United States or Sint Maarten ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
It might make trouble you know," said Lathrop. "Pshaw," retorted the cocksure Billy, "what trouble can it make? I wish I knew bow to say 'Look pleasant, please, in Hottentot, or whatever language these fellows talk." By this time old Sikaso's 'pow-wow' was over and he motioned Frank and Harry forward.
Like Billy, the other boy had no lack of pluck but his heart sank, as had his companion's, as he sensed the full meaning of Sikaso's warning. "But perhaps the smoke was mistaken," he said eagerly, willing to grasp even at that straw of hope; but the old warrior's answer dashed his aspirations to the ground.
At such times old Sikaso's eyes wandered longingly to his great war-axe. There is little doubt that he would have liked to work off his gloomy feelings by tackling a lion single-handed with his weapon. "You think, then, it isn't worth while waiting if we have heard no news by then?" asked Harry.
"Will this Muley-Hassan be well armed?" asked Billy, in a voice which was rather shaky, of their black friend. "Plenty rifles," was Sikaso's brief reply. "Don't you want a rifle or at least a heavy caliber shotgun?" asked Billy.
He was followed a minute later by half-a-dozen fatigued-looking followers. The boys' hands flew to their revolvers and Ben grabbed up a rifle. Sikaso's ever-ready axe was in the air in a second. But the Arab put up his hand. "I have not come to fight but to bargain," he said. "You have beaten me at every point of the game. Diego is dead " "Dead," cried Frank.
The languor the boy had felt at first had now quite left him and he was only intent on seeing what was about to transpire. Sikaso's voice once more rose in his dismal chant and he cast more of the powder from his skin-bag into the fire.
"How far is it from here?" "Not more than a hundred and fifty miles." Frank held up a moistened finger. The air was as calm as a mill-pond. "We can make that distance in a little more than four hours," he announced. It was Sikaso's turn to be astonished. "Of a truth the magic of the white man is not as the magic of the black man, but it is good," he said; "yes, it is good. In four hours.
Even Billy scared as he was did not realize how very near to death he actually came to being. Sikaso's shouted words in a native dialect caused the tribesmen to fall back but they still muttered angrily. Stepping swiftly up to the camera Sikaso with a single blow of his axe smashed it to pieces. "Here, that's no way to treat my camera!"
"The smoke is never mistaken," he said simply; but with such calm conviction that the boys, despite themselves, realized that the old Krooman had really the knowledge of grave peril approaching. "Had we not better arm the other Kroomen?" asked Billy anxiously. "It would be useless," was Sikaso's reply, "they are cowards.
Word Of The Day