CHAPTER XV
Danger at Hand
“QUICK! Let’s get to the boats at once!” cried Mr. Holton. “It won’t do for them to find us here in the village.”
The explorers hastened to the river bank with all the speed they could put into their legs. Not until they were safe in the boats did they draw a breath. Then they cast glances about the shore.
The shouting grew louder, and the next moment twenty-five or thirty semi-naked Indians burst into the clearing and made for the huts. But one that was evidently the chief called them back and pointed to the river, where the explorers’ canoes were moored.
“Now’s the time to act,” muttered Professor Bigelow, getting out of the boat.
He strode up to within fifty feet of the Indians, throwing his hands apart in a gesture of friendliness. Then he called out something that the other whites did not understand.
Immediately there was a turmoil of excited chattering, in which the chief took the biggest part. Then the latter called back to the professor, who listened eagerly. In the end there was a smile on his face.
“It’s all right,” he said to the explorers, beckoning them to come ashore.
“Sure there’s no danger?” asked Mr. Lewis.
“It will be safe. The chief welcomed us into the village.”