he drew a sharp breath. "Gosh, how my foot hurts where I caught it!"
The conversation between the four Kanakas continued for perhaps five minutes. In the meantime the fire at the village seemed to spurt up and then die lower than before. But the explosion had scattered the burning brands in every direction.
"Great Scott!" came suddenly from Dan, and he let out a subdued yell, while at the same time he clutched at his collar. "Something is pinching me in the back! Take it off!"
"Hush!" I returned warningly, and caught at his neck, to receive a savage nip from a black and ugly-looking spider that had dropped from the bushes above us. Flinging the creature down, I smashed it with my heel.
"Do you reckon it was—was poisonous?" queried Dan, his face full of added alarm.
"If it was, we will both have to suffer," I replied, as I began to suck my finger. "If we Here come those natives!"
I dodged down and so did my two companions. One of the Kanakas had caught our words, raised his head, and was making straight for the hollow, followed by his three companions.
Further hiding was out of the question, and it was likewise impossible to run away, for the Kanakas completely surrounded the hollow. I felt
