"To the contrary?"
There was no response.
"Not a hand," said the professor. "I may, then, conclude, that we are unanimous in our wish for freedom, and it is decided that we do not return to the _Searcher_."
"Hurrah!" cried Stump, proceeding to stand on his head again.
"If you don"t stop those street-arab tricks," remarked Mont, "you"ll have a fit, after such a meal as you"ve had."
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.
A dozen savages, nearly naked, armed with spears and bows and arrows, were seen in a state of hesitation, whether to fly or stand their ground.
Three of their number had fallen from the discharge, and one, who was mortally wounded, was crawling, in a slow, labored manner, into the bush to die.
CHAPTER XXII.
FIGHTING THE SAVAGES.
"They are retreating!" cried Mont joyfully.
"No! no! they are coming on again!" put in Carl, a few seconds later.
"At "em again, boys; let them have it," said the professor.
"Hot and strong this time, sir," said Stump, advancing a step to take better aim.
Again the bullets flew, and three more savages went down.
The others turned to fly to the shelter of the neighboring forests.
"Hurrah! they"re bolting," said Mont.
"But they"ve collared what was left of our bread, and the remains of the roast pork," said the hired boy angrily. "Oh, the varmints! I"ll just give them something."
He advanced to fire better.
An aged chief, however, turned at this moment and discharged a parting shot which took effect in the calf of Stump"s leg.
"Oh, dear! I"m hit," he cried. "A great wooden skewer"s stuck right in my leg, sir. Perhaps it"s poisoned, sir. Oh, dear, but I wish it hadn"t been me. There"s the professor, now; he could have borne it better than me."
"Thank you, my young friend," said the professor, "the calf of my leg is as susceptible to pain as yours; let us get away, as arrowheads are sharp, and in certain parts of the body mortal."
"Where shall we go?" asked Mont.
"We are not safe here. The savages will return in larger numbers directly, and we shall probably lose our lives, so I propose to seek our boat."
"And go back to the _Searcher_?" asked Carl.
"Yes."
"Never! I for one will not go!" cried Carl.
"And I can"t crawl. I"m as lame as a dog," said Stump, half crying.
"Roll, if you can"t walk," said the professor jokingly.
"Pull it out, sir. Give me a hand with it. It hurts awful."
Mont advanced to the boy and seized the arrowhead, which he tugged at until, with a torrent of blood, it came out of the wound.
It was with difficulty Stump managed to limp on one leg, and seemed very grateful when Mont bound up the wound and told him to lean on his shoulder.
"My dear boy," said the professor, "discretion is the better part of valor. I am averse to the taking of human life, for I am a man of science and not a fighter. My advice is to check the advance of those bloodthirsty savages, and when your ammunition is spent, to run. As I am old, and not quick of foot, I will start at once."
So saying, he ran with all speed to the boat.
"Coward!" said Mont angrily.
"What are we to do?" asked Carl blankly.
"Follow him, I suppose," replied Mont. "Bring up the rear, Carl, while I help Stump along, and if the beasts show again, call us, and we will turn and fire."
They began to beat a retreat in this order, and, fortunately, the natives did not again make an appearance.
The half-mile was traversed quickly, Stump groaning dreadfully as he was forced along.