Roy Rockwood

“ The roar of a jaguar might prelude its spring. Every thicket might harbor a bringer of death.
But evil as they were, they were better understood and more easily dealt with than those human enemies, the men who carried at their belts the heads of their victims.
Pipina declared now that she was strong enough to walk, and they made rapid progress through the jungle, and as the first faint heralds of the dawn appeared in the eastern sky they came within sight of the maloca, or village, of Hondura, chief of the Araos tribe, the strongest in that section of the jungle. ”

“ Pipina whimpered and besought her gods, but the ears of Bomba were deaf to her cries.
Underfoot the trunk was like glass. The slightest misstep might mean disaster. But Bomba advanced steadily, scarcely troubled by the light weight of the squaw. He was so accustomed to the dark that he hardly needed the faint rays of moonlight that filtered through the trees to tell him where to place his feet. ”

“ He vowed to the gods of the thunder and the rain that he would protect his friend to the last gasp; that if Casson were to die, he, Bomba, would die with him, stretched across his body.
But it was too early yet to think of death. Too long had Bomba braved the perils of the jungle not to know the fleetness of his foot, the sureness of his eye, the strength of his muscles. Bomba had fought the braves of Nascanora’s tribe before; had beaten and outwitted them. He [4] would fight them again, matching his strength against their strength, his brain against their brain. ”

“ Bomba turned to the chief.
“Your heart is big, Hondura, and your heart is good,” he said. “Bomba will not forget.”
“It is but little that Hondura is doing for Bomba,” the old chieftain replied. “Did not Bomba save my people? Did he not bring back the women and little children that Nascanora’s bucks had stolen? My people would die for Bomba. And I will tell my braves to hunt for Casson. Wherever they go their eyes will be open for the old white man. They will be looking while Bomba is on his way to Jaguar Island. And if he is alive, they will find him.” ”

“ Bomba tried to hold his head above the ooze, raising it by the sheer strength of his shoulders until the straining muscles could no longer bear the weight. And when, groaning, he let his head sink back, the mud sucked at it gloatingly.
“This, then, is the end of Bomba,” the lad muttered to himself gloomily. “He would have liked to die on his feet, fighting. But he must die here alone like any trapped beast of the jungle.” ”

“ Bomba talked to him. Bomba knows how to talk with the cooanaradi. He will not hurt Bomba. Bomba has his hand on him now,” and he reached down and touched the grisly coils. “He will not hurt any one who does not mean harm to Bomba.”
A yell of fright came from the superstitious natives. What magic was this of which the stranger was master, this mysterious lad who spoke of the dreaded scourge of the jungle as though it were a cooing dove, who could place his hand upon it and still remain alive? ”

“ Bomba and Neram bathed the arm and applied a plaster of river mud. Then they propped the man as comfortably as they could against the back of a tree, first making a careful examination of the branches to see that no other monster lurked above.
“Bomba is great,” murmured the grateful sufferer, as he looked with a shudder at the hideous body of the dead snake. “Bomba is good. There is no one so brave as Bomba in the jungle. And none can shoot as straight and kill as quickly.” ”

“ With a bellow of rage the savage also sprang upright, whipping out a short knife from his belt.
But quick as he was, Bomba was quicker. He saw the gleam of the Indian’s steel, drew his own machete and with one stroke sent his enemy’s weapon whizzing off into the underbrush.
Like a panther, the Indian sprang upon the white boy, and before Bomba could strike home with the machete had seized upon the lad’s hand, striving to bend it backward and possess himself of the machete. ”

“ The gods will watch over him. The serpent will not strike him, the jaguar will not spring upon him. For they know that he is mad and fear him.”
Though Bomba shook his head, the words of Pipina brought a little comfort to his heart. He knew that the savage beasts of the jungle, like the savage men of the jungle, had fear of all that was not sane and shunned it. Still, poor Cody Casson’s feebleness of mind seemed but a doubtful protection, and Bomba’s heart misgave him. ”

“ Now he was on the last lap of his journey, the journey that had taken him so many weary days, that had been so full of peril and adventure, and during which his life had so many times seemed to depend upon the turning of a hair.
Was not the very fact that he had been so preserved, Bomba asked himself, a proof that the gods of the Indians, in whom he half believed, were on his side? Surely he could not have come so far only to be mocked at last at the very moment when the end of his mission was in sight. ”

“ But even while the beast was in mid-air, a great yellow body came hurtling over the underbrush and struck the jaguar almost at right angles.
The impact was terrible, and the two brutes went down in a heap. Snarling and spitting, they scrambled up and faced each other, and the next moment were engaged in a life and death grapple.
The thud of the collision had come just as Bomba’s bow twanged. The arrow would have found its mark unerringly if the body of the jaguar had not been thrown out of the line of its flight. ”

“ Where then is the danger to Bomba, O good and wise chief?”
Hondura roused himself from his abstraction and stared at Bomba almost as though he were looking through him to something sinister that lay beyond.
“It is true that the city is gone. But strange ghosts arise from it, spirits that harm.”
[62] The little Pirah cried out sharply, and Pipina started a long eerie wail that chilled Bomba to the marrow of his bones.
“The evil spirits walk abroad at night,” the chief continued, “and woe is the portion of those who meet them. For they carry with them pain and pestilence and death. ”

