At their heels ran their
mothers, and from the village gate, in response to the alarm, came
a score of warriors, hastily snatched spears and shields ready in
their hands.
At sight of the consternation he had wrought the boy halted. The
glad smile faded from his face as with wild shouts and menacing
gestures the warriors ran toward him. Akut was calling to him from
behind to turn and flee, telling him that the blacks would kill
him. For a moment he stood watching them coming, then he raised
his hand with the palm toward them in signal for them to halt,
calling out at the same time that he came as a friend--that he had
only wanted to play with their children. Of course they did not
understand a word that he addressed to them, and their answer was
what any naked creature who had run suddenly out of the jungle upon
their women and children might have expected--a shower of spears.
The missiles struck all about the boy, but none touched him. Again
his spine tingled and the short hairs lifted at the nape of his
neck and along the top of his scalp. His eyes narrowed.
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