The two boys closed their eyes that they should not see the deadly blow when it was delivered, and Jenkins believed he had not many seconds to live, when a singular, hissing noise was heard directly behind the helpless ones.
Instantly it seemed that a shaft of fire came from the foliage, with a scream as of some living creature.
Opening their eyes suddenly, the boys saw this thing of flame tear its way through the crowd, throwing sparks right and left, and striking two of the blacks with sufficient force to hurl them to the ground.
The negroes fled with loud yells of terror, as the “thing,” apparently caught by the foliage, continued to send forth showers of flame, and before the last man disappeared, both Gil and Nelse had fainted.
The strain upon them had been too great, and over-taxed nature gave way beneath it.
CHAPTER XVI.
ANDY.
At this particular time Jenkins paid but little attention to the boys. He fancied the sudden appearance of the stream of fire was simply a portion of the horrible ceremonies, and believed the negroes’ terror to be only simulated.
When the last black disappeared in the foliage, a noise directly behind him caused him to look for their return from that quarter, and his surprise can be better imagined than described when he saw Andy standing in front of him, his wide mouth open to its fullest extent in silent enjoyment of the complete rout.
“Where in the name of all that’s wonderful did you come from?” he cried, and would have followed this with other questions, had not the cook whispered hurriedly: