have been that he
was actuated by a desire to go to the help of his comrade, or more
likely he was anxious to recover his javelin, in which he placed
unbounded faith, and believed he could do it without undue risk.

Whatever his purpose, he quickly burst from the forest, while Long, who
was pushing furiously after him, discovered from the increasing light
in front, that he was close to the Xingu again.

Suspecting his purpose, the white man tore forward at the most reckless
speed, and, before the native could recover his weapon and dart back to
cover, he himself had dashed into the moonlight.

"Now, we've got him!" he shouted; "there's no getting away _this_ time!"

This exultant exclamation was uttered to a form which appeared on his
right, and who he was certain was the Professor; but to his
consternation, as he turned his head, he saw that it was the other
native, javelin in hand!

CHAPTER IV.

HOW IT ENDED.

It will be recalled that the Professor started in pursuit of the flying
native with as much ardor as his friend, but, less skilful than he, he
had taken but a step or two, when an obstruction flung him to the
ground with discouraging emphasis.

Concluding that he had undertaken a futile task, he hastily climbed to
his feet to await the return of Long who, he was satisfied, would
attempt only a brief pursuit.

Remembering the javelin which had whizzed so near his crown, he cast
about for a moment and picked it up from the earth where it lay but a
few feet distant. As he balanced it in his hand, he observed that it
was about six feet in length, was made entirely of wood, which was
heavy and as hard and smooth as polished ebony.

The light of the moon was like that of the day itself. It would have
been easy to read ordinary print by it. He had no trouble, therefore,
in closely examining the novel implement of war. As he suspected, the
point was made of stone or flint, ground almost to needle-like
sharpness and securely fastened in place by a fine tendon wound around
the portion of the stick that held the harder part. This was covered
with a gummy substance extending to the end.

This he was satisfied was among the most virulent of substances known
to toxicology. A puncture of the skin was sure to be fatal unless some
remedy, of whose existence he held no suspicion, was instantly
obtainable.

He had set down his rifle white examining the weapon, but quickly
caught it up again, still reta