“It is like a river, but a thousand times as big,” explained his questioner.
Bomba shook his head.
“No,” he said. “I never saw any water I could not swim across.”
“Haven’t you ever heard of England or America?” put in Dorn.
“No,” was the reply. “There are no animals here that have those names.”
A glance of pity passed between the two men.
“An untutored child of nature, if there ever was one!” exclaimed Gillis. “How in heaven’s name do you explain it?”
“Search me!” replied Dorn. “Seems to me the only thing to do is to hunt up this fellow Casson and get it out of him. The boy ought to be taken out to civilization and have his chance.”
“He ought,” assented Gillis. “Though I don’t see how we can do anything just now, for our road lies in the opposite direction and we’re behind our schedule now. We’ve got to get to the coast in time to get that steamer. But later on we’ll take the matter up ourselves or have some of the authorities look into it. But those steaks are done now, and I’m as hungry as a wolf. This young visitor of ours shall fill up too, if he cares to stop and eat with us.”
Bomba gladly accepted the invitation, not only because he was hungry but because it gave him a chance to stay in the company of the white men. He would have liked to stay with them forever. The thought of parting filled him with dread.