"I don't know what that little bear taught you, but it sure is a miracle," he said. He then reached into his shirt. "I'm still glad I got this. Did you see Ed knock it out of Shorty's hand?" He pulled an ato-tube pistol out of the shirt.
As soon as the gun came out, the red ape leaped from Johnny's head, screaming. The arrow-bird snapped its head into position to strike.
"Drop it, Rick! Drop it!" Johnny yelled.
Amazement swept over Rick's face.
"But why—?"
"Bother us not, friend-pet," Johnny clicked loudly. At the same time he knocked the ato-tube from Rick's hand.
He was too late.
The arrow-bird shot with a sickening smack into Rick's shoulder. Almost as quickly it withdrew its blood-stained beak and was hovering in the air for another strike.