KING SUSKO
"My gracious, this is getting at close range!" burst out Dick,
when he could catch his breath again. "Uncle Randolph, they meant
to kill us!"
"Indeed they did, Dick. And this is no safe place for stopping.
We must retreat."
"But Cujo--?"
"He must be cautioned." Randolph Rover raised his voice. "Cujo!
Cujo! They have discovered us! Take care that they do not spear
you."
No reply came back to this call, which was several times repeated.
Then came a crash, as a big stone was hurled down, to split into a
score of pieces on the rock which sheltered them.
"They mean to dislodge us," said Dick. "If they would only show
themselves--"
He stopped, for he had seen one of the Bumwos peering over a mass
of short brush directly over the cave entrance. Taking hasty aim
with his pistol be fired.
A yell of pain followed, proving that the African had been hit.
But the Bumwo was not seriously wounded, and soon he sent another
stone at them, this time hitting Randolph Rover on the leg.
"Oh!" gasped Dick's uncle, and drew up that member with a wry
face.
"Did he hurt you much, Uncle Randolph?"
"He hurt me enough. You villain, take that!" And now the man
fired, but the bullet flew wide of its mark, for Randolph Rover
had practiced but little with firearms.
They now thought it time to retreat, and, watching their chance,
they ran from the rocks to the trees beyond. While they were
exposed another spear was sent after them, cutting its way through
Mr. Rover's hat brim and causing that gentleman to turn as pale as
a sheet.
"A few inches closer and it would have been my head!" he
ejaculated. "This is growing too warm for comfort. Perhaps we
had better rejoin the others, Dick."
"Cujo! Cujo! Where are you?" cried the boy once more. But as
before no answer came back.
The shots had alarmed the others of the expedition, and all were
hurrying along the rocky ledge when Randolph Rover and Dick met
them.
"We must turn back!" exclaimed Randolph Rover. "If you go ahead
we may be caught in an ambush. The Bumwos have discovered our
presence and mean to kill us if they can!"
Suddenly a loud, deep voice broke upon them, coming from the rocks
over the cave entrance.
"White men must leave this mountain!" cried the voice. "This
country belongs to the Bumwos. White man has no right here! Go!
Go before it is too late!"
"Who is that who speaks?" demanded Randolph Rover.
"I am King Susko, chief of the Bumwos."
"Will you come and have a talk with us?"
"No want to talk. Want the white man to leave," answered the
African chief, talking in fairly good English.
"We do not wish to quarrel with you, King Susko; but you will find
it best for you if you will grant us an interview," went on
Randolph Rover.
"The white man must go away from this mountain. I will not talk
with him," replied the African angrily.
"Do you know why we are here?"
"To rob the Bumwos of their gold."
"No; we are looking for a lost man, one who came to this country
years ago and one who was your prisoner--"
"The white man is no longer here--he went home long time ago."
"We do not believe you!" cried Tom. "You have him a prisoner, and
unless you deliver him up you shall suffer dearly for it."
This threat evidently angered the African chief greatly, for
suddenly a spear was launched at the boy, which pierced Tom's
shoulder.
As Tom went down, a shout went up from the rocks, and suddenly a
dozen or more Bumwos appeared, shaking their spears and acting as
if they meant to rush down on the party below without further
warning.