ter, however, was too wary to allow him to succeed.
Thus they continued springing round each other, Oamo's aim being
evidently to exhaust the strength of his antagonist. At last he
succeeded in bringing his weapon down on Whagoo's left shoulder, and
inflicted a fearful wound; sufficient apparently to disable him
completely, for the blood gushed forth in a way which must quickly, it
seemed, drain his veins of their contents. He, however, took no notice
of it, though it had evidently excited his rage and made him abandon the
caution he had hitherto maintained.

I now began seriously to fear for the result. Oamo saw his advantage,
and allowed Whagoo still further to exhaust his strength.

"What are we to do, Harry, if our friend gets beaten?" I asked.

"We must try and escape, for otherwise I fear that we shall be handed
over to the victorious party," he answered.

"Will they kill us?" I asked.

"Not if Oamo escapes without a wound," he answered; "they will be so
delighted with their victory that they will keep us as trophies. I
don't like the look of things, however."

Our fears were still further increased when Oamo succeeded in bringing
his weapon down on Whagoo's thigh, leaping back quick as lightning to
avoid the blow which the other dealt in return. In his eagerness to
strike, and much weakened by his wounds, Whagoo overbalanced himself,
and before he could again recover his feet or raise his club Oamo
brought his weapon with tremendous force down on his unguarded skull,
which with a single blow he clove in two, and our champion fell dead to
the earth.

Oamo's followers, uttering loud shouts of triumph, immediately rushed
forward, and before Harry and I, who stood rooted with horror to the
spot, could make our escape, they had surrounded us; Whagoo's party
having bounded off like startled deer the instant they perceived the
fall of their chief. Satisfied with his victory, Oamo did not attempt
to follow them, aware probably that Paowang, with the rest of his tribe,
would quickly be down upon them to avenge his son's death.

We were at once dragged off across the stream; after which the whole
party, carrying us with them, retreated southward, singing songs of
triumph.

Our captors did not halt till they reached their village, when the women
came out in crowds to welcome them and to gaze at us. I expected
nothing less than torture and death; but even Oamo, savage as he was,
did not look at us fiercel