“ He would have furnished a royal meal for the denizens of the jungle.
He stood for a moment looking thoughtfully at the beast, his eyes gleaming, lips drawn back a little to show two rows of even white teeth.
Then he flung back his head and turned to the monkey.
“Bomba will never forget what Doto has done,” he said. “But now Bomba must go. He must say farewell to Doto. It may be many moons before Bomba will see Doto again.”
The monkey whimpered and put his hand on Bomba’s shoulder. No human being could have asked more clearly that he be permitted to go along. ”

“ His hand grasped tightly the hilt of his knife, his eyes narrowed as they searched an especially heavy clump of bushes.
Another flash illumined the thicket and Bomba saw the ugly head of a jararaca, the rattlesnake of the South American jungle, upraised to strike.
As the world was again bathed in blackness the serpent sprang. At the same instant Bomba [6] dodged, his hand darted forward and caught the reptile by the neck. His fingers closed upon that slimy neck like a ring of steel. The snake writhed fearfully and threw its coils about Bomba’s arm. ”

“ The woman nodded.
“Casson no open door,” she resumed. “He know Nascanora. He say things. Make big chief mad. He beat more hard on door. He shout: ‘Casson witch doctor. He put a spell on sick people of our tribe. Nascanora burn Casson and hut of Casson with him.’”
A smoldering fire was in Bomba’s eyes that boded no good to the chief of the headhunters.
“Then Nascanora bring fire to the hut of Pipina,” went on the squaw. “His bucks come with heaps of vines and leaves. They wet and not burn at first. But after they burn, burn hot, and the hut of Pipina begin to burn too.” ”

“ Bomba knew what it was, knew even before he saw the glint of the evil eyes in the wicked head. It was a cooanaradi, the most deadly and terrible snake of the South American jungle, a species that sometimes grows to twelve feet in length, is noted for its ferocity and speed and its eagerness to attack man even when retreat is possible. ”

“ Bomba rejoiced. They had not then found Casson.
“It is good,” returned the other. “The squaws and the old men of the tribe will be glad when we tell them that the man who made bad magic is dead.”
“But the boy still lives,” returned the other. “Nascanora will not sleep well until he has his head upon his wigwam. Already this night the boy has beaten Toluro in fight. He stamped his head into the mud. And his arrows have carried death on their points.”
“The demons help him,” the other replied. “They come from the fire and strike down our men. He has the same magic as the old man with white hair. ”

“ The great beast fought desperately, tearing with teeth and claws against the scaly hide of its captor. But the alligator was in its favorite element and had the advantage. Clamping the jaguar in its great jaws, it went down under the surface. There was a churning of the water that rapidly turned red, a few bubbles of air rose to the top, and then the commotion subsided.
The lord of the jungle had met more than his match in the lord of the river!
Scarcely daring to believe in his escape, Bomba watched the turbulent water in a horrid fascination. ”

“ Maybe he go to find Bomba.”
“He cannot find his way anywhere,” declared Bomba sadly. “He will be like a child in the jungle. He will be at the mercy of the big cats, of the anacondas, of the other creeping things that watch and spring upon their prey. Casson might as well have stayed in the hut of fire, for his death in the jungle is as sure.”
Pipina wrung her hands and continued the rocking motion of her body.
“He is mad,” she chanted in a singsong voice. “There is a strange power about him that will keep off evil. ”

“ If this should prove true—that Japazy was really his father’s murderer—Bomba then and there vowed vengeance. Let Japazy look to himself! Let him gather all his ghosts and demons to protect him! They would be of no avail. Bomba’s arrow or Bomba’s knife would find the [183] black heart of the half-breed! His father’s murder should be avenged!
Bomba knew nothing of the Christian law of forgiveness. He had been brought up in the jungle, whose first law was self-preservation, whose second law was vengeance for evil received. If Japazy had taken Bartow’s life, Japazy’s life must pay the forfeit. ”

“ And Neram did not dare shoot his arrow for fear he would kill Ashati. Neram cannot shoot as straight as Bomba.”
“The gods have been good,” returned Bomba. “The big snake is dead. We will eat of its flesh, for it is good. Neram will make a fire and we will feast. Then Ashati and Neram will tell Bomba where they have been and what they have done since they left the cabin of Pipina.” ”

“ The assurance was an immense comfort to the heart of Bomba. If his own search for Casson failed, he would know that a host of sharp eyes were taking up his work. All that could be done would be done for the old man he loved.
He stayed at the maloca only long enough to get some more strings for his bow and to replenish his stock of arrows and put an additional edge on his machete. Then, with a warm farewell to Hondura, Pirah, Pipina, and the assembled [65] people of the tribe, he plunged into the jungle. ”

