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Their boats vomit fire and smoke and are longer than from here to the water's edge." "What terrible savages they must be," one of the boys said breathlessly. "Some day," Oomah continued, a strange light brightening his face, "I will take you down the river to the border of the region where the white men live. We will travel at night and hide by day.
And long into the night the sound of the celebration rang through the black forest as war drums boomed and the voices of singers chanted the praises of the mighty hunter who was among them. Not until the sharp report of thunder followed by a drenching rain drove the revellers to shelter did the festivities end. "Nechi shall go with me," Oomah said the next morning as he prepared to depart.
Their weapons were lost; the turtles in the corrals were swept away; their cooking utensils had vanished. Had they heeded Oomah without delay it would have been different. They had escaped with nothing but their lives; but, even for this they were grateful even though it meant days of suffering in the rain-drenched forest before they could again replace their loss.
Oomah carefully removed the protecting cap from the poisoned arrow and grasped the missile in his right hand while in his left he held the bow, ready for instant use, and awaited the appearance of the Black Phantom. He was trembling with emotion, for the great moment had arrived. But the black form that he so confidently expected did not appear.
His first thought was of fire. Dry wood was not hard to find in the crackling forest and a few deft twirls of the fire-sticks produced the spark needed to set a handful of dry leaves aflame. Food there was none so, with his back to the thick butt of a castanha tree and the blaze in front Oomah silently and gravely awaited the coming of night. Hours passed.
And he stood reverently gazing at the sacred object until Choflo's drum, followed by the sound of his voice bade the men gather in solemn conclave. "Upon Oomah has fallen the mission of saving the earth from a terrible end," the sorcerer said gravely, "and the selection of the Great Spirit has been a wise one." "But, am I worthy to be entrusted with such a holy undertaking?"
"And they both have long necks and long legs." "Listen," said Oomah, "and I will tell you why these things are true." He sat down in the sand and crossed his legs and the group of eager urchins dropped down in a semi-circle before him.
The prisoner might die and then we should be cheated out of our feast." Nechi had not thought of that. "Tomorrow," she relented. "If he shows no signs of improvement by tomorrow you can prepare for the feast." Oomah opened his eyes. "I came on a sacred mission," he faltered. "Get me the white feather so that I may die like a hunter who has not given up the chase.
Oomah, reared in the wilderness though he had been and knowing the traits of most wild things, for once knew not what to do; it was clear that the pursued had divined his plan, had sensed his trap, and was openly defying him. Would he charge next in an overwhelming rush too swift to be stopped by the arrow's venomous thrust?
The opportunity had arrived and he crept up for the fatal spring. It was then that Oomah, awakened by the hideous cackle of the woodrail, saw the blazing eyes.
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