Part 15 (1/2)

The savages had been reinforced, as was apparent, for more than thirty were plainly visible, and their tactics in following up the wagon was now apparent.

”Let us give them another little shock.” All eyes were now on Harry, as he continued: ”I suggest that we get into the wagon and move into the interior, hiding the wagon in a safe place beyond, and then return to this ma.s.s of brush here, where we will be entirely concealed. As this is not more than thirty feet from sh.o.r.e we will be in good position to watch the crossing and attack them if they attempt to venture across.”

The plan was adopted with alacrity, and seating themselves in the vehicle, they waved a salute to the party and started off as fast as the team could be urged on.

Instantly there was commotion in the ranks of their enemies. They rushed down to the bank, and engaged in an animated conversation.

The boys carefully crawled back to the brush, and witnessed the evident attempt to decide on a course to pursue.

”Do you think they will cross?”

”I wish they would try it,” answered Ralph. ”Oh, wouldn't that give us a chance at them!”

”I do believe they are going to try it.”

Two of the warriors started for the water, and plunged in, and the boys looked at each other in surprise.

”Ralph, do you think all of those fellows will try it?”

”No, indeed; those fellows don't like water, and if our experience in crossing the river, when they took us back with them, is any indication, they have very few who can swim.”

”But the difficulty is that they can raft across.”

”That is just the reason why I thought a little surprise of this kind might make them think better of it, and not try it.”

”You must remember,” answered Tom, ”they live on this side of the river, and they are bound to get across some time.”

”I know that, but their rafts are no doubt miles up the river.”

It was now plain why they determined to follow up our party. Their own territory had been invaded, and this came to all of the boys with a shock. The getting of the boat was now a most hazardous operation.

They saw the two savages swim from the sh.o.r.e, and remained quiet until they came within thirty feet of the sh.o.r.e.

”Now,” said Harry, ”the moment they start to wade, let us make a rush for the bank, and we will have them at our mercy.”

Each of the warriors carried a spear, but no other weapon, but those on the opposite sh.o.r.e had bows, as well.

The surprise and consternation on the faces of the savages, when the party appeared, was too remarkable to describe. Their first action was to turn, but Ralph cried out: ”Hola, hola,” and Tom laughed as he now remembered the savage word for ”stop.”

They did ”hola,” but for a moment only, and then diving down in the water, attempted to make their escape.

The boys were now on the brink of the stream, and not more than twenty feet away from the struggling men. ”Hola, hola,” shrieked Ralph and Tom in concert, as they aimed their guns at them.

”That devil in front is the fellow we want to get. He is the meanest of the entire outfit. Oh, yes, you remember me, don't you?” Ralph continued, talking to the savage. ”I have a notion to bore a hole through you.”

The savage raised himself, and evidently believing his hour had come, did, as all savages do, poised his spear, as he raised himself out of the water, and attempted to throw it. But before he could execute the movement, a shot from Harry threw him back into the water and his spear disappeared.

During this commotion the other savage dived, and he must have been an expert, because the boys shot three times before he showed any evidence of being hit, and then it was only a wound.

The boys ran back to their place of concealment to get the reserve guns, and during that period the wounded one floated out into the stream and the boys made no further effort to reach him.