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THE HIDDEN LISTENER Bomba knew all too well what that phosphorescent streak meant. An alligator was coming, and coming fast. Bomba measured the distance between himself and the shore. The log could move no faster than the current. But Bomba could! In an instant he had dived into the water and struck out for the shore.
He could swim with amazing speed, and he had never put such power into his strokes as he did now. He knew that he was racing for his life. Would the start he had prove sufficient to bring him to the shore before he was overtaken by his terrible pursuer? It probably would not have been, if the monster had not stopped fo...
Bomba rose to his feet, his heart swelling with jubilation. But that jubilation was swiftly turned to horror. As he drew the air into his gasping lungs and turned from the shore, there came a tremendous roar and the lad found himself looking into the fiery eyes of a jaguar crouched for a spring. There was no time to fi...
Like a flash Bomba dropped flat to the ground. He felt the rush of air as the brute passed over him. The next instant Bomba was on his feet and had drawn his knife, ready for the return attack. But there was no need. They had been so close to the bank that the spring of the brute had carried it over the edge and into t...
The great beast fought desperately, tearing with teeth and claws against the scaly hide of its captor. But the alligator was in its favorite element and had the advantage. Clamping the jaguar in its great jaws, it went down under the surface. There was a churning of the water that rapidly turned red, a few bubbles of a...
He found a thorn thicket, forced his way into it, and sat down to take counsel with himself as to his future course. He had formed no clear idea as yet as to how he would approach Japazy. He had deferred thinking of that until he should have reached the island. One thing was certain. He must not seek him at night. In t...
He looked at the sky and judged the time from the position of the moon. It was not yet midnight. He would have some hours in which to get the rest that he so sorely needed. Then at the first streak of dawn he would be astir, would go scouting cautiously about the island and find out the dwelling place of Japazy and his...
“Is Bomba an old woman?” he asked himself scornfully. “Will he be whimpering soon like Pipina, the squaw? No! Bomba does not fear what the natives fear. He does not tremble like Ashati and Neram who talk foolish words about ghosts and demons. For Bomba is white. He is like Gillis and Dorn, who laugh at the talk of ghos...
There were sections also on which grew little vegetation. These were sandy and rocky plateaus, seamed with ravines. There was one great hill that almost rose to the dignity of a mountain, and from this a bluish vapor or smoke kept constantly rising and spreading out in the shape of a fan. At times a flash of flame woul...
After two or three experiences of this kind Bomba grasped the situation. The jaguars that had given the island its name must abound in such numbers that no solitary dweller in the jungle would be safe. Probably every one of these deserted cabins had been the scene of a tragedy. Undoubtedly the inhabitants had had to ga...
With the speed and at the same time the stealthiness of a panther, Bomba glided to the biggest group of bowlders. He squeezed himself in a crevice between two of them. Now he could hear the voices of two natives talking vociferously. CHAPTER XVIII DISCOVERED
Bomba edged himself still further between the bowlders until he found a place where he could look through without himself being seen. At once he saw the reason of the excitement. A dead jaguar lay stretched out on the ground. One arrow protruded from its side. Another was imbedded in its throat. Two natives were inspec...
While the language in which they spoke had some words that were unfamiliar to Bomba, he was so well versed in most of the dialects of the jungle, which differ little, that he had no trouble in understanding what they were saying. “The aim of Sunka is true,” boasted one, as he bent over the dead beast and proceeded, wit...
“His leap is as the lightning, but when the arrow sings he falls,” added Boshot. “I see Olura, Tama and Abino coming,” he went on, as he looked toward a trail at his right. “They have heard the jaguar roar and they come to help,” declared Sunka. “But there is no need of help when Sunka and Boshot have fitted their arro...
“Japazy will be glad when he sees its head!” exclaimed Olura, as he surveyed the animal. “Whose arrow killed it?” asked Tama. “Mine,” declared Sunka proudly. “Mine,” stated Boshot with equal conviction.
They glared at each other in defiance, and their hands involuntarily gripped more tightly the spears that they carried in addition to their bows and arrows. “There is no need of bad blood and hot words between Sunka and Boshot,” intervened Abino, who seemed to be much older than the others and something of a diplomat. ...
“The jaguar is dead, and that is good,” said Abino. “But there are still many left. We kill many, but more come. And there are cubs in the caves that will soon be big enough to carry off the children of the tribe.” “Yes,” agreed Olura, with despondency in his tone. “Two more were carried off last week. The medicine men...
