The Land of Mystery | Page 7

dashed
among the trees, in pursuit of the savage who had flung his spear with
well-nigh fatal effect.

The undergrowth was frightfully tangled, and, as the first plunge, the
Professor went forward on his hands and knees. The wonder was how
Long kept his feet; but it will be remembered that he was much more
attenuated than his companion, and seemed to have picked up a skill
elsewhere which now stood him well.
The moon was shining and despite the dense vegetation around him,
enough rays found their way to the ground to give him a partial view
for few paces in front. He had not gone far when he caught a glimpse of
the dusky figure slipping through the undergrowth ahead, and at no
great distance.
Strange as it may seem, the impetuosity of the American caused him to
gain upon the terrified native, who, having flung his poisoned weapon,
was without the means of defending himself. It was not in the nature of
things, however, that Long should overtake the fugitive, who was more
accustomed to making his way through such obstructions. The first
burst of pursuit caused the white man to believe he would win in the
strange race, but the next minute he saw he was losing ground.
Determined that the wretch should not escape, he checked his pursuit
for an instant, and, bringing his Winchester to his shoulder, let fly.
But brief as was his halt, it give the savage time to make one terrific
bound which shut him almost from sight, and rendered the hasty aim of
Long so faulty that his intended victim was not so much as scratched.
Had the savage dashed deeper into the forest, he would have passed
beyond all peril at this moment, but he was seeking to do that which
Long did not discover until after discharging his gun. He headed
toward the river, where he was first seen. It must have been that he was
actuated by a desire to go to the help of his comrade, or more likely he
was anxious to recover his javelin, in which he placed unbounded faith,
and believed he could do it without undue risk.
Whatever his purpose, he quickly burst from the forest, while Long,
who was pushing furiously after him, discovered from the increasing
light in front, that he was close to the Xingu again.

Suspecting his purpose, the white man tore forward at the most reckless
speed, and, before the native could recover his weapon and dart back to
cover, he himself had dashed into the moonlight.
"Now, we've got him!" he shouted; "there's no getting away this time!"
This exultant exclamation was uttered to a form which appeared on his
right, and who he was certain was the Professor; but to his
consternation, as he turned his head, he saw that it was the other native,
javelin in hand!
CHAPTER IV.
HOW IT ENDED.
It will be recalled that the Professor started in pursuit of the flying
native with as much ardor as his friend, but, less skilful than he, he had
taken but a step or two, when an obstruction flung him to the ground
with discouraging emphasis.
Concluding that he had undertaken a futile task, he hastily climbed to
his feet to await the return of Long who, he was satisfied, would
attempt only a brief pursuit.
Remembering the javelin which had whizzed so near his crown, he cast
about for a moment and picked it up from the earth where it lay but a
few feet distant. As he balanced it in his hand, he observed that it was
about six feet in length, was made entirely of wood, which was heavy
and as hard and smooth as polished ebony.
The light of the moon was like that of the day itself. It would have been
easy to read ordinary print by it. He had no trouble, therefore, in closely
examining the novel implement of war. As he suspected, the point was
made of stone or flint, ground almost to needle-like sharpness and
securely fastened in place by a fine tendon wound around the portion of
the stick that held the harder part. This was covered with a gummy
substance extending to the end.

This he was satisfied was among the most virulent of substances known
to toxicology. A puncture of the skin was sure to be fatal unless some
remedy, of whose existence he held no suspicion, was instantly
obtainable.
He had set down his rifle white examining the weapon, but quickly
caught it up again, still retaining the javelin in his right band. He had
been startled by the sound of the terrific threshing among the trees on
his right.
He supposed that his friend was coming back, but, glancing toward the
point where