They saw him now standing as before at the edge of the fire with both hands at his sides.
The king got up and stood at the door of his hut looking on with as much wonder as the rest of them.
“It would be just as well,” thought Trim, “to sneak out of this while they are paralyzed with surprise, because they might jab one of those poisoned arrows into me while I’m not looking.”
So he said aloud:
“The king made a mistake in trying to kill me. I shall return now to my people. If you let me alone I shall not harm you, but if you try to kill me I shall come again with my people and death will leap from both my hands.”
Saying this he raised his arm again quickly, and fired one of the concealed revolvers in such a way that the bullet broke the point of a spear that was held by a warrior near the king’s house.
This time the savages drew back, muttering with more astonishment.
Trim walked slowly toward the river and as he went the savages were careful to get out of his way.
As soon as he arrived at the edge of the underbrush he went quickly in among the small trees for fear that if he continued down the open stretch arrows might be sent after him from behind.
Once among the trees he turned around and looked back at the fire. He saw the savages still standing motionless with surprise.