"Thank you, thank you," said Jack, bowing his head low, and finding it hard to keep from shouting for joy.
Poor Will and George were so delighted that they never stopped to say a word about their rifles, and when Jack started to leave the camp they were close at his heels.
"Wait," called the chief, and the boys stopped, not without some fear that the leader had changed his mind.
But he had not. He nodded to one of his warriors, who promptly trotted forward, carrying the two guns, and handing one to Will and the other to George. The latter smiled when he noticed that he had them wrong, but that was of no account.
"Come on," said Jack, who waved a "good-bye" to the chief and the son, the former smiling and the latter replying with a similar salute. A few minutes later the young hunters were out of sight in the wood.
They were so eager to get away from camp that they did not stop or speak until they reached the top of the ridge, where they had parted company more than an hour before.
When they came to a standstill they were so over-running with delight that they laughed, and shook hands over and over again.
"May I yell?" asked George, looking as if he was on the point of exploding with his suppressed happiness.
"No; they would hear it. Some of the warriors would think we were crowing over them, and they might start after us."
"But Hua-awa-oma wouldn't let 'em. However, I guess they won't hear me; I can't help it."