man with javelin raised and apparently in the very act of launching it
at him.

The savage knew what a prick from that frightful thing meant, and with
a howling shriek he ducked his head as though he had caught its whizz
through the air, and shot among the trees with as much celerity as his
companion had shown in coming from them.

Neither of the explorers wished to slay the natives, no matter how
savage, unless compelled to do so in actual self-defence. Long had
recovered from his first burst of fury, and, though the Professor could
have sunk the javelin in the naked body, he withheld it, not unwilling
that his assailant, now that he had started to flee, should escape.

The one who had so foolishly come back to the river side was left in
the worst possible situation, for both his enemies stood between him
and the sheltering forest and he was defenceless. He was at their
mercy, and such people as those natives neither gave nor expected
quarter, when engaged in their savage warfare.

The fellow acted like a bewildered animal. The white strangers were
standing a few paces apart, so as to form the two angles of a triangle,
while he made the third. The nearest point to the forest way midway
between Grimcke and Long, as was apparent to the savage, who was fairly
cornered.

Had the Xingu behind him been as placid as farther above or below the
rapids, he would not have hesitated to plunge into its waters, trusting
to his skill in swimming; but, to dive into the raging current would
have been as certain destruction as for a man to undertake to swim