Part 20 (1/2)
”If we could only get inside that hut,” returned the red-haired boy, ”without finding the lion there, we ht wait for hiain, that's sure”
”The lion is blind, I guess,” said Burt doubtfully, ”but I'd hate to stand up to him with nothin' but a bow and arrow Besides, d'you remember what Cap'n Mac said? They don't use poison here”
”That's right!” Critch turned to Mbopo ”You got poison, spears, arrows?” He had to repeat the question several ti When he did so, Mbopo shook his head, saying that he had none
”I don't b'lieve he's got you yet,” said Burt disgustedly ”Well, we got to ets the notion that we've been running a bluff it's good night for us”
”Are you ga a chance on findin' Pongo at home, but it's all I can see to do Anyhow, Burt, he ain't very hungry just now”
”I s'pose not,” and Burt shuddered a trifle ”Come on then,” and he rose to his feet ”Say! Why couldn't Mbopo bring us some weapons? If we had one o' them axes--”
”That's the talk!” burst out Critch ”If we had a couple o' men with axes, Burt, we could make a trap for the old lion! How's that?”
”Fine!” replied Burt hopefully ”Have to h If the lion isn't inside, we can make a fire an' scare hirunted his chum ”He wouldn't know there was any fire there unless he walked into it!”
Burt turned to Mbopo By dint of constant repetition and much patience he finally made the dwarf understand that he wanted another man or two and some weapons Mbopo hesitated, then handed over a sot bruder,” he replied at length ”Bring hi plenty spear, hey?”
”That's it,” exclai 'em over there, see?” and he pointed toward the sacred hut
”Mebbe so, pretty quick,” asserted the dwarf, rather doubtfully ”Kill Pongo?”
”You bet,” answered Critch, a good dealthe dwarf on the shoulder ”Chase along now, old scout We'll kill Pongo right enough!”
”Vera good,” replied Mbopo The next instant he was lost in the darkness, and Burt turned to his chuame,” he said, with an attempt at a smile
”Ready?”
”I s'pose so,” responded Critch, who had suddenly lost his confident manner ”Get your matches ready”
The two boys started toward the sacred hut Both were extremely stiff and sore, and in sad need of sleep The sound of chanting and the throb of toe behind without interruption, while in front of them was the forest, silent and black and soray stockade loooin' first?” asked Burt, half-heartedly
”I will,” volunteered Critch Holding a ate of the ivory zareba The little enclosure around the thatch hut was empty, and before theesture, scratched theto look after it The brief flaave them a rapid vista of bare walls and floor
”Hurray!” whispered the red-haired lad hoarsely ”She's empty!”
Ashamed of his own timidity, Burt stepped past him without a word As he went, he lit aa piece of the loose thatch from the walls, he lit it and cast it on the floor and then the two boys looked around
The hut was mies
The floor was littered with bones, leaves, sticks and dirt of every description Close inside the door stood three earthenware vessels, and while Burt threw more leaves and sticks on the little fire, Critch picked up one of these
”Palht, Burt! Put a strip of cloth in each of these and we'll have elegant lamps”