“It would be well if Japazy would take his people to the other side of the river where the jaguars are not so many and where the tribe could dwell in peace,” remarked Boshot. “Beware, Boshot,” warned Abino, looking fearfully about him. “Remember you not Manasta, he of the bold and forward tongue? He said one day to Jap...
“Now let us skin the jaguar and get his meat,” suggested Olura. “There is but little food in the huts of our people, and they will be glad and make a feast when they see us bringing them the meat of the jaguar.” They were preparing to carry out the suggestion when there was a sharp report. A burst of flame sprang out o...
“Tamura is angry,” murmured Abino, looking up fearfully at the mountain peak, from which smoke and flame were still issuing. “We must make him gifts, many gifts, so that he may smile again upon our people.” “We will give some of this meat to the medicine man so that he may make a burnt offering,” suggested Tama. “Else ...
CHAPTER XIX IN THE HANDS OF THE TRIBE The effect created by the sudden appearance of Bomba was startling. For a moment the savages gaped at him in stupefaction, eyes bulging, jaws dropped. Then some of them raised their spears and others hastily fitted arrows to their bows.
Bomba had been almost as disconcerted by his sudden betrayal as the natives themselves. But now, as steadily as the tremulous motion of the earth would permit, he stepped boldly out of his former hiding place with hands up and palms extended, as a token that he came in amity and goodwill. The sign was one that was unde...
“It is Bomba who speaks,” replied the lad. “He comes from a far part of the jungle and he would speak to Japazy, your chief. He comes in peace. His heart is clean and he does not speak in forked words.” “It is well that the stranger comes in peace,” returned Abino, “for the spears of Japazy’s fighting men are sharp and...
“Bomba is but a boy,” he admitted, with an ingratiating smile. “But Bomba has the muscles of a man. He will show you.” He walked up to the dead jaguar, put his arm under it, and with one mighty heave threw it over his shoulder. There were excited exclamations among the Indians, and they shrank back, looking at Bomba in...
Bomba noted the impression that had been produced and thought it an opportune time to deepen it still further. “Bomba is no weakling,” he said; “but the weapons he carries with him are stronger than Bomba. His arrows go far and they go straight. They find the eye of the cayman and the heart of the jaguar.” “The strange...
“The buzzard is far away,” he said, as he fitted an arrow to his string, “but he will fall when Bomba lets go the string.” There were grunts of incredulity mingled with curiosity. This stranger was giving them thrills to which they were unaccustomed. “Shall Bomba’s arrow strike the body or the neck?” asked Bomba with a...
“It will be the neck,” declared Bomba. The arrow sang through the air and the buzzard fell, transfixed by the arrow lodged in its neck. Again there was an outburst of excited exclamations. The natives had never seen such shooting. “That is but little,” said Bomba, satisfied with the impression he had produced. “Bomba h...
The Indians looked at him with awe. Gone was the half contempt with which they had at first regarded him. No such boy had ever been seen in those parts before. In their superstitious minds was the vague, confused impression that perhaps he was one of the gods. “Bomba would see Japazy,” went on the lad. “He has come fro...
This had not an auspicious sound, and Bomba for a moment felt an uncomfortable chill creeping up his spine. “Bomba has no evil thought in his mind,” the lad rejoined. “He does not seek any of Japazy’s goods, and he will not say anything that will bring harm to Japazy or his people. He would only ask a question of Japaz...
“He will speak life for Bomba,” replied the lad, with an assumption of confidence that he was a long way from feeling. “Will Japazy’s fighting men take Bomba to their chief?” They drew apart and conferred together. It was evident that even this simple request required thought before it could be granted. Bomba could see...
Bomba took a step backward. “Bomba is free,” he said proudly. “It is not meet that he have his hands bound as though he were a slave. His hands will do no hurt to Japazy or the people of his tribe. Bomba’s heart is good. Has he not said that he came in peace? May the curse of the gods rest on Bomba, if he means harm.” ...
But Bomba shook his head. “The bow, the knife and the fire stick are Bomba’s friends,” he declared. “Without them he would be like a man without arms and legs. They will do harm to no one but the wicked. Bomba will keep his friends.” They could have fallen upon him and overpowered him by sheer weight of numbers. But th...
“It shall be as the stranger wills,” announced Abino. “The warriors of Japazy will skin the jaguar and take its meat and then they will lead the stranger to the place where Japazy dwells.” “It is well,” said Bomba, with more relief than he allowed to appear. “The men of Japazy have good hearts.” The men set to work on ...
