As Tom went down, a shout went up from the rocks, and suddenly a dozen or more Bumwos appeared, shaking their spears and acting as if they meant to rush down on the party below without further warning.
CHAPTER XXIX
THE VILLAGE ON THE MOUNTAIN
"Tom is wounded!" shouted Sam. He ran to his brother, to find the blood flowing freely over Tom's shoulder. "Is it bad?" he asked.
"I—I guess not," answered Tom with a gasp of pain. Then, as full of pluck as usual, Tom raised his pistol and fired, hitting one of the Bumwos in the breast and sending him to the rear, seriously wounded.
It was evident that Cujo had been mistaken and that there were far more of their enemies around the mountain than they had anticipated. From behind the Rover expedition a cry arose, telling that more of the natives were coming from that direction.
"We are being hemmed in," said Dick Chester nervously. "Perhaps we had better retreat."
"No, let us make a stand," came from Rand. "I think a concerted volley from our pistols and guns will check their movements."
"Dat's de talk!" cried Aleck. "Give it to 'em hot!"
It was decided to await the closer approach of the Bumwos, and each of the party improved the next minute in seeing to it that his weapon was ready for use.