Even the chief, accustomed as he was to the rifles and the whites’ power to bring down animals, bowed his head in awe at his tribe’s deliverance.
It was a most embarrassing situation, and for a time the explorers were at a loss to know what to do next.
Finally Professor Bigelow walked forward and uttered kind words, at the same time raising hands for the savages to rise to their feet.
He succeeded well. At once they got to their feet and resumed something of their usual attitude, although they were not quite convinced that these people were not gods.
The chief went forward and conversed with them so rapidly that Professor Bigelow could not keep up.
“He’s telling of his visit to our camp,” the scientist said. “He perhaps considers it a much-prized experience.”
As soon as the chief had finished, the Indians jabbered excitedly, eager to get all the details. Occasionally they would look at the whites as if they considered them super-beings.
“They can’t get over the thought that we have higher powers than they have,” mused Bob. “But maybe,” he hesitated, his thoughts going back to the terrible trophy chamber of dried human heads that was one of the tribe’s prized possessions, “it will be just as well to let them go on thinking that way. It would be hard to say when they might turn against us if they thought we were ordinary persons.”
“Turn against us?” demanded Mr. Lewis, rather surprised. “What makes you think they would do that? They seem all right.”