Reason and experience said, "Why shelter beneath a tree at a time like this?" but the instinct of self-preservation drove them there to escape the terrible battering of the rain and the rushing wind.
For they had ample knowledge of the state of the lake, though, save in momentary glances, it was invisible beneath the black pall of cloud and rain, for waves came surging in, making the boat rise and fall, while from time to time quite a billow rushed beneath the drooping boughs, which partially broke its force ere it struck against the side of the boat with a heavy slap and sent its crest over the covering and into the unprotected parts.
There was something confusing as well as appalling in the storm, which was gigantic as compared to anything Rob had seen at home, and as he crouched there listening in the brief intervals of the thunder-claps, the rain poured down on the tarpaulin roof with one continuous rush and roar as heavily as if the boat had been backed in beneath some waterfall.
All at once from out of the darkness a curious startling sound was heard, which puzzled both lads for some minutes, till they suddenly recollected that Shaddy had placed tin balers fore and aft, and any doubt as to their being the cause of the peculiar noise was set at rest by Shaddy, who suddenly thrust in his head at the end of a deafening roar and shouted,--
"How are you getting on, gentlemen? Water got in there yet?"
"No, no," was shouted back, "not yet."
"That"s right. We"re pumping it out here as quick as we can. Comes in fast enough to most sink us."
Shaddy then went on working away out in the pelting rain, and a minute later they made out that his chief man was hard at work forward.
And still the rain came down, and the lightning kept on flashing through the dark shelter; while, if there was any change at all in the thunder, it was louder, clearer, and more rapid in following the electric discharge.
"I say, Joe," whispered Rob at last, with his lips close to his companion"s ear, "how do you feel?"
"Don"t know: so curious--as if tiny pins and needles were running through me. What"s that curious singing noise?"
"That"s just what I want to know. I can feel it all through me, and my ears are as if I had caught a bad cold. Like bells ringing; singing you call it."
Just then Shaddy"s voice was heard in an interval between two peals of thunder shouting to his men in a tone of voice which indicated that something was wrong, and Brazier thrust out his head from the opening at one end of the awning to ask what was the matter.
"Matter, sir? Why, if we don"t get all hands at the pumps the ship"ll sink."
"Is it so bad as that? We"ll all come at once."
"Nay, nay. I"ve got a strong enough crew, only we must use buckets instead of balers."
"But--"
"Go inside, sir, please, out of the wet, and see to your things being kept dry. I was "zaggerating, being a bit excited; that"s all. I don"t want you, and I daresay the storm"s nearly over now."
The sound of dipping water and pouring it over the side went on merrily in the darkness and brilliant light alternately, for, in spite of the guide"s words, there seemed to be no sign of the storm abating, and while the men were busy outside Brazier and the two boys set to work piling the various objects they wished to keep dry upon the barrels which had been utilised for their stores, for the water had invaded the covered-in part of the boat to a serious extent, and threatened more damage every moment.
A few minutes later, though, the efforts of the men began to show, and Shaddy appeared again for one moment, his face being visible in the glare of light, but was hidden the next.
"Getting the water down fast now, sir," he said. "Hope you haven"t much mischief done."
"A great many things soaked."
"That don"t matter, sir, so long as your stores are right. Sun"ll dry everything in an hour or two."
"But when is it coming, Shaddy?"
""Fore long, sir."
They did not see him go, but knew from the sound of his voice the next minute that he was in the fore-part of the boat, ordering his men to take up some of the boards.
Ten minutes later the rain ceased as suddenly as it had begun. There was a vivid flash of lightning, a long pause, and then a deep-toned roar, while all at once the interior of the little cabin became visible, and a little later the sun came out to shine brilliantly on what looked like a lake of thick mist.
"Will one of you young gents unfasten the stern rope?" cried Shaddy, "and we"ll get out from under this dripping tree."
"All right!" cried Rob, and he turned to throw open the stern end of the awning, while Brazier and Joe went in the other direction to where the men were still baling, but sc.r.a.ping the bottom hard at every scoop of the tins they were using.
The stern end of the canvas was secured by a couple of straps, similar to those used in small tents, and these were so wet that it was not easy to get them out of the buckles, but with a little exertion this was done, and Rob parted the ends like the curtains of a bed, peered out at the dripping foliage, and shut them to again, startled by what he saw.
After a few moments" hesitation, he was roused to action by a shout from Shaddy.
"Can"t you get it undone, sir?"
"Yes, I think so. Wait a moment," cried Rob huskily, and opening the canvas curtain once more, he stepped out boldly and faced that which had startled him before, this being nothing less than the puma. For it had either leaped from the sh.o.r.e into the boat or crept out along one of the great horizontal boughs of the tree and then dropped lightly down to take its place right in the stern, where it was sitting up licking its drenched coat as contentedly as some huge cat.
It looked so different in its soaked state that for the moment Rob was disposed to think it another of the occupants of the forest, but his doubts were immediately set aside by the animal ceasing its occupation and giving its head a rub against him as, hardly knowing what to do, the boy unfastened the rope in obedience to orders, set the boat free, and then wished he had not done so till the puma had been driven ash.o.r.e.
"All right, sir?" shouted Shaddy, who was hidden, like the rest, by the intervening cabin-like structure.
"Yes," cried Rob, as the puma set up its ears and looked angrily in the direction from which the voices came, while the boat began to glide out through the dripping boughs, and the next minute was steaming in the hot sunshine.
"What shall I do?" thought Rob, who was now in an agony of perplexity, longing to call to his companions and yet in his confusion dreading to utter a word, for the fear was upon him that the moment the puma caught sight of Brazier it would fly at him. And again he mentally asked the question, "What shall I do?"
Meanwhile the puma had continued contentedly enough to lick its coat, sitting up on the narrow thwart at the end once more exactly like a cat, and in such a position that Rob felt how easy it would be to give the creature a sharp thrust and send it overboard, when it would be sure to swim ash.o.r.e and relieve him of his perplexity.
While he was hesitating, the word "Oh!" was uttered close behind him, and looking sharply round, there was the wondering face of Joe thrust out between the canvas hangings, which he held tightly round his neck, being evidently too much startled to speak or move.
"It came on board, Joe, during the storm," whispered Rob; "whatever shall we do?"
The lad made no answer for a few moments, and then in a hurried whisper--
"Call Mr Brazier to shoot it."
This roused Rob.
"What for?" he said angrily; "the poor thing"s as tame as can be.
Look!"
He took a step toward the great cat-like creature, and it ceased licking itself and leaned sideways as if to be caressed.
At that moment Joe popped back his head, and Brazier"s voice was heard:--
"They want the grapnel lowered, Rob, my lad. Can you--Why, whatever is this?"
The aspect of the puma changed in an instant. Its ears went down nearly flat upon its head, and it started upon all-fours, tossing its tail about and uttering a menacing growl.
Brazier started back, and Rob knew for what.