Part 18 (1/2)
Say--”
”Hold on!” interrupted Critch excitedly ”Are you Mbopo?”
”Mbopo!” the young pight ”Where know that? You know Buburika Mac?”
”Yes,” replied Burt He spoke slowly and distinctly in order to estures ”He's off that way These people killed his party a few days ago and nearly killed hiht us here yesterday”
”Hurt Buburika?” derily He turned and poured out a flood of words at the darker piground with their heads One of his ownently ”No can help o!” cried Burt in dislish?”
”Buburika,” s fellow proudly ”Buburika--Leopard, little leopard Hio too”
The other white pig and Mbopo ht out the guns taken froes and knives These Mbopo's e of the brown tribe
”No talkee,” cautioned Mbopo In a e All about theh above the overhead, matted with creepers and vines Only an occasional ray of sunlight filtered through that vast canopy of foliage under which leaped and chattered flocks of h the torn places in their nets
Every few yards they had to climb half rotted tree trunks studded with briary creepers and alive with ants They passed stagnant swa vile odors Once or twice a black pign froain without a word That vast silence oppressed the boys terribly and they were heartily glad when they arrived at a village similar to that they had left, and halted for dinner
CHAPTER XIV
THE SACRED LION
”Things ht be a whole lot worse,” said Critch as he stretched out after the e frorub cheers a fellow up some, don't it?” returned Burt ”I hate to think of what's coh D'you s'pose they'll brand us?”
”Search me,” yawned Critch ”I reckon Mbopo'll help us if he can We just got to grin and bear it, old sport Ain't no use whining”
”Whining yourself, you red-head!” retorted Burt indignantly ”D'you reckon they're toting us for their health? If we could only swipe one of those guns and lay out the big lion! Here's Mbopo”
The pigmy approached and squatted down before theent and well-formed He had a row of cicatrices down each cheek like his fellows and wore a leopard skin hung across his shoulders
”Mbopo help,” he asserted ”How Buburika?”
”Hiood,” replied Critch ”Good naoing to do with us, Mbopo?”
”White boys ju-ju,” replied Mbopo ”Give Pongo”
”Is that the lion Buburika laid out?” exclaimy looked blank and Burt repeated his question
”Him lion,” nodded the other ”Maybe him scared you too Him scared white skin Scared Buburika What? Mbopo help Aye, vera good”
The concluding words sent a twinkle into the boys' eyes but they were careful not to laugh The very tone was an exact iood,” replied Critch ”Can you get one o' the but Mbopo shook his head decisively
”No got Hio No fash yerself--Mbopo help!”