Later that same afternoon, while Dick and Doc were chatting beside
their hut with Bulala and Ukundo, they heard a great racket at the
village gates. Thither from all directions were running men, women and
children and presently the prisoners saw a great company of strange
natives surging into the compound. They were greeted with laughter and
shouting that proclaimed them to be friends of the villagers.
"The guests are coming to the feast," said Ukundo, grimly, and
thereafter the four sat in moody silence, each wrapped in his own
thoughts.
The actuality of their fate had never seemed more than a bad dream to
the boys, but now, at last, it was borne in to them as something very
real, and very terrible, and very close.
They could see the hideous, painted faces of the new comers and the
grinning mouths that exposed the yellow teeth, filed to sharp points.
They saw some of the villagers point them out and scores of greedy
eyes directed upon them.
"I remember," said Dick, "how I used to stand outside the
confectioner's shop looking at the goodies in the window. Those
bounders reminded me of it."
"I suppose we look like the original candy kids," sighed Doc.
Presently four or five warriors came and seized Bulala. They dragged
him to a small hut near the chief's and there they bound him hand and
foot and threw him inside.
"Poor Bulala," whispered Doc.
"He was a good friend," said Dick. "Oh, isn't there anything we can do?"
Doc shook his head and looked inquiringly at Ukundo, but Ukundo only
sat staring at the ground.
"Ukundo!" snapped Dick. The pygmy looked up.
"What?" he asked.
"Can't we escape, Ukundo?"
[Illustration: "Can't we escape, Ukundo?"]
"He make big medicine," said Ukundo, jerking a thumb at Doc. "If he can
not escape, how can poor Ukundo, who cannot make any medicine?"
"My medicine is white man's medicine," said Doc. "It cannot show me my
way through the jungle. If I got out of the village, I should be lost
and the lions would get me."
"If you can get out of the village and take Ukundo with you, he will
take you through the jungle to his own people. Ukundo knows the jungle,
but he is afraid at night. At night the jungle is full of demons. If
you can get out in the day-time, Ukundo will go with you and show you
the way. But you can not get out while it is light, for the Bagalla
will see you. At night we should be killed and eaten by the demons.
It cannot be done." Thus spoke Ukundo, the pygmy, who knew the jungle
better than any man.
It was several minutes before Doc replied, for he was thinking very
hard, indeed. Presently he looked quickly up at Ukundo.
"Ukundo," he cried, "if it is only the demons you fear, there is
nothing to prevent our trying to escape at night, for I can make
medicine that will protect us from them."
Ukundo shook his head. "I do not know," he said, doubtingly.
"You have seen me make stronger medicine than Intamo can make," urged
Doc. "Do you not believe me, when I say that I can make medicine that
will keep every demon of the jungle from harming us?"
"Are you sure?" demanded Ukundo.
"Didn't we spend a night in the jungle before we reached this village?"
asked Dick. "Not one single little bit of a demon bothered us. You
ought to have seen 'em run, the minute they laid their eyes on Doc."
Ukundo's eyes grew very wide as he looked with awe at Doc. "The
medicine of the white boy witch-doctor must be very strong," he said.
"It is," admitted Doc. "I'll give you my word that not a demon will
hurt you while I am along; but if we stay here, Galla Galla will eat
you. Will you come with us?"
Ukundo glanced at the hut in which lay the unhappy Bulala. "Yes," he
said, "Ukundo will go with you."
"Good old Ukundo!" cried Dick, and then, in a whisper, "We'll have to
go tonight because tomorrow it may be too late for poor Bulala."
"Bulala?" questioned Ukundo. "Bulala is already as good as dead."
"You think they will kill him tonight?" demanded Dick.