"Is it bad?" asked Captain Broadbeam, who was close to him.
"I—I guess not. But it doesn't feel very good," and the young diver gave a gasp for breath.
As quickly as he could the captain extracted the arrow, and when they were in the thicket the wound was bound up. It was not serious, but it gave Dave a stiff side for several days afterward.
Once the thicket was gained, Pat Stoodles did not halt, but led the way deeper and deeper into the jungle. Some rocks were passed and then they came out on what looked like the edge of a moss-covered opening.
"Stop!" yelled the Irishman at Bob, who was going ahead. "Stop, if ye value yer loife!"
"What's wrong now?" asked the young engineer.
"That spot is afther bein' worse nor the bogs av ould Ireland," explained Pat Stoodles. "It's as sticky as glue. Perhaps we can lead the savages into it."
He led the way around the opening and all followed, pausing on the opposite side.
At that moment the body of natives appeared, and, seeing the whites, broke into a triumphant yell.
A shower of arrows were sent forth, but the whites ran for the shelter of the nearest trees and nobody was struck.