"Things might be a whole lot worse," said Critch as he stretched out after the meal. "I'd kind of like a change from roast bananas and beans, though."
"A little grub cheers a fellow up some, don't it?" returned Burt. "I hate to think of what's coming to us, though. D'you s'pose they'll brand us?"
"Search me," yawned Critch. "I reckon Mbopo'll help us if he can. We just got to grin and bear it, old sport. Ain't no use whining1."
"Whining yourself, you red-head!" retorted Burt indignantly. "D'you reckon they're toting us for their health? If we could only swipe one of those guns and lay out the big lion! Here's Mbopo."
The pigmy approached and squatted2 down before them with a smile. His face was intelligent and well-formed. He had a row of cicatrices[Pg 177] down each cheek like his fellows and wore a leopard3 skin hung across his shoulders.
"Mbopo help," he asserted. "How Buburika?"
"Him good," replied Critch. "Good name for Cap'n Mac, ain't it, Burt? What are your people going to do with us, Mbopo?"
"White boys ju-ju," replied Mbopo. "Give Pongo."
"Is that the lion Buburika laid out?" exclaimed Burt. The pigmy looked blank and Burt repeated his question.
"Him lion," nodded the other. "Maybe him scared you too. Him scared white skin. Scared Buburika. What? Mbopo help. Aye, vera good."
The concluding words sent a twinkle into the boys' eyes but they were careful not to laugh. The very tone was an exact imitation of Montenay's voice.
"You bet that's good," replied Critch. "Can you get one o' them bang bangs? Guns?" He made the motion of shooting but Mbopo shook his head decisively.
"No got. Him stay here." The pigmy pointed4 to the chief's hut. "Come.[Pg 178] We go. No fash yerself—Mbopo help!"
Barely able to repress their laughter at the comical imitation of Captain Mac, the boys rose and Mbopo patted their hands encouragingly. He clicked and his men appeared from different directions. The boys saw that their guns were left behind.
"That don't look encouraging—" began Critch but Mbopo stopped him with a warning "no talkee" and the march was again taken up through the jungle. A number of black dwarfs6 accompanied them this time and the boys were amazed at the agility7 with which the little men swung through the trees or cleared a path through the jungle growths. They seemed perfectly8 confident that their captives would not try to escape. Both boys realized how useless it would be and had not even discussed the idea.
At nightfall they halted in a third Wambuti village. On the way the party of hunters with them brought in a wart9 hog10 and a small gazelle. On these the village feasted that night. There were no more bananas or plantains but plenty of the ground beans and some manioc and nuts like[Pg 179] chestnuts11 which the pigmies ate voraciously12 but which did not appeal to the boys.
They were left unguarded that night and tried to sleep in the open beside a fire. The insects proved too much for them, however, and they were glad to seek the shelter of a hut, cramped13 as it was. As their belongings14 had not been taken, with the exception of their weapons, Critch still had his compass. That evening they discussed the course of their march and agreed that it had been north by east.
"I've been watching the needle," said Critch. "We came north yesterday from the camp. To-day we've been traveling a little east of north. Golly, I'm tired! Guess we can't bank on your uncle finding us now."
"Guess not," agreed Burt hopelessly. "We only got one chance of ever getting out of this mess, Critch. If we can do what Cap'n Mac did we may work it."
"We got Mbopo to help," returned Critch. "I ain't looking forward to getting branded very eager. We got to get around that part of it, Burt."
"Don't see how," answered Burt. "It don't look like Cap'n Mac hurt old[Pg 180] Pongo very much with his blazing oil. We ain't got a gun either. If we knew any conjuring15 tricks we might make a bluff16 on Mbopo's people."
"I can pull a coin out of handkerchiefs," grinned Critch. "But we ain't got a coin and if we don't keep our hankies tied on our hands we'd be eaten alive. Try again."
"An electric battery'd be the stunt17," said Burt. "Fellows in books always have batteries handy, or eclipses, or something. Guess we ain't lucky. What d'you s'pose Cap'n Mac would do if he was here?"
"Prob'ly tell you to shut your head and go to sleep while you can," grunted18 Critch. Burt accepted the advice.
They set out again in the morning and still traveled north by east. Mbopo said little to them that day. Instead of stopping at a village they camped out at noon and made a meagre meal of nuts and wild plantains. They were getting into higher country now although it was still jungle. The black hunters had not accompanied them and the six white pigmies were the sole guardians19 of the boys. At evening there was no sign of a village and when one of the men brought in another small[Pg 181] wart hog the rest scattered20 and collected more wild nuts and berries.
They camped that night in the center of a ring of fires. These smudges protected them somewhat from the clouds of insects, but nevertheless both boys suffered a great deal. Their mosquito nets were badly torn and their camphor was all gone by this time. Although the pigmies did not seem to mind the mosquitoes, they were very careful to avoid the hanging nests of the trumpet21 ants and the black wasps22 while passing through the jungle.
