As he shoved his face over the back of the craft, something whizzed viciously past his ear, and with a yell Tom tumbled backward, almost on top of Mr. Chadwick.
“What’s up?” exclaimed Dick.
“Th-th-there’s a man out there!” stuttered the astonished Tom. “He’s clinging to the rudder. It’s one of those Indians and he threw a spear at me!”
“Gracious! He must have climbed on to attack us before we went up!” cried Jack.
“Get him inside the ship,” said Mr. Chadwick. “He’ll be killed if he lets go!”
“Let somebody else get him in,” declared Tom. “He nearly took my head off with that spear. It’s not my fault he didn’t, either.”
With a yell Tom tumbled backward.—Page 204.