But Doto persisted, and by main strength drew Bomba back, took the boy’s hand, and laid it upon something that was cold to the touch. Instantly Bomba grasped the monkey’s meaning.
Here was a rock, a great rock, set not far from the entrance. If they could roll it across that gaping opening, their lives might yet be saved.
The fierce snarling of the fighting pumas came to them from the dense shadow of the underbrush. They were busy doing Bomba’s work for him. Far more fearsome at the moment was that huge figure at the mouth of the cave.
The third puma was cautious. The hole was black. The man creature would be armed with things that stung. The beast still limped from an arrow wound in the leg, probably inflicted by an Indian, and was distrustful of the creatures that walked on two legs.
Bomba hastily thrust his weapons back into his pouch. With the help of Doto, who was stronger than the average man, he rolled the great stone slowly, strainingly, toward the yawning mouth of the cave.
Four feet, five, six. They pushed pantingly. The rock already covered part of the entrance, but there was still room for the puma to push through.
At this point the beast realized what they were trying to do!
With a blood-curdling snarl of rage it leaped forward. With one great despairing heave Bomba and Doto pushed the rock against the opening, sealing it.
Not a minute, not a second too soon!
The great stone caught the foot of the puma, crushing it. With a roar of rage and pain the brute pulled the injured member free and limped away, all the fight taken out of him for the time.