CHAPTER XIII. 



THE HUMAN BUCKLER. 



NOTHER characteristic of Pongo, the Bushman, was his obstinacy. Ordin- 

 arily he was quite amenable to discipline, but when he set his mind upon 

 some course, it was useless to try to change it. 



The fact that he belonged to the same tribe with the wild men may have been 

 some reason why he decided to gratify the wish of the chieftain, and there was a 

 possibility that such a meeting would accrue to the benefit of the hunting party, 

 though Mr. Godkin did not believe it. 



"Go ahead," said he in his quiet way, "and pay the penalty with your life." 



Pongo uttered na reply, but went forward, as calmly as he would have gone to 

 the edge of the stream, to help himself to a drink of water, by tossing it from the 

 palm of his hand to his mouth, a foot away, in a style which no white man can imitate. 



" You can make up your mind there's going to be trouble," said Jack Harvey in 

 a low voice; "let's be ready to give him help when he needs it." 



The distance was not too great for the Texan to bring the chieftain from his 

 pony, in case of treachery, though the savage might manage to place Pongo in peril 

 from the same shot intended to bring him down. 



The chief carried a long spear instead of bow and arrows, and the moment he 

 saw one of his countrymen advancing, he settled down into a stationary position to 

 await his approach. 



The spectators on both sides fixed their attention upon the couple, or rather 

 upon Pongo, who, by his own act, had become the object of solicitous interest. 



Our friends felt that, whatever the issue of the extraordinary interview, it de- 

 volved upon Jack Harvey to take care of their native servant in his own peculiar 

 way. His skill in marksmanship fitted him pre-eminently for the task. 



Meanwhile, Pongo walked out on the plain with the same even step he had 

 shown at first. He left his spear behind him, but in the girdle at his waist was 

 thrust a single boomerang, the same with which he had decapitated the running 

 ostrich. His deftness in handling that peculiar weapon made it as dangerous at 

 short distances as when separated a long way from his enemy or intended victim. 



The course of Pongo was foolhardy from the beginning, and it must have been 

 that the sagacious fellow was deceived by the protestations of the leader, whom he 

 had met before and who knew him well. 



Understanding, as he did, that the Texan was covering him with his rifle, and 

 that he would not hesitate to shoot the savage from his horse, on the first sign of 

 treachery (and possibly before), Pongo made known that fact, while yet a* full rod 

 from the Bushman. 



Ro 



