The young puma sprawled across the back of Polulu. His fangs sank into the old veteran’s neck, his teeth seeking the spinal cord. Polulu rolled over in a desperate attempt to dislodge his enemy. The movement brought the young puma’s head directly within the range of Bomba’s revolver.
Bomba did not hesitate. He fired instantly. The shot struck the puma in the center of the forehead.
It did not kill him, but it stunned him and made him relinquish his grip.
The next instant a second bullet penetrated to the brain. The brute struggled convulsively for a moment, then straightened out and lay still.
Bomba went over to Polulu. The old puma was exhausted and bleeding from a dozen wounds.
Bomba put his arm about the neck of his friend, and Polulu rubbed his head against the boy and tried to lick his face.
“Polulu!” exclaimed Bomba, as he caressed the great head, “you are brave. You are strong. You are the best of all the beasts of the jungle.”
Polulu purred complacently, as though to say he knew it.
CHAPTER XX
AN UNEXPECTED RECEPTION
The puma and the boy rested for a time, while Polulu licked his wounds, and when Bomba went on again the puma accompanied him for some distance through the jungle.