It is a matter of doubt how long Ibrahim would have remained prostrate had not some counter irritant appeared.
A couple of arrows were fired, and fortunately struck the trees, glancing off close to our young explorers.
“Stop that, old fellow, whoever you are, and let us have a look at you,” shouted Max.
He had scarcely uttered the words when the whole forest seemed alive.
It looked as if every tree had hidden a man, and yet not a living creature had the explorers seen before.
Where did all these savages come from?
The savages were something superlative.
They were almost as naked as when they came into the world.
Their bodies were rubbed all over with some filthy-looking clay.
The men wore heavy coils of beads round their necks; two heavy bracelets of ivory, rudely carved, on their arms, just above the elbow; and on each wrist was a bracelet or ring, in which, by some cunning device, sharp pieces of flint, and in some cases lions’ claws, had been inserted. These fellows surrounded Max and Ibrahim, dancing in a fantastic manner and flourishing their arrows in the manner of spears, only that they had four arrows in each hand—held between the fingers so that the heads of the arrows were stretched out fan shape.