s you've had."

Stump resumed his natural position.

"There's no lie, sir, about my having had a filler of pork," he replied.
"But though I'm only an odd boy, I've got my feelings, and I'd as soon
be a convict as in that there prison ship."

"The youth is right," observed the professor mildly; "to live and die in
that ship is an awful prospect, and I would rather herd with savages in
their wilds than do it."

And as if it was intended as an answer to his speech, an arrow flew over
his head.

Fortunately it missed its mark, and stuck quivering into the bark of the
tree under which they were sitting.

Everyone sprang to his feet, and stood, gun in hand, on the defensive.

"Savages, by George!" exclaimed Mont.

"Where?" asked the professor.

"To the right, sir. Fire away, and chance it, or we shall all be
killed."

There was an instant discharge of firearms, and a scuffling was heard
behind some cactus and mimosa bushes.

A dozen savages, nearly naked, armed with spears and bows and arrows,
were seen in a state of hesitation, whether to fly or stand their
ground.

Three of their number had fallen from the discharge, and one, who was
mortally wounded, was crawling, in a slow, labored manner, into the bush
to die.

CHAPTER XXII.

FIGHTING THE SAVAGES.

"They are retreating!" cried Mont joyfully.

"No! no! they are coming on again!" put in Carl, a few seconds later.

"At 'em again, boys; let them have it," said the professor.

"Hot and strong this time, sir," said Stump, advancing a step to take
better aim.

Again the bullets flew, and three more savages went down.

The others turned to fly to the shelter of the neighboring forests.

"Hurrah! they're bolting," said Mont.

"But they've collared what was left of our bread, and the remains of the
roast pork," said the hired boy angrily. "Oh, the varmints! I'll just
give them something."

He advanced to fire better.

An aged chief, however, turned at this moment and discharged a parting
shot which took effect in the calf of Stump's leg.

"Oh, dear! I'm hit," he cried. "A great wooden skewer's stuck right in
my leg, sir. Perhaps it's poisoned, sir. Oh, dear, but I wish it hadn't
been me. There's the professor, now; he could have borne it better than
me."

"Thank you, my young friend," said the professor, "the calf of my leg is
as susceptible to pain as yours; let us get away, as arrowheads are
sharp, and in certain parts of the body mort