Part 22 (2/2)
Now came a furious attack at the corner of the hut beside hiht napping Before he could strike a match or catch up the pot of oil he was horrified to see a double row of fangs crash through the thatch, followed by a great tawny head Across the face extended a broad white scar as of an old burn
With one strangled cry Burt lifted the keen little axe and brought it down in the center of the white scar He saw a tremendous paw that ripped across his breast and hurled him backward, heard a maddened scream from the beast, and as he fainted his lastwalls about hi of cold water on his face and gasped His first thought was that the lion was over hiely
”Go slow, old man!” sounded the voice of Critch Burt looked up and saw the face of his chu his face ”Take it easy, Burt Don't try to talk yet Want a drink?”
Burt certainly did want a drink, and he half eht, while Critch supported hiet out o' here,” he lanced around There were gaping holes in the thatch walls, and before hiainst the dirt The two boys reached the doorway and Burt sank down gratefully in the warainst the wall of the hut
”You must have had a fierce tilanced down and shook his head His shi+rt had been ripped to pieces by that savage sweep of the lion's paw, but beyond one slight scratch he had escaped daain at the narrowness of the escape Then Critch thrust some roasted bananas into his hand, and the two boys ether
”I feel a heap better now,” sth ”Noe can talk”
”What happened, anyhow?” inquired Critch eagerly ”When I got here five ht you was dead, sure, when I saw all that blood and the wrecked hut”
Strengthened by his sleep and the food, Burt gradually regained his self-control as he related the story of that terrible night to his chuer interest, then rose and dashed into the hut
An instant later he reappeared, frowning
”The axe is gone,” he exclaimed excitedly ”Think you killed him?”
”How do I know?” retorted Burt ”I hit hiuess it landed between his eyes, but that's all I can tell”
”You in' from all that blood Anyhoe can follow him up--”
”Do it yourself,” broke in Burt ”I know just about how Cap'n Mac felt noouldn't ain for a million dollars cash
No sir!”
”Well, I will!” cried Critch excitedly ”I can get Mbopo--”
”Oh, how did you coed frohed Critch ”I should say it did work! Why, I've got the whole blamed tribe eatin' out o' ht to ko or kneel dohen he speaks to me It was easy!
”After we left here I had a lot of trouble trying to make the other fellows carry that _ankh_ They were scared to death of the thing
Before we got to the gate I fixed up the procession right Mbopo went first with the mummy Then come the two brothers carryin' the _ankh_ between 'em on the spear I come last with theand singing e showed up
When Mbopo went through the gate and got into the firelight the bunch stopped all of a sudden Then they saw the two boys with the _ankh_ The tom-toms quit work and everybody went down on their noses Before they had a chance to look up I fixed things right