to after what has occurred here. I have had no trouble with them worth mentioning."
"Do you think one came last night?"
"Looks like it. But I will find out before I am much older. I will get the Chilians to go with us and we will explore the cells."
Jack was not kept in suspense long as to Mr. Pearce"s meaning.
Upon reaching the foot of a bluff about half a mile from the ruins of what looked like an old fort, but which was now embedded in banks of clay and overgrown with moss and rank weeds, he found that the whole structure had been built of stone.
"It was done by the Chilian government in 1767," said Mr. Pearce, "and was undone by an earthquake in 1835. This you see here nearest was the front wall of the main rampart. But here is the greatest wonder in the hillside.
This old building--fortress, as it might be truthfully called--was the abode of the officers and their men who were stationed here to watch and guard the island, while these other retreats which are marked by those black mouths were used for an altogether different purpose."
Mr. Pearce pointed, as he spoke, to numerous dark openings in the side of the hill, there being many completely hidden by the rank ferns hanging in festoons at their entrance.
"It was in these pits, dug into the earth to the depth of two or three hundred feet, that the Chilian government confined their convicts, and where, if all reports be true, they underwent tortures that made life a living death. The earthquake tore down all the heavy doors, as if the elements were in league with the poor captives, every one of whom thus managed to escape.
"It is in these places the fugitives who seek this island for safety conceal themselves. We can find some sign at the mouth if any one has entered a cell since yesterday."
He then led the way along the broken-down entrances of the underground excavations, now occupied by bats, toads and vermin, but where once miserable wrecks of manhood had found a terrible punishment for their crimes.
A wild goat sprang out from one of the cells and bounded away, but no trace of a human being was found, until at last Mr. Pearce stopped before one cell which was reached by descending several stone steps.
"This was one of the cells for exceptionally bad prisoners," said Mr.
Pearce. "It is not as deep as some of the others, but reeks with a cold sweat, and the air is so damp and chilly as to make one shiver the moment he enters. Just think of the poor wretches confined here, where no ray of sunlight could ever reach them, and no living soul to pity them in their hopeless despair! This does not run into the earth more than twenty-five feet. Your eyes are younger and sharper than mine; see if those are not fresh footprints."
"They are," replied Jack, as soon as he had made a hasty examination; "and I am sure they are made by an American shoe!"
"Whew!" exclaimed Mr. Pearce, "that makes it more mysterious, and it behooves us to move with great caution. One of us had better remain on the outside, while the other makes an exploration of the den. Which will you do?"
"I will go inside, if it makes no difference to you, only I wish you would let me have one of your pistols."
"Of course, and you can take this knife, too. Move cautiously, for if there is an American run to earth in there, you may count on it that he will fight for his life. It will be different from facing one of those Chilians, who make a good deal of noise and but a little resistance."
Jack promised to act with caution, and taking the weapons tended him by his companion, he boldly pushed his way down the rough stairway leading to the dark dungeon.
"Give the signal at the least sign of danger, and I will be there in a trice," were Mr. Pearce"s parting words. "Meanwhile if you hear me whistle, don"t fail to come back as quickly as possible."
By this time Jack was at the foot of the descent, and parting the damp ferns that overhung the mouth of the cell, he was about to enter the dismal pa.s.sage, when his foot struck something that rustled.
Reaching down in the darkness, his hand touched a sheet of paper or parchment, which he picked up.
He had hardly done this before Mr. Pearce gave a shrill whistle, which caused Jack to return to his side, wondering what had happened.
His surprise may be imagined when he saw a squad of armed men drawn up in front of them!
"They are Government soldiers in search of the fugitive," whispered Mr.
Pearce. "Don"t do anything rash if you value your life. Let me speak to them."
A short consultation then followed in Spanish, the new-comers all the time covering the twain with their c.o.c.ked carbines.
Finally Mr. Pearce turned to Jack, saying: "It is just as I thought. They are looking for an escaped prisoner-an Englishman, or rather youth, as they tell me. They think you are the one and demand your immediate surrender. The best thing you can do is to give up without resistance. I will stand by you when the time comes for the need of my help. They won"t believe a word I say now. See they are getting impatient. What answer shall I give them?"
Jack, who did not understand a word that they had said, realized from their manner that he could expect no mercy from the Chilians. If Mr.
Pearce could not benefit him now, how could he later? Still his only alternative seemed to be to surrender, upon the condition that he be given fair treatment at the hands of the government.
But notwithstanding this stipulation, no sooner had he signified his intention of yielding without resistance than he was roughly siezed and bound. Then some of his captors dragged him back against the side of the bluff. The leader gave a few words of command to his followers, who obeyed by instantly bringing their firearms to their shoulders, pointed at Jack!
"Great sun!" exclaimed Mr. Pearce, his face turning white as marble as he witnessed this summary threat, "they mean to shoot you on the spot!" He had barely uttered these startling words before the leader of the squad raised his right hand, as a signal for the marksmen to fire.