The next morning there was still the same desolate23 silence all about them as they marched on. Mbopo had said nothing the night before and the boys had been too dead tired to ask any questions. Toward noon they both noticed that their captors became more careless about keeping watch. The boys were nearly worn out by the terrible journey, but Mbopo pushed forward relentlessly24. As the shadows lengthened25 the boys saw the reason for this.
They had left the lower and denser26 jungle behind, and seemed to be slowly reaching higher and freer ground. There was no restriction27 on[Pg 182] their talking now, and as the sun touched the tips of the trees in the west Critch gave an exclamation28.
"Look over there ahead, Burt! That's a river, sure's you're born!"
"Mebbe it's the same one Cap'n Mac told about," returned his chum, catching29 sight of the silver thread that was partially30 higrin and fell back to their side.
"Mbopo help," he asserted again. "No fash yerself, lad."
"Thanks, old man," exclaimed Burt. "Is the village near?"
Now two of the men darted31 ahead at a fast run. For another half mile they advanced along the river bank. Then the forest ended suddenly.
"Here we are!" cried Critch.
Before them lay a small yam-field, and beyond that the famous village of the white dwarfs. As Captain Montenay had said, it was a very large[Pg 183] one. Despite their plight32, the boys looked eagerly for the hut of Pongo.
"There she is!" exclaimed Burt, and Critch also gave a cry. Off to their left, almost at the edge of the trees and some distance from the village thorn-zareba, stood a large hut surrounded by something dark gray in the sunset. Their attention was soon drawn33 away from this, however, for a series of yells went up from the village and out poured the tribe to welcome them.
As nearly as the boys could guess, there were something like three hundred warriors34 gathered about the gate of the zareba as they came up. Mbopo saluted37 them with a few words, but his little party held together and pushed through the crowd. Behind the warriors and inside the zareba was a still larger assemblage of women and children. As they passed the gateway38, the boys found themselves in the presence of the chief, no doubt the same whom Montenay so disliked, for he was an old and shriveled man whose countenance39 boded40 ill for the two captive youths.
Clad in a splendid leopard-skin robe, he was seated on a pile of skins. Ranged behind him was a rank of picked spearmen, larger than most of[Pg 184] their fellows, and at one side were a dozen men with tom-toms made of hollow logs. As the party came in sight these men began beating their instruments, sending up a roaring clamor that amazed the two boys.
Mbopo fell on his face before the chief, and the others of the party after him. Only the two white boys remained erect41, facing the glittering eyes of the old chief while he listened to Mbopo's recital42. At its conclusion he motioned to the latter to rise, and said a few words. The young dwarf replied and seemed to be expostulating, but the chief sprang to his feet in a flame of rage. Raising his arm, he pointed toward the separate hut, and both boys distinctly caught the one word "Pongo." At a sharp command Mbopo and another dwarf jerked the boys and led them away to one of the huts, leaving them inside without a word.
"Well," said Burt throwing himself down with a sigh of relief on some skins, "the old boy certainly has it in for us. He ain't exactly a nice specimen43, is he?"
"Not much," ejaculated Critch. "Anyhow, I'm going to sleep, Burt. I'm[Pg 185] too tired to care what happens."
Burt stretched out likewise and immediately was lost in slumber44. The day's trip had been a hard one indeed, and neither boy was able to resist the chance to snatch a little rest. When they awoke they were in darkness, and the voice of Mbopo was in their ears.
"Him eat, vera good," came Mbopo's voice. Growing accustomed to the darkness, the boys found that a faint light flickered46 in through the entrance. By this they saw the form of Mbopo. He gave them some roasted bananas and a gourd47 containing a sweetish drink made from the banana. Burt got out his matches and struck a light, by which they found it was nearly eight o'clock. They had been sleeping only three hours, but even that small amount of rest had refreshed them wonderfully, and the food and drink made new boys of them.
When they had finished the last scrap48, Mbopo motioned them to rise. Burt did so with a groan49, for his muscles were stiff and sore, and a moment[Pg 186] later they were outside. Here they could see a number of fires blazing in a vacant space near the thorn zareba, and toward this Mbopo led them.
"Mbopo help," was his only speech. "Him lad kill Pongo mebbe. Him do like Buburika Mac."
"Don't see how," grunted Burt.
"Shut up," ordered Critch. "Our friend's got a notion in his head that we're here to kill the lion, I'll bet a dollar. Say, going to stand for that branding stunt?"
"Not if I know it," came the quick response. "S'pose we can't help ourselves, though. See what turns up."
"No talkee," cautioned their guide. They drew near the fires, and saw that the whole tribe was gathered around in a semicircle, enjoying a huge feast. In the center of this semicircle, not far from the thorn wall, the old chief reclined on his throne of rugs, the tom-tom beaters near him. Mbopo, who plainly stood in great awe50 of the wizened51 potentate52, fell on his face in salute36. Once more the boys calmly met the evil black eyes that stared at them, and Burt could see small hope in the malevolent53 glare of the chief.[Pg 187]
After a few murmured words from Mbopo the chief gave a sharp order. A dozen feet distant stood a small fire, over which hung some meat on spits. This was removed, and a warrior35 brought forward a long thin object that sent a thrill through Burt. It was a rudely-fashioned branding iron.
