The frightened men thereupon tried to approach this boat, but were hailed by La Cueille who had observed them distrustfully. On replying to his “Who goes there?” with a shout of defiance, he had fired into the approaching mass. The Mantangese hereupon fell back frightened, but soon collected again to resume the attack. They yelled their war-cry and pushed on with their canoes, to be received by a second volley of rifle-shots. Some of their number were seriously wounded and flight again became general. Soon not a single djoekoeng remained visible; but that their occupants were not far off was proved by Mihing’s ready response to his wife’s call. The Mantangese were thankful for the assistance rendered to their wives by our fugitives in the struggle with the boa. Nevertheless Demang Soerah shook his head doubtfully and thought that the travellers had better get away as soon as possible. During that fatal firing blood had been spilt, and “blood cries for blood,” he said. He strongly advised them to hasten their departure in order to escape the results of the passion for vengeance which would surely be kindled among the natives. Our fugitives saw the wisdom of this advice and left the soengei Mantangei before daybreak to pursue the journey north by the Kapoeas. The bite of the boa in Wienersdorf’s neck proved more painful than dangerous. After being attended to by Dalim, who poulticed it with leaves, the pain was assuaged and the Swiss was again fit to handle his oar next morning. Dalim seemed to have escaped almost unscathed from the embrace of the snake: he only complained of a little stiffness in the joints and stretched out his arms and legs repeatedly, swaying his body backward and forward several times. He then asked them for a hearty drink of toeak and declared himself quite cured. “I hope we shall have the luck to meet another boa,” said Schlickeisen. “A fine wish; and pray, what for?” “Because I regret leaving that dead one behind.” “Upon my word! What would you do with it? We have scarcely any room as it is.” “Quite so; but we could skin it and make cigar-cases or purses out of the skin.” “If I had the skin,” La Cueille said, “I should——” “Certainly, carry it away and present it to Notre Dame,” Wienersdorf interrupted. “In addition to the rosary,” Johannes went on, “I am sure that skin would be an ornament to the altar; and how it would puzzle the congregation!” “Silence, worthless heathen! Don’t joke upon sacred subjects,” the Walloon exclaimed. “We shall often be in need of Heavenly aid, and I fervently pray our Holy Mother to take us under her protection.” “Amen!” CHAPTER VI. THE WOUNDED GO TO KWALA KAPOEAS—THE MANTANGEI AND THE MENKATIP—THE COMMANDER IN PURSUIT—AT SEA—PURSUIT OF THE FUGITIVES—THE SCHOONER—THE RETURN—ON THE TRACK AT LAST—DEPARTURE FROM MANTANGEI—WHITE SAIL—FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH THE HEAD-HUNTERS—LA CUEILLE WOUNDED—A FUNERAL CEREMONY.