"I see our finish!" exclaimed Dan. "Give them a taste of your gun, Dick!"
"That wouldn't help. Look at the black horde coming from every direction. They are two against one! We'll try to show them that we are friendly."
"I guess you're right, Dick. But we are certainly in a tight jam this time."
"Keep quiet, Dan!" said Dick, really vexed at the boy.
The apparent lack of fear in Dick evidently gained the respect of the tribe. Their arrows did not fly, the warriors held them, waiting for a command.
Then a command came, loud and clear. It was a surprise to Dick, for it came from a point directly above his head and the voice was not that of an African savage. The hidden chief spoke in the language of the tribe. It was an order; the inflection of the voice told Dick that before the warriors dropped their bows and arrows and bowed low to Dick.
Then the voice again boomed out in broken English, "Advance white men! I will protect you! Mahatma Sikandar speaks!"