At a distance ahead the beach curved, and as they approached this spot they heard a sudden wild shouting, combined with a flapping, which was altogether new to their ears. "Savages, I'll bet a dollar!" cried Bob. "We had better go into hiding!" "But what is that other noise?" queried Dave. "I can't imagine. But come, don't stay here." Both started for the forest, but the movement came too late. From around the curve of the beach appeared half a dozen wild savages of the South Sea type, and the two youths were discovered. "Hi ki werra!" shouted one of the savages. He was armed with a bow and arrows, and quickly leveled an arrow at Dave, who was nearest. "Hi ki werra!" repeated the other savages, and they, too, leveled their arrows. "The white demons! The white demons!" "We are in for it now!" whispered Dave. "Give them a shot from the rifle!" "No, that would only make them mad," replied the young engineer. Nevertheless, he pointed the rifle at the head of the nearest native. The effect was magical, for the savage immediately threw up both hands and began to yell like a madman. He had once seen a gun go off and a goat shot thereby, and he imagined the "white demon" was going to slay him likewise. The other savages also came to a halt, and all lowered their arrows. Then Bob lowered the rifle. A long pause on both sides followed. The natives did not know what to do, and the youths were in a similar predicament. One of the savages began to jabber away in his native tongue, but neither Dave nor Bob understood a word of what was said. "This is all Greek to me!" shouted Dave. "Talk English." "Englees!" repeated the savage, and shook his head. He understood that single word, but no more. "We want to be left alone," put in Bob. "If you don't leave us alone, somebody will get hurt." "Englees," repeated the native. Then, struck by a sudden inspiration, he advanced a few feet, threw down his bow and arrows, and held out his hands. "He wants to be friendly, evidently," observed Bob. "If it isn't a trick," answered the young diver. "I must say I don't like their looks." "No more do I; but what are we to do, retreat?" "Rather than fall into the hands of cannibals I'd go back over the hills to the cave." The native was coming closer, and he tried to put as pleasant a look on his face as possible. But the effort was a failure, for he was both crafty and cruel, and this disposition shone in every line of his reddish-black features. "Go back!" shouted Bob, and raised the rifle again. Scarcely had he spoken when there came a shout from the rear, and looking behind them, the two youths found that they were surrounded! CHAPTER XIV ANOTHER CAPTURE "We are in for it now, Dave!" "Right you are, Bob. What shall we do, fight?" "It would be useless, for they outnumber us ten to one." And so speaking, Bob lowered the rifle once more.