r buried
deep in the sockets of his eyes. He knew this, and so also they who
looked from below. He could do nothing but keep his place, and continue
to fight off the furious assailant with his free arm--the hand getting
torn at each contact, till the blood could be seen trickling from the
tips of his fingers.

It is difficult to say how long this curious contest might have
continued, or how it would have terminated, had the combatants been left
to themselves. In all probability it would have ended by the boy's
having his skull cleft open or his eyes torn out; or, growing feeble, he
would have lost his hold upon the ladder and fallen to the foot of the
tree--of itself certain death.

It in reality looked as if this would be the lamentable result, and very
quickly. Saloo had sprung to the tree, and was already ascending to the
rescue. But for all that he might be too late; or even if successful in
reaching the elevated point where Henry struggled against danger, he
might still be unable to effect his deliverance. The alarmed father
seemed to fear this, as he stood gazing, with agony depicted on his
face--agony at the thought of seeing his dear boy exposed to such a
fearful peril, and feeling himself so helpless to rescue him.

All at once a thought flashed into his mind, that at least gave him some
relief through the necessity of action. His rifle, which fortunately
after cleaning he had reloaded, stood resting against the trunk of the
tree. He sprang toward and seized hold of it. In another second it was
raised to his shoulder; its muzzle pointed almost vertically upward, and
circling around to get bearing upon the body of the bird.

It was a dangerous shot to take, like that of Tell with the arrow and
the apple. But it seemed yet more dangerous not to venture it; and with
this reflection passing through his mind he watched the hornbill through
several of its swoopings, and when at length in one of these it receded
to some distance from Henry's face, he took quick sight upon it, and
pulled trigger.

A splendid shot--a broken wing--a huge bird seen fluttering through the
air to the earth--then flopping and screaming over the ground, till its
cries were stilled and its strugglings terminated by a few blows from a
boat-hook held in the hands of the ship-carpenter;--all this was the
spectacle of only a few seconds!

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

SITTING BY THE SPIT.

Saloo had by this time climbed to the topmos