He placed the monkey’s paws beneath his shoulders and signified that it was to pull with all its strength.
This Doto did, and Bomba ground his teeth with pain as he was at last drawn clear of the branches.
With difficulty he stood upon his feet, leaning heavily against Doto.
He was stiff and sore in every muscle. It was agony even to draw a deep breath.
Still, the heart of the lad swelled with exultation and a new sense of power. He stood upright, his machete was at his side; his bow was still intact, his quiver full of arrows, and in his pouch was his greatly prized revolver, once again fully loaded.
He felt of his right arm and found that it was unbroken. There was a numbness in it that gave place to pain as the blood began to pulse strongly through it, but Bomba knew that in a short time it would be as well as ever.
“The bones of Bomba bend but they do not break,” the lad exulted.
But Doto’s anxiety was still unabated. His uneasiness increased with every moment, and he pressed closely against Bomba, urging him to leave the spot.
Bomba tried a few steps and found that he could walk, though waveringly. So he motioned to the monkey to go ahead and lead the way.
This Doto did with great alacrity, pausing when his pace became too swift for Bomba and waiting till the boy caught up with him.