But Nic could bear no more. This brought matters to a crisis. It was the savage’s cooey, and it meant that others were coming to join this man. So the boy felt that he must either attack or retreat.
To retreat meant to invite attack, and in his desperation Nic determined that the braver plan and the one more likely to prove successful was to take the initiative, and to do this he began slowly and cautiously to stretch out one hand towards his gun.
In an instant the black’s eyes twinkled, and there was a movement in the grass as of some animal gliding through it.
“Getting his spear,” thought Nic, with his heart beating frantically, as he drew himself sidewise toward the piece.
As he expected, the black moved too, but only as shown by the motion of the herbage. In fact, there were moments before the boy began to exert himself when it seemed to him that there was that fierce black head before him and nothing more, and that the whole scene was nightmare-like and unreal.
But with the action all became terribly substantial. He was reaching for his deadly weapon, so was the black, or to get himself into a better position for assault. And as Nic with throbbing breast drew slowly nearer, never once taking his eyes from those of his foe, the knitted brows and shining black face seemed to approach.
But he knew it was only an optical illusion caused by the intense strain upon his eyes; and feeling that quick action was necessary, he made a sudden spring to his right and grasped the gun, with which he leaped to his feet, just as the black also bounded up with a long, quivering spear in his hand, while there, plainly seen in the narrow band about his waist, were the boomerang and club.
Click went Nic’s gun trigger, as a thrill of confidence ran through him, and, holding the piece at the ready, he presented it at the black’s breast.
At this the man made a bound backward, and throwing himself into an attitude, he levelled his spear, as if about to hurl it and pierce Nic through.
“I wish I knew nigger,” thought Nic, getting more confident; “I’d tell him if he’d go away I would not fire.”