CHAPTER XXVIII
KING SUSKO
"My gracious, this is getting at close range!" burst out Dick,when he could catch his breath again. "Uncle Randolph, they meantto kill us!"
"Indeed they did, Dick. And this is no safe place for stopping.We must retreat."
"But Cujo--?"
"He must be cautioned." Randolph Rover raised his voice. "Cujo!Cujo! They have discovered us! Take care that they do not spearyou."
No reply came back to this call, which was several times repeated.Then came a crash, as a big stone was hurled down, to split into ascore of pieces on the rock which sheltered them.
"They mean to dislodge us," said Dick. "If they would only showthemselves--"
He stopped, for he had seen one of the Bumwos peering over a massof short brush directly over the cave entrance. Taking hasty aimwith his pistol be fired.
A yell of pain followed, proving that the African had been hit.But the Bumwo was not seriously wounded, and soon he sent anotherstone at them, this time hitting Randolph Rover on the leg.
"Oh!" gasped Dick's uncle, and drew up that member with a wryface.
"Did he hurt you much, Uncle Randolph?"
"He hurt me enough. You villain, take that!" And now the manfired, but the bullet flew wide of its mark, for Randolph Roverhad practiced but little with firearms.
They now thought it time to retreat, and, watching their chance,they ran from the rocks to the trees beyond. While they wereexposed another spear was sent after them, cutting its way throughMr. Rover's hat brim and causing that gentleman to turn as pale asa sheet.
"A few inches closer and it would have been my head!" heejaculated. "This is growing too warm for comfort. Perhaps wehad better rejoin the others, Dick."
"Cujo! Cujo! Where are you?" cried the boy once more. But asbefore no answer came back.
The shots had alarmed the others of the expedition, and all werehurrying along the rocky ledge when Randolph Rover and Dick metthem.
"We must turn back!" exclaimed Randolph Rover. "If you go aheadwe may be caught in an ambush. The Bumwos have discovered ourpresence and mean to kill us if they can!"
Suddenly a loud, deep voice broke upon them, coming from the rocksover the cave entrance.
"White men must leave this mountain!" cried the voice. "Thiscountry belongs to the Bumwos. White man has no right here! Go!Go before it is too late!"
"Who is that who speaks?" demanded Randolph Rover.
"I am King Susko, chief of the Bumwos."
"Will you come and have a talk with us?"
"No want to talk. Want the white man to leave," answered theAfrican chief, talking in fairly good English.
"We do not wish to quarrel with you, King Susko; but you will findit best for you if you will grant us an interview," went onRandolph Rover.
"The white man must go away from this mountain. I will not talkwith him," replied the African angrily.
"Do you know why we are here?"
"To rob the Bumwos of their gold."
"No; we are looking for a lost man, one who came to this countryyears ago and one who was your prisoner--"
"The white man is no longer here--he went home long time ago."
"We do not believe you!" cried Tom. "You have him a prisoner, andunless you deliver him up you shall suffer dearly for it."
This threat evidently angered the African chief greatly, forsuddenly a spear was launched at the boy, which pierced Tom'sshoulder.
As Tom went down, a shout went up from the rocks, and suddenly adozen or more Bumwos appeared, shaking their spears and acting asif they meant to rush down on the party below without furtherwarning.