Bomba slept fitfully that night. Several times he was up to replenish the fire. Only toward morning did he fall into a heavy sleep.
He was aroused at last by a cry from Casson—a cry of fear and horror.
Another shout, this time of warning, from the old man:
“Bomba!”
CHAPTER XI
THE VAMPIRES ATTACK
Bomba was awake instantly. He strove to rise, but fell back heavily. His limbs seemed weighted with iron.
At the same moment another shrill cry from Casson reached him!
“Vampires! The blood-sucking vampires! Quick, Bomba! Quick!”
As Bomba’s eyes accustomed themselves to the gloom of the hut they caught sight of the horrid creature that had provoked Casson’s cry of warning—a blood-sucking vampire bat, as large as a hawk, with a spread of over two feet across the wings.
True to its habits, it had attacked its victim while the latter was sleeping. It had settled on Bomba’s feet and started to suck his blood, while its great flapping wings kept up a gentle fanning motion, designed to soothe the lad and keep him asleep as long as possible.