A frightened silence greeted these words.
"Kori the Running Deer, you go with the Sparrow-Hearted," designated Grumgra.
"My name is the Eagle-Hearted!" corrected Ru, scowling a black scowl.
"The Eagle-Hearted," acknowledged Grumgra, also scowling.
Kori the Running Deer came slowly forward. He was an especially slender and wiry-looking tribesman; his muscles were stout and powerful, yet he had not the ox-like build of most of the Umbaddu.
He seemed to realize at once the uselessness of protest. "Tell me what to do, Ru, and I will try to do it," he declared, as he stopped within arm's length of the raft. And though his small black eyes showed more than a trace of fear, his limbs did not waver and his voice did not shake.
"Do as I do—and only that," directed Ru. And he climbed onto the farther end of the raft, and motioned Kori to take his place at the opposite extremity.
"Now push with your club," Ru ordered, after Kori had stationed himself on the raft. "And move it the way I move mine."
Whereat he gave a powerful shove, and Kori followed with another shove not less powerful. And the raft slipped away from the bank out into the wilderness of the waters!
Once again the people murmured in admiration and surprise; once again there were cries of wonder at the magic of Ru. And all eyes were riveted upon that little craft which made its way slowly, slowly out toward the center of the stream.