"There are six war canoes full of them," announced, Sikaso, with
almost a groan, after he had given close attention to the sounds.
"Alas, my white brothers, there is little use of our giving battle."

"Well, I for one am not going to give up without dropping a few of
the cowardly wretches," cried Billy.

"Nor I," echoed Lathrop, enthused by Billy's brave example.

The old warrior's eyes kindled as he gazed at the two brave young
Americans, each clutching his rifle and waiting for the moment to
arrive when they could use them.

"If we only had had time to throw up a stockade, my brothers, we
might have driven them off yet," he cried.

"Well, we'll give as good an account of ourselves as possible,"
declared Lathrop.

And now began what has been acknowledged to be the most trying part
of any engagement, from a duel to a battle--the waiting for
hostilities to begin. It seemed that an interminable time had
elapsed from the moment that they heard the first "dip-dip" of the
paddles to the sharp crack of a twig sounded in the jungle directly
ahead of them. The snapped branch told them that the enemy's
outposts were reconnoitering to see that the camp was actually, as
it seemed to be, wrapped in sleep.

Apparently the scout, whoever he was, was soon convinced of the fact
that the adventurers were slumbering, for he advanced boldly from