The warrior thrust one end into the fire. Burt moved closer to his chum, with fists clenched55. He knew well how useless it would be to put up any fight, but he was determined56 not to give in to the torture without a struggle. The old chief smiled slightly at the action, and gave a motion. Four of the little warriors, only reaching to the shoulder of the boys, stepped forward with axes ready.
"No use, old man," said Critch quietly. "We'll have to take our medicine, I guess."
The four warriors led the boys to the fire. One of them reached up and deliberately57 tore Burt's tattered58 shirt from his shoulder. The pale-faced boy made no move to resist, and next moment the white-hot iron was taken from the fire, and the tom-toms rolled forth59 their thunder.
But at that instant even the noise of the great drums was drowned in an[Pg 188] appalling60 roar that turned the eyes of all upon the thorn wall. The startled boys saw the latter bend, there came another terrific roar, then the stout61 thorn zareba was burst apart and into the enclosure rolled the form of an immense lion!
Before a move could be made the cat-like animal regained62 his feet, gave one quick sniff63 of the air, and pounced64 on the old chief, who was struggling to rise. To the surprise of the boys the crowd fell prostrate65; a murmur54 of "Pongo! Pongo!" went up, and a moment later the lion gave one bound and had vanished in the night, unharmed. And with him went the chief of the white dwarfs.
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1
whining
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| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
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squatted
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| v.像动物一样蹲下( squat的过去式和过去分词 )；非法擅自占用（土地或房屋）；为获得其所有权；而占用某片公共用地。 | |
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leopard
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| n.豹 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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dwarf
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| n.矮子，侏儒，矮小的动植物；vt.使…矮小 | |
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dwarfs
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| n.侏儒，矮子（dwarf的复数形式）vt.（使）显得矮小（dwarf的第三人称单数形式） | |
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7
agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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wart
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| n.疣，肉赘；瑕疵 | |
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hog
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| n.猪；馋嘴贪吃的人；vt.把…占为己有，独占 | |
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11
chestnuts
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| n.栗子( chestnut的名词复数 )；栗色；栗树；栗色马 | |
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voraciously
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| adv.贪婪地 | |
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cramped
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| a.狭窄的 | |
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belongings
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| n.私人物品，私人财物 | |
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conjuring
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| n.魔术 | |
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bluff
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| v.虚张声势，用假象骗人；n.虚张声势，欺骗 | |
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17
stunt
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| n.惊人表演，绝技，特技；vt.阻碍...发育，妨碍...生长 | |
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18
grunted
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| （猪等）作呼噜声( grunt的过去式和过去分词 )； （指人）发出类似的哼声； 咕哝着说 | |
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19
guardians
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| 监护人( guardian的名词复数 )； 保护者，维护者 | |
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scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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21
trumpet
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| n.喇叭，喇叭声；v.吹喇叭，吹嘘 | |
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22
wasps
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| 黄蜂( wasp的名词复数 )； 胡蜂； 易动怒的人； 刻毒的人 | |
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23
desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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24
relentlessly
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| adv.不屈不挠地；残酷地；不间断 | |
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lengthened
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| （时间或空间）延长，伸长( lengthen的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26
denser
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| adj. 不易看透的, 密集的, 浓厚的, 愚钝的 | |
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27
restriction
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| n.限制，约束 | |
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28
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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29
catching
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| adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住 | |
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30
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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31
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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32
plight
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| n.困境，境况，誓约，艰难；vt.宣誓，保证，约定 | |
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33
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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35
warrior
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| n.勇士，武士，斗士 | |
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36
salute
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| vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮 | |
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37
saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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38
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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39
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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40
boded
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| v.预示，预告，预言( bode的过去式和过去分词 )；等待，停留( bide的过去分词 )；居住；（过去式用bided）等待 | |
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41
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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42
recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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43
specimen
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| n.样本，标本 | |
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44
slumber
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| n.睡眠，沉睡状态 | |
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45
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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46
flickered
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| （通常指灯光）闪烁，摇曳( flicker的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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47
gourd
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| n.葫芦 | |
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48
scrap
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| n.碎片；废料；v.废弃，报废 | |
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49
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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50
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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51
wizened
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| adj.凋谢的；枯槁的 | |
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52
potentate
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| n.统治者；君主 | |
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53
malevolent
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| adj.有恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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54
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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55
clenched
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| v.紧握，抓紧，咬紧( clench的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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57
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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58
tattered
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| adj.破旧的，衣衫破的 | |
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59
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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60
appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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62
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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63
sniff
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| vi.嗅…味道；抽鼻涕；对嗤之以鼻，蔑视 | |
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64
pounced
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| v.突然袭击( pounce的过去式和过去分词 )；猛扑；一眼看出；抓住机会（进行抨击） | |
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65
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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