Stump resumed his natural position.
"There's no lie, sir, about my having had a filler of pork," he replied. "But though I'm only an odd boy, I've got my feelings, and I'd as soon be a convict as in that there prison ship."
"The youth is right," observed the professor mildly; "to live and die in that ship is an awful prospect, and I would rather herd with savages in their wilds than do it."
And as if it was intended as an answer to his speech, an arrow flew over his head.
Fortunately it missed its mark, and stuck quivering into the bark of the tree under which they were sitting.
Everyone sprang to his feet, and stood, gun in hand, on the defensive.
"Savages, by George!" exclaimed Mont.
"Where?" asked the professor.
"To the right, sir. Fire away, and chance it, or we shall all be killed."
There was an instant discharge of firearms, and a scuffling was heard behind some cactus and mimosa bushes.