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After his mishap he had not regained consciousness for two days, and during his illness he had prated senselessly about trees that were alive and vines that had eyes, much to the disturbance of Kali Pandapatan and Asin. But when he whispered his suspicions to his chief, Kali gave a low whistle. Asin and Tooloowee were taken into the secret, and they set to work to develop Piang's plan.
When I give the signal, push the dyke with all your might." He stationed another powerful Moro opposite Tooloowee. "Bungao, do you hasten to the rafts and prepare to resist the first flood that will sweep through the ditch." When all was ready Piang raised his hand and the struggle began.
From the window in the nearest house, Piang kept watch with Kali, Asin, and Tooloowee; in his hand he held the ratan cable that controlled the nooses in the narrow lane. Minutes, hours trailed by, and still the barrio watched. A gentle wind awakened the forest whispers and gathered its freight of seed and pollen to scatter abroad.
With a will they sturdily plied the crude tools and before the blackness of the night had been lifted by the rising moon, the excited little party was crowding around Piang as he examined the few remaining feet to be accomplished. Like a general meeting a crisis, Piang sharply gave his orders: "Tooloowee, take your pole and stand on the far side of the ditch.
In an agony of suspense the brave Moros worked their way up toward the Big Bend. Suddenly Piang grasped Tooloowee's arm and pointed toward a streak that ran across the river. "The boom! We must cut it!" They made a dash toward the obstacle that stood in Kali's path, but an arrow whizzed by their heads. "Tooloowee, we have been discovered.
"Will it rain soon, Piang?" panted Tooloowee, as he toiled along behind the charm boy. "I cannot tell yet, but by sunset we shall know." Toward evening the grass thinned perceptibly, and the steaming, aching bodies felt the cool air rustling through the stalks. "We are near the jungle; soon we shall be cool," sighed Kali Pandapatan.
"A light! a light!" screamed Tooloowee, as he dragged the insensible Sicto away, and, out of a nearby hut dashed a slender, graceful figure in response to the call, a fresh torch streaming its smoke and sparks around her head. "Quick, Papita," urged Tooloowee, and the girl came fearlessly to the aid of Piang. "Piang!" she wailed. "Why didn't you let it have Sicto!"
Piang cut and slashed at the banks, tearing away protruding vines and accumulating driftwood. The moon, the moon, would it wait? Frantically he toiled while Tooloowee held off the other rafts with his long pole. When Piang's float was finally released, it bounded joyously along, nosing first one bank, then the other. The river! He could see it! Only a few rods more!
I go to cut the way!" and before the astonished Tooloowee could prevent, Piang had dived into the water and disappeared. "Piang, the crocodiles, the crocodiles!" wailed Tooloowee, but the charm boy could not hear as he slipped up the muddy river, swimming easily under water.
Catching hold of the other cables, they pulled them tighter and tighter until the snake was unable to move. The clouds were heavy and the moon shone fitfully. "Torches!" yelled Kali, and the women scurried about in search of them. Piang and Tooloowee cautiously approached the monster's head, holding on a stick some cotton soaked with poison.
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