along the sides,
covered with slime and weeds, were small black objects. He had heard
that these boats hurl "hot-spit" into the jungle when they are angry,
and he supposed it must come from these ugly things. All this occupied
only a few seconds, but to Piang it seemed like years. Making a hasty
ascent, he again filled his lungs and prepared to explore farther. As
he worked his way back, he crossed the current that was bearing the
rice to the surface and remembered his mission. Following the milky
trail, he arrived at the stern of the boat and shuddered to see the
mass of animal life clustered there. Worming his way alongside, he
frightened the swarming creatures, and they scattered, leaving him a
clear view of the boat. Only one old tortoise refused to be disturbed,
and Piang watched it pull and bite at something. He was very close
to it, when suddenly something blinded him. He put out his hands to
ward it off, but the rush increased, and when he found his way to the
top his hands were full of soggy rice. The old tortoise had torn the
end of a rice-sack, and the contents were being whirled upward.

As the boy lay on the water, reviewing his remarkable discovery,
his strength almost exhausted, he was startled into the realization
of a new danger. Quickly he dived, but not before a man in a vinta,
headed that way, had seen him. Piang was caught. In his excitement
he had failed to watch for the coming of his enemies, and now he
must fight. Swiftly the vinta approached. Piang could see it through
the water and he watched until it was over his head. With a lunge,
he struck at it with all his might, upsetting it and throwing the
occupant out. With a yell the man grabbed Piang, and the startled boy
recognized his old enemy, Sicto, the outcast, who drifted from tribe
to tribe, a parasite on all who would tolerate him. He was making
his home with the lake people just now and had discovered Piang's
hiding-place. Guessing that the boy was after the secret of the rice,
he had watched his chance and had pounced on him when he was least
able to protect himself.

Over and over they rolled, splashing and fighting. Piang was struggling
for breath, but luckily he still had his bolo in his hand. The big
bully was sure to win the fight unless Piang could escape soon, as
he was already winded and exhausted. A happy thought flashed through
Piang's mind. He watched for one of the tortoises to swim near the
surface, and then shrieking "Cro