“The stranger is brave,” he said. “His arms are strong and his eye is straight. Abino does not forget how the stranger slung the jaguar over his shoulder and how he shot his arrow through the neck of the buzzard on the top of the tall tree. But it is not enough for one who stands before Japazy to have strong arms and a straight eye. He must have a heart that does not tremble.”
“Is Japazy then so terrible?” asked Bomba.
“The stranger shall see for himself,” answered Abino. “Japazy’s eyes shoot lightnings. His voice is like the thunder. No arrow can pierce him, no knife can bite him. For he has ghosts and demons that obey his words. They turn aside the arrows. They dull the edge of the knife. But it is not well to talk of Japazy. The stranger will rest here and Abino will send him food. Then, after he has eaten, the elders of the tribe will come and talk with him.”
“They are good words that Abino speaks,” answered the lad. “Bomba will be glad to talk to the elders of the tribe and tell them why he has come to Jaguar Island.”
Abino withdrew, and Bomba welcomed the chance to be alone. He had been under a terrific strain, mentally and physically. Now he could relax for a while before he had to brace himself again for the interview that was coming.
His eyes, glancing around the room, caught sight of a picture on the wall. At the sight his heart almost leaped from his body.
The pictured face of the portrait was that of the same lovely woman who had looked down at him from the portrait in the dwelling of Sobrinini!
CHAPTER XXI
THE DEEPENING MYSTERY
With one bound Bomba was across the room and looking at the picture with all his soul in his eyes.
Yes, it was the same beautiful face, girlish and appealing, the soft hair waving back from the broad forehead, the half-smiling lips, the eyes that were dark and melting. And the eyes looked down at him now as they had looked at him in the hut of Sobrinini, full of love and tenderness, while the lips seemed ready to murmur words of endearment.