The Land of Mystery

in the instances described, now gave a

of the white men, more than twenty of the athletic barbarians issued as stealthily as p

prevented their movements being observed except by Bippo, who

d be no doubt of their hostile intentions. They assumed the form of a line, somewhat after the manner of the com

ded upon their promptness and bravery. Anything like timidity

nded Ashman, addressin

bered into the canoe and lay flat behind the luggage, where they were sa

weapons, were only incumbrance

but a word or two and

tes for the first time, had the audacity to step forward a couple of

then, shifting the muzzle of his Winchester toward the line of dusky figure

ed, and the bombardment which followed was enough

o javelins apiece at the white men who stood fearlessly erect and combated them. They had come from th

urvivors, shrieking with terror, scrambled hastily back among the trees, some of them dragging the dead bodie

ages, the whites fired into the woods, where they had vanished, not with

de their preparations for leaving the spot, for nothing

bank. The daring of the savages could not be questioned. They had faced death repeatedly, and now, that they had the strongest of all motive

Indeed, had the savages been less courageous and kept among the trees, taking a stealthy shot as the chance

hin a few inches of Bippo's head. The fellow was peeping furtively above the luggage, and heard the whizz of the missile pa

the spear sank as abruptly

ely confined to the left bank, though it was not likely they refraine

ncounter would not be lost upon them. The space between the edge of the wood and the margin of the river was so slight that it was the easiest thing

onlight, if they attempted to swim across or used some of their own boats. The only w

e rapids would oblige them to travel a long way, and the plac

stream, and stepping within, seized the paddles, which the helpers we

use it. Then, resuming his Winchester, he faced the land, half suspecting they would not be all

raft were plied with the utmost possible vigor, each yard pass

a low exclamation from Ashman caused all to cease paddling a

advancing to the river's edge, he halted just far enough from the wood to allow the

eople such a dear lesson. Confident that he could accomplish no harm, even if he wished to try i

was one of the contestants in the frightful sport he had witnessed near the village. If so, there was little doubt that he was hailed the champion. It may have been that he had hastened alo

hown by his timid request to his masters to shoot the savage. To Bippo the elimination of a single enemy of such formidable

understood, the terrified Bippo called out that he was about to throw his javelin. At the same insta

d Ashman, "and he must show his anger, ev

involuntarily threw back his head. At the same instant, a heavy javelin crashed through th

antic savage had passe

ssing both by

shoulder and sighted at the savage who was still in pl

l the trigger. Lowerin

earned y