"Why, boys, do you want to give up?" gasped Dan. "You who vowed you would go through fire and water"
"Oh, we don't mean all we say, Dan," I interrupted. "But this is getting serious."
"So it is—but it was more serious when old Delverez had me up on that cliff, I can tell you that."
"That depends upon how far the natives carry this affair," said Oliver. "We may have hurt their feelings deeply."
"I wish we could find one of them that speaks English," went on Dan. "We might get him to listen to an explanation, even if we have to bribe him."
After that we became quiet for a while, listening to the wild song which came from the spot where the fire dance was in progress. But suddenly Oliver gave a cry.
"Oh, my! I'm being stung to death! Look at the bugs and roaches!"
There was no need to look, since both Dan and I could feel—and we felt as keenly as did our chum. The bugs had swarmed into the hut by the hundreds, and soon it looked as if we would be literally eaten up alive.
But now footsteps were heard approaching, and a tall, lean Kanaka shoved the guard to one side and entered the hut.