Nothing untoward developed, however, and before long they came to the straggling outskirts of a village that seemed to have a considerable population. From every hut, as the little procession moved along, people poured out with exclamations of curiosity as they stared at the stranger who should have been a captive and ...
“Japazy is gone!” he declared abruptly. CHAPTER XX DAZZLING TREASURE Something like a stab pierced Bomba’s heart when he heard Abino make the announcement that Japazy was gone.
“Gone?” he cried, springing to his feet. “Japazy gone? Has Bomba come so far through the jungle only to find that Japazy is not on the island of the big cats? Where has he gone? When will he be back?” “Abino does not know,” was the answer. “Japazy goes when and where he will. He does not ask counsel of the elders of th...
The sunken city of which Hondura had spoken came into Bomba’s mind. “Is it that he has gone to the place where stood the city that had towers of gold?” he asked. A startling change came into Abino’s tone and manner. His glance seemed to bore Bomba through and through. “What foolish words are these that the stranger spe...
Bomba realized that he had touched upon a forbidden subject. For some reason, the sunken city was a secret that was jealously guarded. He resolved to be discreet. “Abino speaks wise words,” he said placatingly. “Bomba will keep them in his heart. He will wait in patience till Japazy returns.” “That is well,” returned A...
Under other circumstances Bomba’s pride would have been gratified by this tribute. But his whole thought was centered now on the disappearance of Japazy. This had not entered into his calculations. He bitterly regretted that he had not come sooner. Suppose Japazy never came back? Life was a precarious thing in this par...
There were objects here that might have graced any palace in Europe. Beautiful paintings hung on the walls. Sumptuous rugs covered the floors. Splendid chairs and divans were scattered here and there. Silken tapestries hung as portières at the entrances of various rooms that opened from the main hall. There were statue...
Bomba had no knowledge of values. He had never seen money. But he knew vaguely that here was something infinitely precious, infinitely desirable. And the white blood in him, with its inheritance of taste and culture and love of the beautiful, as well as the little knowledge of wider things that Casson, before that deva...
Bomba felt an increased respect for the chief he had come to see. Part of the blood, anyway, of this man was white. And were not all white men brothers? Would not Japazy feel a touch of kinship and give him freely the information that he sought? It never occurred to Bomba that in giving Japazy credit for taste and a lo...
“It is from here that Japazy rules his people,” said Abino in tones of reverence. “Here he speaks the words that mean life or death. It is here that the stranger will stand when he is brought in to where Japazy waits to hear him.” Words that mean life or death! Which of the two would they mean to him, Bomba wondered. “...
In contrast to the other room, it was very simply and plainly furnished. Still, it was in the style of the white people, with chairs and table, a rug on the floor and a bed with a mattress, sheets and coverings. Bomba felt strange and abashed. He had never sat on a chair, never slept in a bed. But he restrained his fee...
“The stranger is brave,” he said. “His arms are strong and his eye is straight. Abino does not forget how the stranger slung the jaguar over his shoulder and how he shot his arrow through the neck of the buzzard on the top of the tall tree. But it is not enough for one who stands before Japazy to have strong arms and a...
Abino withdrew, and Bomba welcomed the chance to be alone. He had been under a terrific strain, mentally and physically. Now he could relax for a while before he had to brace himself again for the interview that was coming. His eyes, glancing around the room, caught sight of a picture on the wall. At the sight his hear...
THE DEEPENING MYSTERY With one bound Bomba was across the room and looking at the picture with all his soul in his eyes. Yes, it was the same beautiful face, girlish and appealing, the soft hair waving back from the broad forehead, the half-smiling lips, the eyes that were dark and melting. And the eyes looked down at ...
His mother! The mother who perhaps had sung to him the lullaby that Sobrinini had crooned, who once perhaps had caressed him, kissed him, called him Bonny, her Bonny! A passion of tears welled to the boy’s eyes. His heart was stirred to its depths. But he dashed the tears away. A native might enter at any minute and mi...
The door of his room opened, and a boy appeared, bringing a tray of food. It was savory and abundant, and Bomba ate it with a relish. The boy, who seemed to be about twelve years old, stood by, watching him with black, beadlike eyes. Curiosity was in the eyes and awe, awe of this bold stranger, only a little older than...
“Solani has a good father,” said Bomba diplomatically. “Yes,” answered the boy proudly. “There is no one so wise on the island of the big cats as Abino, except Japazy himself.” “Has Solani ever seen ghosts or demons?” asked Bomba. “It is said that there are many on the island.” The boy looked about fearfully.
