What he saw then made him dip his paddle deep and send the canoe in frantic haste toward the shore.
Before the door of the cabin crouched a huge puma, preparing for a spring through the doorway!
CHAPTER IV
A TERRIFIC STRUGGLE
At sight of the crouching brute, Bomba shouted with all his might.
The beast turned at the shout, fangs bared and eyes flashing with rage, to meet the newcomer. Then, with its tail lashing its flanks, it advanced toward the river bank.
At the same moment a roar came from within the cabin. And with the roar was blended the scream of a woman in mortal terror.
As the canoe approached the bank, Bomba fitted an arrow to his string, drew it to the head and let it go.
The haste with which he shot and the motion of the boat disturbed his aim, so that it just grazed the animal’s head, inflicting a slight flesh wound, but no mortal injury.
But the pain inflamed the puma’s rage, and as the canoe had now come within a few feet of the bank, it prepared to spring.
But just as it was about to launch itself into the air a second arrow from Bomba’s bow struck fair to its heart.