"Well, poison will make you sick--awful sick. Then you'll die. I'. full of it; eat it every day for breakfast. It don't hurt white men. you see, but it kills black men quicker than the bang-stick."The chief listened to this statement carefully, but only understood i. in part. After a moment's reflection he declared:
"White man lie. Lie all time. Me eat plenty white man. Never ge. sick; never die.. Then he added, with renewed cheerfulness: "Me ea. you, too!"Before Rob could think of a further protest, his captors caught up th. end of the rope and led him away through the forest. He was tightl. bound, and one strand of rope ran across the machine on his wrist an. pressed it into his flesh until the pain was severe. But he resolve. to be brave, whatever happened, so he stumbled along after the savage. without a word.
After a brief journey they came to a village, where Rob was thrus. into a brushwood hut and thrown upon the ground, still tightly bound.
"We light fire," said the chief. "Then kill little white man. The. eat him."With this comforting promise he went away and left Rob alone to thin. the matter over.
"This is tough," reflected the boy, with a groan. "I never expecte. to feed cannibals. Wish I was at home with mother and dad and th. girls. Wish I'd never seen the Demon of Electricity and his wonderfu. inventions. I was happy enough before I struck that awful Master Key.
And now I'll be eaten--with salt and pepper, probably. Wonder i. there'll be any gravy. Perhaps they'll boil me, with biscuits, a. mother does chickens. Oh-h-h-h-h. It's just awful!"In the midst of these depressing thoughts he became aware tha. something was hurting his back. After rolling over he found that h. had been lying upon a sharp stone that stuck out of the earth. Thi. gave him an idea. He rolled upon the stone again and began rubbin. the rope that bound him against the sharp edge.
Outside he could hear the crackling of fagots and the roar of . newly-kindled fire, so he knew he had no time to spare. He wriggle. and pushed his body right and left, right and left, sawing away at th. rope, until the strain and exertion started the perspiration fro. every pore.
At length the rope parted, and hastily uncoiling it from his body Ro. stood up and rubbed his benumbed muscles and tried to regain his los. breath. He had not freed himself a moment too soon, he found, fo. hearing a grunt of surprise behind him he turned around and saw . native standing in the door of the hut.
Rob laughed, for he was not a bit afraid of the blacks now. As th. native made a rush toward him the boy drew the electric tube from hi. pocket, pointed it at the foe, and pressed the button. The fello. sank to the earth without even a groan, and lay still.
Then another black entered, followed by the fat chief. When they sa. Rob at liberty, and their comrade lying apparently dead, the chie. cried out in surprise, using some expressive words in his own language.
"If it's just the same to you, old chap," said Rob, coolly, "I won'. be eaten to-day. You can make a pie of that fellow on the ground.""No. We eat you," cried the chief, angrily. "You cut rope, but n. get away; no boat!""I don't need a boat, thank you," said the boy; and then, as the othe. native sprang forward, he pointed the tube and laid him out beside hi. first victim.
At this act the chief stood an instant in amazed uncertainty. Then h. turned and rushed from the hut.
Laughing with amusement at the waddling, fat figure, Rob followed th. chief and found himself standing almost in the center of the nativ. village. A big fire was blazing merrily and the blacks were bus. making preparations for a grand feast.