“There are many here,” he answered. “They keep Japazy from harm. But no one can see them except Japazy. His eyes see everything.” “Bomba saw some lights on the river,” said the jungle boy, determined to draw Solani out, for he saw that he was in a responsive mood. “Bomba did not know but what the lights were the campfi...
“Many times he speaks in thunder and throws out rocks and rivers of fire that eat up whatever they touch,” replied Solani. “Tamura has killed many of our people. The old men say that he will not be silent until some stranger is offered up to him. Then he will be satisfied and make no more thunder.” As Bomba, as far as ...
They said nothing, and their stare persisted so long that Bomba became restless and himself broke the silence. “It was good of Abino to send Bomba food,” he said. “There was much food and it was good.” “The stranger must not starve until Japazy hears what words the stranger has to say to him,” replied Abino. “They will...
“What are the words that the stranger would speak with Japazy?” asked one of the most aged and wizened of his visitors. Bomba hesitated. Would Japazy resent his confiding his mission to any one but himself? On the other hand, he had already gotten some useful information from Solani. The mention of human sacrifices, fo...
He decided to answer. “Bomba would ask Japazy who are the father and mother of Bomba and how he can find them if they are still alive,” the lad stated. Bomba caught the quick glances that passed between the Indians at this announcement, and he was not unaware of the look that Abino flashed at the picture of the lovely ...
“Sobrinini told Bomba that Japazy knew,” returned Bomba. “Sobrinini!” exclaimed one of his auditors. “She is the witch woman who dwells on the island of snakes. To go to that island is death. How, then, does the stranger say that he has had speech with Sobrinini?” “Bomba’s tongue is not forked,” replied the lad. “Bomba...
“Sobrinini tried to tell, but the gods had put clouds on her mind and she could not see through them,” answered Bomba. “But she could see Japazy through the clouds and she said he would know. So Bomba is here.” The promptness and sincerity of his answers evidently had some effect on his visitors. They looked at each ot...
Another long pause ensued. “Is it true that the stranger does not even know the name of his father or that of his mother?” asked one of the group. “Bomba does not surely know,” returned the lad. “But when Sobrinini saw Bomba she called him Bartow. And Jojasta of the Moving Mountain called him Bartow. They thought Bomba...
“It is well,” said the oldest of the group as he rose to his feet, an example followed by the others. “We will think over what the stranger has said.” The old men went out of the room silently, in single file. But the silence persisted only until they had gone some distance down the corridor that led to the large hall....
“Bartow! Was not that the name of the man Japazy killed?” CHAPTER XXII THE CREEPING DEATH Bomba, his head in a whirl, staggered back from the window when he heard the sinister words:
“Was not that the name of the man Japazy killed?” Was it possible that the father whom he had sought so long was really dead? Had all his search been futile? But the despair that this thought brought him was quickly swallowed up by another emotion. Rage, blinding rage, at the man who had killed his father, at Japazy, t...
Bomba knew nothing of the Christian law of forgiveness. He had been brought up in the jungle, whose first law was self-preservation, whose second law was vengeance for evil received. If Japazy had taken Bartow’s life, Japazy’s life must pay the forfeit. Oh, if Japazy were only here! Oh, if Bomba could meet him face to ...
Oh, if he only knew! But there was nothing he could do until Japazy returned. Suppose, however, that Japazy did not return? What if any one of the thousand perils of the jungle should cut short his life? Then perhaps Bomba could never get the knowledge for which his soul panted. He would be cheated, too, of his vengean...
Abino! Perhaps Abino knew. He was the chosen counselor of Japazy as far as that haughty despot permitted any one to advise him. Perhaps he was also the repository of Japazy’s secrets. Those quick and furtive glances that Abino had cast at the picture on the wall! What did they mean? What did Abino know? Tired out final...
The boy lighted a torch and thrust it into a holder against the wall. By its light, Bomba noted that the boy looked disturbed and frightened. “Solani is sad to-night,” observed Bomba, as he prepared to eat the meal that the lad had set on the table. “What is it that makes the heart of Solani heavy?” The boy looked abou...
“Who would bring harm to Bomba, except perhaps Japazy?” asked the jungle lad. “And Japazy is not here. Unless Japazy has come since you brought the last meat to Bomba,” he added. “Japazy is not here,” replied Solani. “But the people of the tribe are fearful of his wrath if he should come and find the stranger here. The...
