Adrift in Pacific and Other Great Adventures – 17 Titles in One Volume (Illustrated Edition). Jules VerneЧитать онлайн книгу.
Oh, yes."
" Then hurrah for the vicugnas."
Gordon was right. Although the vicugnas resemble goats, their paws are longer, their fleece is short and fine as silk, their head is small and has no horns. They chiefly inhabit the pampas of America, and even the country round the Straits of Magellan.
We can easily imagine how Gordon and Baxter were welcomed when they returned to the camp, one leading the vicugna by the cord of the bolas, the other carrying a kid under each arm. As their mother was still nourishing them, it was probable that the youngsters could be brought up without difficulty. They might become a herd that would become very useful to the colony. Donagan doubtless regretted the splendid shot he had missed; but when the game had to be taken alive, he had to admit that the bolas was better than the gun.
The boys dined or rather supped in high spirits. The vicugna, tied to a tree, did not refuse to feed, while the kids gambolled round her.
The night, however, was not so quiet as the one spent in Sandy Desert. This part of the forest was visited by animals more formidable than jackals, and their cries were recognizable as being a combination of howling and barking at the same time. About three o'clock in the morning, there was an alarm due to the growling close by.
Donagan, on guard near the fire with his gun in hand, did not think it worth while to wake his comrades, but the growling became so violent as of itself to wake them.
" What is the matter ? " asked Wilcox.
" There are some wild beasts prowling round," said Donagan.
" Probably jaguars or cougars!" said Gordon.
" One is as bad as the other."
" Not quite, Donagan, the cougar is not so dangerous as the jaguar; but in a pack they are dangerous enough."
" We are ready for them," said Donagan. And he put himself on the defensive, while his comrades got out their revolvers.
" Don't shoot until you can't miss," said Gordon, " I think the fire will keep them off."
" They are close by," said Cross.
And tie pack was near enough to judge by the fury of Fan, whom Gordon had some difficulty in holding back. But it was impossible to distinguish any form in the deep darkness of the forest.
Evidently the creatures were accustomed to come and drink at night in this place. Finding their haunt occupied they showed their displeasure by their frightful growls.
Suddenly, moving spots of light appeared some twenty yards away. Instantly there was the report of a gun.
Donagan had fired, and a storm of growls replied. His comrades, revolver in hand, were ready to shoot if the wild beasts rushed at the camp.
Baxter, seizing a burning brand, hurled it straight at the glittering eyes; and instantly the growling stopped, and the animals, one of whom should have been hit by Donagan, were lost in the depths of Trap Woods.
" They have moved off," said Cross.
" Good luck to them," said Service.
" Will they come back ? " asked Cross.
" That is not likely," said Gordon; " but we will watch till daylight."
Some wood was thrown on the fire which was kept blazing till the day broke. The camp was struck, and the boys ran off into the thicket to see if one of the animals had not been killed.
They found the ground stained with a large patch of blood. The brute had been able to get away, and it would have been easy to recover it if Fan had been sent in search, but Gordon did not think it worth while to go further into the forest. The question arose as to whether they were jaguars or cougars or something as dangerous, but, after all, the important point was that the boys were all safe and sound.
At six o'clock they were off again. There was no time to lose if they were to cover during the day the nine miles between them and French Den.
Service and Webb took care of the young vicugnas, while the mother was quite satisfied to follow Baxter who led her with the string.
There was not much variety in the road. On the left was a curtain of trees, sometimes in masses, sometimes in scattered clumps. To the right ran the rocky wall, striped here and there with pebble bands in the limestone, and rising higher and higher as the travellers went southwards.
At eleven o'clock the first halt was made for lunch ; and this time, so as to lose no time, the provisions in the bags were attacked. After the fresh start was made progress was more rapid, and nothing occurred to stop it, until about three o'clock in the afternoon the report of a gun echoed among the trees.
Donagan, Cross, and Webb, accompanied by Fan, were a hundred yards in advance, and their comrades could not see them, when they heard the shout of " Look out I "
Suddenly an animal of large size came rushing through the thicket. Baxter whirling his lasso over his head took a flying shot. The noose fell over the neck of the animal, but so powerful was it that Baxter would have been dragged away if Gordon, Wilcox and Service had not hung on to the end of the line, and whipped it round the trunk of a tree.
No sooner had they done so than Webb and Cross appeared from under the trees, followed by Donagan, who exclaimed in a tone of ill-temper, " Confound the beast ! How could I have missed it ? "
" Baxter didn't miss it," said Service, " and here we have it, all alive oh ! "
"What does it matter? tasked Donagan. "You'll have to kill it."
" Kill it ! " said Gordon. " Not at all ! It is our beast of burden ! "
"What, this thing ? " exclaimed Service.
" It is a guanaco," said Gordon, " and guanacos figure largely in the studs of South America."
Useful or not useful, Donagan was very sorry he had not shot it. But he said nothing, and went up to examine it.
Although the guanaco is classed with the camels, it in no way resembles those animals at first glance. Its slender neck, elegant head, long, rather lanky limbs—denoting great activity—and yellow coat spotted with white, made it in no way inferior to the best horses of American descent. It could certainly be used for riding if they could tame it and break it in as was easily done in the Argentine. It was very timid and made no attempt at escape. As soon as Baxter had loosened the slip-knot, it was easy to lead it with the lasso which served the purpose of a halter.
The expedition to the north of Family Lake had been a profitable one for the colony. The guanaco, the vicugna and her two kids, the discovery of the tea-tree, of the trulcas and the algarrobe, ensured a hearty welcome to Gordon, and even more to Baxter, who had none of Donagan's vanity and was not at all conceited over his success.
Gordon was delighted to find that the bolas and lasso could be really useful. Donagan was a capital shot, but his skill required an expenditure of powder and lead which the colony could ill spare, and Gordon determined to encourage his comrades in practising with these weapons of the chase of which the Indians make such profitable use.
The map showed that four miles still separated the boys from French Den, and the word was given to hurry on. It was not envy which forbade Service from bestriding the guanaco and riding home in state, but Gordon thought it was better to wait until the creature was broken in.
" I don't think he'll kick much," said he, " but if he won't let you ride him, he might consent to draw the cart."
About six o'clock they arrived in sight of French Den.
Young Costar, amusing himself on the terrace, announced the approach of the expedition; and Briant and the others ran out to welcome Gordon with cheers
CHAPTER X.
Across The Lake
It