“No!” replied Bomba. “I have come to help Sobrinini live. Come quickly!”
This last admonition was prompted by the sight of another boat containing several natives of the island putting out from the shore. He sensed at once that their errand was hostile.
Sobrinini saw them too, and with a few strokes of her paddle brought the canoe directly beneath the jungle boy.
Bomba dropped lightly into the canoe, and then held it steady until Ashati and Neram had time to follow his example.
The other boat was coming on rapidly now, and time was pressing. Bomba took the paddle from Sobrinini’s hands and pressed her gently to the bottom of the boat.
But before he dipped the paddle into the water he drew his knife and shook it menacingly at the approaching natives.
“Go back or you will die!” he shouted. “This is the knife that frightened Nascanora. It made his heart like that of a woman. Who are you to stand before it when even the chief of the headhunters was afraid?”
It was a wholesome reminder, and it had an immediate effect. They recognized Bomba now as the jungle boy whose challenge Nascanora had been afraid to accept. That scene had made an indelible impression upon their minds. They stopped paddling, and excited jabbering ensued.
Bomba faced them for a full minute. Then with a disdainful gesture he replaced the knife in his belt, as though they were foes too insignificant to bother with any further, took up the paddle, and without once looking behind him made for the opposite shore.
His evident fearlessness and contempt decided the issue. The pursuing party, after a little irresolution, gave up the chase and turned the prow of their boat in the direction of Snake Island.