The Land of Mystery
Page 4
CHAPTER IV.
HOW IT ENDED.
It will be recalled that the Professor started in pursuit of the flyingnative with as much ardor as his friend, but, less skilful than he, hehad taken but a step or two, when an obstruction flung him to theground with discouraging emphasis.
Concluding that he had undertaken a futile task, he hastily climbed tohis feet to await the return of Long who, he was satisfied, wouldattempt only a brief pursuit.
Remembering the javelin which had whizzed so near his crown, he castabout for a moment and picked it up from the earth where it lay but afew feet distant. As he balanced it in his hand, he observed that itwas about six feet in length, was made entirely of wood, which washeavy and as hard and smooth as polished ebony.
The light of the moon was like that of the day itself. It would havebeen easy to read ordinary print by it. He had no trouble, therefore,in closely examining the novel implement of war. As he suspected, thepoint was made of stone or flint, ground almost to needle-likesharpness and securely fastened in place by a fine tendon wound aroundthe portion of the stick that held the harder part. This was coveredwith a gummy substance extending to the end.
This he was satisfied was among the most virulent of substances knownto toxicology. A puncture of the skin was sure to be fatal unless someremedy, of whose existence he held no suspicion, was instantlyobtainable.
He had set down his rifle white examining the weapon, but quicklycaught it up again, still retaining the javelin in his right band. Hehad been startled by the sound of the terrific threshing among thetrees on his right.
He supposed that his friend was coming back, but, glancing toward thepoint where he expected him to appear, he was amazed to see the thirdnative, who whisked off before Long could draw a bead on him, step fromthe wood not twenty paces away. His back was toward the Professor,and, strangely enough, he did not observe the white man--an oversightthat never could have occurred, but for the tumult in the undergrowthwhich held his attention.
Grimcke had hardly caught sight of him, when the other native cameflying to view, so astonishing his waiting comrade that he stood amoment irresolute after the white pursuer burst into sight.
Brief as was this pause, it gave the Professor time for someexceedingly fine work. He uttered a shout which caused the native toturn his affrighted gaze behind him, just in time to observe the whiteman with javelin raised and apparently in the very act of launching itat him.
The savage knew what a prick from that frightful thing meant, and witha howling shriek he ducked his head as though he had caught its whizzthrough the air, and shot among the trees with as much celerity as hiscompanion had shown in coming from them.
Neither of the explorers wished to slay the natives, no matter howsavage, unless compelled to do so in actual self-defence. Long hadrecovered from his first burst of fury, and, though the Professor couldhave sunk the javelin in the naked body, he withheld it, not unwillingthat his assailant, now that he had started to flee, should escape.
The one who had so foolishly come back to the river side was left inthe worst possible situation, for both his enemies stood between himand the sheltering forest and he was defenceless. He was at theirmercy, and such people as those natives neither gave nor expectedquarter, when engaged in their savage warfare.
The fellow acted like a bewildered animal. The white strangers werestanding a few paces apart, so as to form the two angles of a triangle,while he made the third. The nearest point to the forest way midwaybetween Grimcke and Long, as was apparent to the savage, who was fairlycornered.
Had the Xingu behind him been as placid as farther above or below therapids, he would not have hesitated to plunge into its waters, trustingto his skill in swimming; but, to dive into the raging current wouldhave been as certain destruction as for a man to undertake to swimunaided through the whirlpool below Niagara.
Grimcke and Long were not unwilling to torment the fellow, because ofhis cowardly attempt a few minutes before, though, as has been stated,neither intended to do him any special harm.
The affrighted native crouched down, as though seeking to draw himselfinto such a narrow compass that the terrible javelin could not reachhim. Despite the proof he had seen of the power of the civilizedweapons, he held his own in greater dread.
Grimcke raised the spear, as if poising it aloft to hurl at the savage.The latter uttered a howl of terror, and, with his head still low,attempted to dart between the strangers. Naturally he shied as faraway as possible from the Professor, and thereby brought himself almostclose enough to touch Jared.
"That's what I want," muttered the latter, hurriedly concentrating hisstrength in his good right leg, and delivering the most powerful kickat his command.
It was well aimed and most effectively landed. The Professor was surehe heard the "dull thud," and always insisted that the recipient waslifted clear of the ground and propelled among the trees with animpetus sufficient to break his neck.
"There!" exclaimed the New Englander, looking around, "I guess I'mthrough!"
"I am sure that last fellow hopes so," said the Professor with a laugh,"for it's safe to conclude he was never handled with such vigor before."
The levity which both felt over their triumphant routing of theirassailants was checked by the sight of the stark, lifeless form on theground, only a few paces distant.
They had the best plea in the world for shooting the fierce savage, butthe consciousness that the necessity existed and that the deed had beendone, rendered them serious and thoughtful.
There was reason for believing the other natives would watch them fromthe forest, and the one who retained his javelin was likely to seek thechance to use it again. He certainly had strong temptation to do so,with the prospect of little risk to himself.
Besides, as the explorers followed the rapids, their uproar increasedto that extent that the savages could move freely without danger of anynoise being overheard.
The most prudent thing to do seemed for the friends to walk so brisklyas to disconcert any plan their enemies might have formed. This wasquite easy, because of the open space, already mentioned, as liningboth banks of the Xingu.
Fortunately the distance to camp was not far, and, with the hurriedpace adopted by the Professor and Long, it ought not to occupy morethan a few minutes, provided no interruption occurred. Strangeemotions tortured both, as they kept their eyes fixed on the dark woodat their side, from which they expected the sweep of the fearfuljavelin, whose touch was death.
The keenest hearing could not detect the faint whizz, while the roar ofthe rapids was in their ears, and they had to depend, therefore, ontheir eyes, which promised to be of little more service.
But the entire distance was almost passed, and the hearts of the twowere beating high with increasing hope, when Long, with a gasp ofterror, grasped the arm of the Professor with incredible force, andjerking him backward, pointed with his extended finger to the camp infront of them.