At last Tom could stand the suspense no longer. “Chow, I’m going to look for them!”
“Not without me, boss!”
Taking Akomo with them, the two Americans plunged anxiously into the bush. Both Chow and the guide were able to “cut sign” easily on the missing men. Ten minutes after leaving camp, Akomo suddenly stiffened like an animal at bay.
The guide’s reaction was noticed at once by Tom and Chow. As they followed his gaze, their scalps bristled. A group of giant natives had suddenly emerged from among the trees-spears poised menacingly at the three trackers!
CHAPTER VIII
A DUEL OF MAGIC
CHOW’S eyes bulged at sight of the spearmen. Tom could almost hear his own heart beating in the deathly stillness that followed.
The tribesmen looked about seven feet tall. Clad only in loincloths, they carried crude iron swords in sheaths slung from their left shoulders. Arms and necks were looped with glass beads, and their faces were scarred with tribal tattoos. Silently they began closing in.
“Make no move!” Akomo whispered nervously.
“Who are they?” Tom asked.
“Wanguru tribesmen-they live in the forest.”
By now the natives were almost within spear-thrust of Tom and his two companions.
“Oku!” Akomo greeted them.
The Wangurus made no response, their faces grimly impassive. Tom noticed that most of them were staring at him. At last one of the tribesmen spoke-in a commanding voice: “Wa!”
“He say to come with them,” Akomo translated.
“Where?” Tom said.
67
68 REPELATRON SKYWAY
Akomo repeated Tom’s question in the native’s dialect. The tribesman replied curtly.
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