But as he turned back toward the cabin a great wave of desolation flooded his heart.
There lay the cabin, now a heap of ashes. Were the ashes of Casson and Pipina also there? Had those faithful ones come there to their death?
With a sob Bomba threw himself on the ground and abandoned himself to uncontrolled grief.
This, however, was of short duration. A wild rage welled up in his heart, rage against the wicked Nascanora and his cruel tribe.
“They shall pay!” the lad cried, leaping to his feet. “For every drop of Casson’s blood they shall pay! There will yet be wailing in the huts of Nascanora. It is I, Bomba, who swear it!”
He paused, head upflung, listening.
What was that sound?
CHAPTER V
HOW THE INDIANS CAME
Bomba strained his ears and again heard the thing that had startled him. It was a faint cry, rising and falling like a wail somewhere in the bushes.
“Help!” came the voice, eerie as that of a banshee in the darkness. “Help, Bomba! Help!”