The way was beset with a
thousand annoyances, chiefest among which were thorns, cunningly
concealed, that penetrated the bare feet of the invaders. Once, during
the afternoon, Binu Charley barely missed being impaled in a staked pit
that undermined the trail. There were times when all stood still and
waited for half an hour or more while Binu Charley prospected suspicious
parts of the trail. Sometimes he was compelled to leave the trail and
creep and climb through the jungle so as to approach the man-traps from
behind; and on one occasion, in spite of his precaution, a spring-bow was
discharged, the flying arrow barely clipping the shoulder of one of the
waiting Poonga-Poonga boys.
Where a slight run-way entered the main one, Sheldon paused and asked
Binu Charley if he knew where it led.
"Plenty bush fella garden he stop along there short way little bit," was
the answer. "All right you like 'm go look 'm along."
"'Walk 'm easy," he cautioned, a few minutes later. "Close up, that
fella garden. S'pose some bush fella he stop, we catch 'm."
Creeping ahead and peering into the clearing for a moment, Binu Charley
beckoned Sheldon to come on cautiously. Joan crouched beside him, and
together they peeped out. The cleared space was fully half an acre in
extent and carefully fenced against the wild pigs.
Pages:
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266