CHAPTER XVI
Just in Time
“LET go!” cried Bob, in his excitement forgetting that the Indians could not understand English.
The group had completely surrounded the youths, and one man was holding tightly to Bob’s camera.
The two chums knew that they had little chance against so many. But they fought doggedly to save the moving-picture machines, which were the only two they had.
With one supreme effort, Bob pushed the Indian nearest him to the ground and turned to find an opening in the crowd of natives.
But they were all about him, pushing and grabbing and striking to the best of their ability. It was plain that they were determined to take possession of the small boxes that the whites carried.
If it had not been for the necessity of holding onto the cameras, Bob and Joe could have put up a good fight, and perhaps driven the Indians away. But as it was they found themselves at a sore disadvantage.
“Help!” cried Joe, raising his voice to a shout. “Help! Help!”
Several seconds later a figure showed itself at the brink of the hill and came toward the fighting group.
“It’s Dad!” Joe cried happily. “Now there’ll be a fight!”