“ Bomba groaned as he saw the picture of old Cody Casson, brave to the last, defying death, his only weapon a “fire stick” that would not work.
“It happen quick,” went on Pipina with a helpless shake of her head. “One, two, three—like that,” with a snap of her bony fingers. “The headhunters come. They have heads, fresh heads, women, children heads, on string at waists. They want more heads, Casson’s head, Pipina’s head. They beat on door. They say: ‘Open. No hurt. Nascanora friend of Casson.’”
[39] Again came that growl as of an angry jaguar from the clenched teeth of Bomba. ”

“ At this moment there was a terrific roar from the volcano and the earth shook so violently under Bomba’s feet that he was thrown headlong. For several minutes the quake continued and then gradually subsided.
When Bomba peered again through the crevice he could note consternation on all faces.
“Tamura is angry,” declared Abino solemnly. “To-day he has been more angry than for many moons. Why is that? It is because to-day the stranger came. He does not like the stranger. He wants that he should die. Tamura has spoken.” ”

“ Bomba lived far back in the jungles of the Amazon with a half-demented naturalist who told the lad nothing of his past. The jungle boy was a lover of birds, and hunted animals with a bow and arrow and his trusty machete. He had only a primitive education, and his daring adventures will be followed with breathless interest by thousands. ”

“ In a moment he had reached a little opening in the jungle, and his blood ran cold at the sight that met his eyes.
A man, by his color an Indian, was struggling in the coils of a giant boa constrictor. His features were distorted with agony. The coils of the great snake were wound about the man’s right arm and striving to crush it into pulp.
The victim was tearing wildly at the snake’s body with the free arm, but as the hand held no weapon it could make no impression. Another man was circling frantically about the reptile, trying to get in a blow with a knife. ”

“ There were sections also on which grew little vegetation. These were sandy and rocky plateaus, seamed with ravines. There was one great hill that almost rose to the dignity of a mountain, and from this a bluish vapor or smoke kept constantly rising and spreading out in the shape of a fan. At times a flash of flame would issue forth from the summit.
In the vicinity of this, Bomba frequently felt slight tremors of the earth, one of them so pronounced that it nearly threw him from his feet. And the humming was much louder here than it had been when Bomba was on the river. ”

“ Bomba can make a raft and we will go on that.”
“Our enemies are about us,” returned Bomba, as he bent a frowning look upon the surrounding forest. “If we wait, they will find us and drag [49] us to the village of Nascanora. We cannot wait. We must go.”
“The river roars,” wailed the squaw, wringing her hands. “It waits for Bomba and Pipina like a jaguar hungry for its meat. It is death to cross.”
“A little way from here there is a log across the water,” said Bomba. “What better bridge do Bomba and Pipina want?”
“The log is slippery,” moaned Pipina. “Bomba must go on. ”

“ He would die happy if he could make Bomba die first.”
Bomba laughed.
“He has yet to catch Bomba,” he replied. “And if he does catch him, he may wish that he had rather laid his hand upon a cooanaradi. I do not fear Nascanora. But I fear for Casson.”
“Hondura is sorry that the good old white man has gone,” said the chief gravely. “Hondura like Casson. All the Araos like him. Wish him good.”
“The good spirits will be with him in the jungle,” put in little Pirah. “They will bring him safely to Bomba again or to one of the bucks of my father.” ”

“ Had the lad’s fingers relaxed the merest trifle, the fangs would have found their mark. But those fingers kept up their relentless pressure until the thrashing coils gradually grew limp.
To make assurance doubly sure, Bomba beat the reptile’s head against a rock, then flung the hideous thing far from him into the bushes.
“The snake is quick,” said the boy to himself, in justified pride, “but Bomba is quicker.” ”

“ Bomba was beside him on the instant, caressing the great brute’s shaggy head. The animal’s eyes, of late so furious, were now soft with affection, and it tried weakly to lick Bomba’s hand.
“Good Polulu!” cried the lad. “Brave Polulu! There is no beast of the jungle so strong as Polulu, the friend of Bomba. He has saved Bomba’s life.” ”

“ IN THE BOA CONSTRICTOR’S FOLDS
Under other circumstances Bomba might have hesitated before he rushed to the spot from which that scream proceeded. He would have feared a decoy, a trap. But there was such genuine terror, such awful anguish in that blood-curdling shriek that he hurried with all the speed he could muster, unslinging his bow as he ran. ”

“ May the curse of the gods rest on Bomba, if he means harm.”
His earnestness seemed to make an impression, but still the tribesmen hesitated.
“The stranger then must give up his bow and his knife and the fire stick that speaks with the voice of thunder,” suggested Abino, as a compromise.
But Bomba shook his head.
“The bow, the knife and the fire stick are Bomba’s friends,” he declared. “Without them he would be like a man without arms and legs. They will do harm to no one but the wicked. Bomba will keep his friends.” ”

“ A lightning flash more dazzling than any that had gone before rent the darkness of the jungle, flooding it with weird, unearthly light. In that [11] flash Bomba caught sight of several Indians crouched in the vicinity of the tree.
There came a rending, splintering crash that nearly shattered his eardrums, a detonation that seemed to shake the earth.
A giant tree near by, struck to the heart by the bolt, toppled and crashed toward the earth. The Indians yelled and tried to flee. A blood-curdling scream rang through the jungle as the tree trunk thudded to the ground. ”