. It
will not take them long, however, to make up a supply, and it is
possible that is what they purpose doing."

The victorious party now came in view. Without waiting the defeated
party dashed through the stream not two hundred feet below the wagon,
and before they had fairly landed, espied the wagon. The surprise at
seeing it was almost paralyzing to them for the instant. They sheered
off down the stream, gesticulating wildly.

The pursuers crossed the stream higher up, and, therefore, nearer the
wagon. "Watch the party which has just crossed, so we can see what their
course will be."

"They are circling around behind us."

As they did so the victors emerged from the stream and made direct
toward the location of the Professor and his party. Here was a situation
not counted on. The wise savages had calculated on this chance to arrest
the pursuers, and they showed wisdom in the move.

"Now, boys, we must stop them, but do not shoot to kill at the first
shot. Before anything is done I will try to stop them by peaceful
methods."

The Professor, with a gun in his hand, suddenly stepped out from the
brush, and held up a hand. It may well be imagined that an apparition
was as startling to them as it had been to the others. They stopped for
a moment, and then with a whoop, fitted arrows to their bows, and
darted forward. The Professor stepped back, and calmly said: "Now, boys,
shoot low, and don't get excited."

At the word, and before the savages had gone twenty feet, the boys and
John leveled their pieces, and a volley rang out. Several were seen to
fall, but were only wounded, as they were at once taken in charge by
their companions. The moment the first round was fired, the Professor
ordered the relay guns to be grasped. But the savages, stunned by this
change of affairs, did not wait for the second shot, but rushed back to
the stream as fast as they could go, with the three wounded men.

But where were the other savages? Had they seen the result of the fight?
The Professor hoped that the result would be such as to win them over.
They lurked at a distance beyond the wagon, and as the Professor
advanced toward them and held up a hand, they continued to retreat. He
beckoned to them; but in spite of all efforts they refused to come
near.

CHAPTER II

TWO SAVAGE ATTACKS

To all intents and purposes they had two foes, one in front and the
other in the rear. They possessed a fine position, however, due t