CHAPTER XI
THE TRAILING PUMAS
Against one puma, despite its terrible teeth and claws, Bomba would have had a fair chance of success in warding off an attack. His arrow might reach its heart before it could spring.
But if three attacked at once, he would have no chance at all. He and Doto must reach some place of safety quickly, or they were lost.
Doto was tugging frantically at his arm, and Bomba broke into a quick pantherlike run. But the pumas quickened their pace also, instinct telling them that their intended surprise had failed. There was the breaking of brushwood all about as the great beasts burst through.
With Doto still clutching his arm, Bomba and the monkey plunged together into a dark and narrow passage.
Even as they rushed within the cave, the pumas sprang to the attack.
But two of them, in making for the hole through which their prey threatened to escape, collided with a thud of heavy bodies.
The entrance was too narrow for both, and their heads were jammed together.
They pulled back, snapping and snarling, and in a second were engaged in deadly combat.
The diversion seemed to give Bomba the chance that he wanted. He slipped the bow from his shoulder and drew an arrow from his quiver.