The Land of Mystery

th as much ardor as his friend, but, less skilful than he, he had taken but a ste

tily climbed to his feet to await the return of Long wh

om the earth where it lay but a few feet distant. As he balanced it in his hand, he observed that it was ab

amining the novel implement of war. As he suspected, the point was made of stone or flint, ground almost to needle-like sharpness and securely fastened

o toxicology. A puncture of the skin was sure to be fatal unless some r

t up again, still retaining the javelin in his right band. He had been sta

who whisked off before Long could draw a bead on him, step from the wood not twenty paces away. His back was toward the Professor, and, strangely

me flying to view, so astonishing his waiting comrade that he st

d a shout which caused the native to turn his affrighted gaze behind him, just in time to obs

iek he ducked his head as though he had caught its whizz through the air, and shot a

f-defence. Long had recovered from his first burst of fury, and, though the Professor could have sunk the javelin

th his enemies stood between him and the sheltering forest and he was defenceless. He was at their mercy,

so as to form the two angles of a triangle, while he made the third. The nearest point to the fo

o plunge into its waters, trusting to his skill in swimming; but, to dive into the raging current would hav

cause of his cowardly attempt a few minutes before, though, a

narrow compass that the terrible javelin could not reach him. Despite the proof h

error, and, with his head still low, attempted to dart between the strangers. Naturally he shied as fa

concentrating his strength in his good right leg, a

he "dull thud," and always insisted that the recipient was lifted clear of the g

w Englander, looking arou

Professor with a laugh, "for it's safe to conclu

of their assailants was checked by the sight of the sta

vage, but the consciousness that the necessity existed and tha

d the one who retained his javelin was likely to seek the chance to use it again. He

proar increased to that extent that the savages could

disconcert any plan their enemies might have formed. This was quite easy, bec

o occupy more than a few minutes, provided no interruption occurred. Strange emotions tortured both, as they kept their ey

oar of the rapids was in their ears, and they had to depend, ther

reasing hope, when Long, with a gasp of terror, grasped the arm of the Professor with incredibl