“It cannot be that the elders of the tribe would do harm to a stranger who came with his palms out and put himself into their keeping,” said Bomba. “That would bring on the people the wrath of the gods.” “They do not fear the wrath of the gods as much as they fear the wrath of Japazy,” returned Solani. “The gods are ve...
“They meet to-night to take counsel,” answered Solani. “Then it will be known what they think about the stranger and what they will do with him.” “Where do they meet?” asked Bomba, who was already forming a plan of action. “In the house of Abino, my father,” was the answer. “Is that the house where Bomba was taken befo...
“Yes,” replied Solani. “It is well,” said Bomba. “Their words will be good words and they will do no harm to the stranger that came to them in peace.” Solani looked very doubtful as to that, but he said no more, and Bomba himself did not prolong the conversation. He was too busy with his thoughts. He could readily unde...
“Has the stranger ever seen a cooanaradi?” asked Solani unexpectedly, as he started to gather up the dishes and the remnants of food. “Yes, Bomba has seen them and slain them,” answered the jungle boy. “They are the most wicked snakes of the jungle. Why does Solani ask?” But Solani acted as though he had already said t...
Bomba waited until it was fully dark. It was then within an hour of moonrise, and darkness was needed for the plan that he had in mind. He went stealthily through the house, examining every room by the light of the torch he had plucked from the wall. He thought that perhaps some sentries were on guard to watch his move...
With the keen observation that had been sharpened by his experience of the jungle, he had carefully noted the location of Abino’s house and now had no difficulty in finding it. A flickering light from the torches within shone through the open windows. Avoiding the part that fronted on the straggling street, Bomba glide...
In the room were gathered the same elders with whom he had talked in the afternoon. To their number had been added the warriors, Sunka and Boshot, who had slain the jaguar in the morning. An expression of deep perplexity was visible on all the dark faces. It was plain that the problem with which they had to deal was gi...
“Is it known to Abino that Japazy killed the stranger’s father?” asked Boshot. “Japazy has not told it to Abino,” was the answer. “But when Japazy has taken too much intoxicating drink he has talked sometimes to himself and Abino’s ears have been open to his words. The stranger thinks his father’s name was Bartow. When...
“It may be that Japazy has questions he would ask of the stranger, as well as hear the stranger’s questions,” put in one of the elders. “Japazy may be angry if he comes back and finds the stranger dead so that he may not speak with him.” “He need not know that the stranger has been here,” observed another of the group....
At this moment there was a terrific roar from the volcano and the earth shook so violently under Bomba’s feet that he was thrown headlong. For several minutes the quake continued and then gradually subsided. When Bomba peered again through the crevice he could note consternation on all faces. “Tamura is angry,” declare...
There were whispers now, as though what they were discussing was too horrid to be spoken of aloud. Strain his ears as he might, Bomba could catch but a single sentence: “He shall die by the creeping death!” CHAPTER XXIII THE FIRE STICK SPEAKS
With the utterance of their ominous words the elderly natives rose to their feet, and it was evident that the meeting was about to break up. It would never do to be caught lurking there, and Bomba was off like a flash. The darkness had swallowed him up before any of the group had come through the door. Gliding along as...
Now he knew why Solani had looked at him so sadly and lingeringly, as one looks on the face of the dead. The native boy had already sensed the turn that things were taking and felt that in fact, if not in words, the stranger’s death had been already decreed. But sometimes there is a long way between a decree and its ex...
The second course, Bomba had to admit to himself, was so foolhardy as almost to smack of insanity. What chance would he have to make head against the warriors of the tribe if it came to a battle? He could doubtless kill some of them, but in the end they would overwhelm him by sheer force of numbers. But was there not a...
While he was immersed in these thoughts he became conscious of a slight rustling. It was so slight that none but a trained ear like that of Bomba’s would have detected it at all. But he heard it and was about to leap from the bed to investigate, when he suddenly stiffened and lay as though carved from stone. For in a b...
A cold sweat broke over Bomba. He did not dare move a muscle. A cooanaradi! Now Bomba knew what Solani had meant. Now he fathomed the meaning of that ominous phrase he had heard at the conference of the elders: “He shall die by the creeping death!” The captive reptile had been brought to the house and silently released...
The infernal cunning of the scheme came to Bomba like a flash. If Japazy on his return should be vexed at not having spoken with Bomba, the natives could point out that they were not responsible--that the snake in some way had found its way into the house and killed the lad. That would clear them from blame. If, on the...
