“They meet to-night to take counsel,” answered Solani. “Then it will be known what they think about the stranger and what they will do with him.”
“Where do they meet?” asked Bomba, who was already forming a plan of action.
“In the house of Abino, my father,” was the answer.
“Is that the house where Bomba was taken before he was brought to the house of Japazy?” Bomba further queried.
“Yes,” replied Solani.
“It is well,” said Bomba. “Their words will be good words and they will do no harm to the stranger that came to them in peace.”
Solani looked very doubtful as to that, but he said no more, and Bomba himself did not prolong the conversation. He was too busy with his thoughts.
He could readily understand that, in order to curry favor with the tyrant, they might make a sacrifice of Bomba. It was for him to forestall this, if possible, and to learn their plans before they were put into execution.
“Has the stranger ever seen a cooanaradi?” asked Solani unexpectedly, as he started to gather up the dishes and the remnants of food.
“Yes, Bomba has seen them and slain them,” answered the jungle boy. “They are the most wicked snakes of the jungle. Why does Solani ask?”