The party reached the eastern slope of the volcano, directly under the cone, and started the last descent. The rope ladders made the trip comparatively easy, except for the final drop before the ground leveled off somewhat. It was a rough stretch, too long for a ladder. A single rope had been saved for the purpose. Rick took it from Scotty and made it fast around a spike they had driven earlier. Zircon was the first to use it. He went down swiftly, keeping hold of the rope in case of a slip.
Scotty followed, then Shannon. The lanky zoologist was halfway down when Rick felt the rope tighten with a jerk and he heard Shannon"s choked cry of pain. Rick rechecked to be sure the rope was secure, then motioned to Briotti and the Filipino boy. "Go on. We"ve got to get down to him."
Scotty and Zircon, climbing back from below, reached Shannon"s side before Rick and the others could get there. In a few moments the six were cl.u.s.tered together.
"A rock turned under me," Shannon explained. "I felt the bone snap in my leg. You"d better go on. You can send help back to me later."
"Nonsense," Zircon grated. "Boys, what can we use for a splint?"
Rick was already pulling arrows out of the quiver. "These are Dr.
Shannon"s. I"m sure he won"t mind if we use them."
"You have my permission," Shannon said with a painful chuckle.
The blunt-headed arrows were quickly lashed into two bundles. Rick and Scotty shed their light jackets and Scotty"s knife flashed in the faint starlight as he sliced them into padding. Rick took the extra bowstrings from the quiver and handed them to Zircon. The bowstrings would make ideal ties. Within a short time Shannon"s leg was securely splinted and Zircon was giving instructions.
"Scotty, go untie the rope and bring it down. You and Rick will hold from above, while Tony and I carry Howard. You, Mr. Torres, will please stay directly in front of us to test the footing and warn us of loose stones."
"Of course, sir," the Filipino boy replied quickly.
Scotty returned from his climb with the rope coiled. He made several turns around Shannon"s waist, pulled the rope up under his armpits, and secured it with a bowline.
"Slow and easy does it," Zircon directed.
Slow was the key word. Rick and Scotty kept the safety line taut while Briotti and Zircon moved the injured man an inch at a time, bracing themselves against the rock and feeling for each step. Zircon, the most powerful of them all, had to carry most of the scientist"s weight.
Rick was worried. The trip across the volcano had taken quite a while and now time was running out on them. He looked at the luminous dial of his watch and realized with a sudden chill that dawn was only a half hour away. "We"ve got to hurry," he said.
"They change the lookout just before dawn," Tony said. "Even if he"s still unconscious we won"t have much time once they find him!"
"You"re right." Zircon stopped and began untying the rope that secured Shannon.
"What are you doing?" Scotty asked anxiously.
"Changing methods," Zircon said grimly. He handed the rope to Scotty.
"Cut off a length and tie Howard to me. Then secure the remainder under my armpits."
Rick knew that it would be a terrible strain on the big scientist, but it would be faster--if his strength held out.
Zircon picked Shannon up in his arms, and Scotty lashed them together, making a kind of sling that would help support Shannon"s weight. Then he tied one end of the remaining rope around Zircon"s barrel chest, up under his armpits.
Rick, Scotty, Briotti, and the Filipino boy grasped the rope and held it firmly while the big scientist walked upright down the remaining slope, one slow step after another, the others following but always keeping the rope tight in case he started to fall.
They negotiated the hardest part of the slope, then Zircon leaned back against a boulder and rested for a moment. The final hundred yards wasn"t steep, but it was strewn with loose boulders and lava chunks.
Zircon wouldn"t be able to speed up much. Rick looked at his watch again, then at the sky. He didn"t say anything. The big physicist was doing more than any man should be asked to do. He couldn"t do it any faster.
Scotty moved to his side. "Got arrows left?"
"Yes. Most of the big broadheads and half a dozen of the small broadheads. Why?"
"We may need them. I"m scared. The guard"s relief must know by now that his pal got conked."
"We"re both scared," Rick corrected. "But what can we do?"
"Be ready to fight."
Zircon called hoa.r.s.ely, "Let"s go!"
They were off again, the scientist plodding slowly ahead, down the last stretch to the cove. About half of the distance had been covered when Rick saw the first sail. It was close to sh.o.r.e, near the cove where they had anch.o.r.ed the vinta.
Zircon saw it, too. He called softly, "Scotty! Leave the rope to the others. Get ahead of me and cover us. But don"t shoot until they start something."
Scotty moved ahead, unslinging his rifle as he went.
Zircon speeded up as much as possible. Fortunately, the going was easier now and the big scientist could make better time. Rick helped to keep the rope braced, and tried to divide his attention between watching the uncertain footing and looking for other sails.
The first pirate vinta was nosing into the cove when two others came into sight. And, at nearly the same moment, Zircon reached the small patch of level ground at the cove"s edge.
Rick dropped the rope and hurried to the big scientist"s side, drawing his knife. He cut the ropes that bound Shannon to Zircon, and they lowered the injured zoologist to a sitting position with a big rock at his back.
Dawn was breaking fast now. Already Rick could see details more clearly and he knew it was only minutes to practically full daylight. The Spindrift group could see the pirate vintas clearly now against the sea, but the pirates could not yet see them because they were still in shadow, dark rock at their backs. Still, the pirates would try the cove first. It was the logical place.
He estimated their chances quickly, and saw that the situation was hopeless. There was no chance of getting their vinta past the pirates.
They would have to fight. He drew the bow sections out of the quiver and got ready. Next to him, Zircon was checking the clip in his pistol.
Rick took the Megabuck network unit from his pocket and called softly, "Chahda!"
"Here, Rick. Long time wait. How things go?"
"Not good. Shannon broke a leg. Also, we"re at the cove, which is filling up with pirate vintas. We"re cut off."
Chahda whistled. "I say plenty no good! Look, you figure way to get to clear water. I figure way to pick you up. Starting right now!"
"Okay," Rick said, without knowing how it could be done. "Come on in, but don"t get trapped!"
There was a sudden chorus of pirate yells, then one of the Moros fired a shot. Scotty"s rifle snapped, and pirate rifles answered. The fight was on! Rick grabbed a broadhead arrow from the quiver and hurried forward.
CHAPTER XIX
Chahda Sweeps the Sea
The exchange of rifleshots lasted only a few moments without causing casualties to either side. Scotty had fired more in warning than to score a hit. The Spindrifters had taken cover behind the rocks, and the protection had been enough.
Rick sized up the situation. More vintas were crowding into the cove.
There were so many now they got in each other"s way. Before long the entire cove would be jammed with vintas and the Moros would come swarming ash.o.r.e. Unfortunately, the sea was calm, with only low surf on the eastern sh.o.r.e. Heavy breakers would have been helpful in keeping the pirates busy, Rick thought.