There was a possible chance, Bomba thought, that the snake, not finding the food it sought, would curl up after a while and go to sleep. But this hope was dissipated as he caught a glimpse of the evil eyes that were darting in every direction. Nothing was further from that messenger of evil than sleep. It was only a ma...
The fire stick! Slowly, imperceptibly, Bomba’s right hand stole to his pouch. It gripped the butt of the revolver. Quite as slowly his hand came back holding the weapon. The slithering grew more distinct. The monster was drawing nearer. There was a moment’s pause. Then a long rope seemed to rise from the floor and Bomb...
The fire stick spoke! CHAPTER XXIV THE VOLCANO’S ROAR Simultaneously with the crack of the revolver Bomba threw himself from the further side of the bed to the floor.
There was a terrible thrashing about of the reptile’s body, and Bomba knew that it had been hit. But whether it was mortally or only slightly wounded he could not tell. He held the revolver in readiness for a second shot, fearing every moment to see that dreadful head reappear. But no second shot was necessary. A few m...
With infinite caution Bomba tiptoed to the other side of the bed. Now there was no doubt. The reptile’s head was practically gone, shattered into fragments by that first shot. Bomba slumped down on the bed, hardly able to believe in his good fortune. He caressed the revolver lovingly and slipped in another cartridge to...
They had reached there so quickly following the shot that Bomba felt sure that they had been lurking in the vicinity, waiting for the cooanaradi to get in its deadly work. Bomba smiled grimly to himself as he noted that they stopped at the window. He well knew why. Not one of them cared to come into a house in which th...
There was a whispered consultation beneath the window and then Abino called: “Is the stranger still awake?” Bomba waited for a moment and then leaned out of the window. “He is awake. Does Abino want to speak words with him? Bomba’s ears are open.”
“Abino and the elders heard a great noise, and they feared that harm had come to the stranger,” the native returned. “They have come to help him, if he is in trouble.” To help him! The men who had sent the serpent to strike him down! Bomba’s blood boiled. But he restrained himself with an effort, and his tone was silke...
In the moonlight he could see the movement of horrified recoil at the suggestion, and again he smiled grimly to himself. “The stranger needs sleep,” replied Abino, after a momentary pause. “It is not well for us to talk with him when his eyes are heavy.” “Bomba is not tired, and he would be glad to speak words with Abi...
“The cooanaradi!” came in a chorus from startled throats. “Yes,” replied Bomba, with an ostentatious yawn. “The cooanaradi came in to talk with Bomba. Bomba talked to him. Bomba knows how to talk with the cooanaradi. He will not hurt Bomba. Bomba has his hand on him now,” and he reached down and touched the grisly coil...
“Abino will send food to Bomba in the morning?” he inquired. There was a moment’s pause, and then Abino replied in a trembling voice: “Abino would not dare have Solani come into the house where a cooanaradi is.” Bomba seemed to consider this.
“It is well,” he replied. “Solani does not know how to talk to the cooanaradi as Bomba does. But he can bring food beneath the window in a basket and Bomba will draw it up.” “Solani shall come,” promised Abino. Their figures melted away in the distance and Bomba chuckled as he turned away. His reputation as a wizard wa...
For hours he slept. Then came a tremendous roar, a fearful explosion that sounded like the crack of doom! Bomba sprang from his bed and rushed to the window. The heavens were a glare of red, and the glare was fiercest over in the direction where Tamura lay.
CHAPTER XXV THE ISLAND SINKS From the crater of the volcano a great mass of flame and smoke belched toward the sky. At the peak rivers were forming, rivers of molten lava, which, even as Bomba looked, began to flow down the sides of the mountain in every direction. The fearful explosions still continued, and with every...
While Bomba was still trying to gather his wits together and determine what he should do, the house of Japazy split apart. Half of it went down in a deafening crash, and the other half, in which Bomba’s room was located, swayed crazily, threatening at every instant to fall to the ground. Bomba slung his bow over his sh...
He was not a moment too soon, for he had barely got out of reach before the rest of the building fell. The dwelling of Japazy, that had witnessed nobody knew how many grim tragedies, was now in ruins. In the dim dawn that was coming up in the eastern sky, Bomba could see that most of the other houses in the town had sh...
No one paid any attention to Bomba, so engrossed was every one in trying to find a path to safety. The lad sniffed the air as a pointer does to get his sense of direction. Then, when he knew that he was headed for the north end of the island, he plunged into the woods and went as straight as an arrow to his goal. There...

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