It was well he did so, otherwise several arrows would have been sent whizzing through his body. In a few seconds the natives had closed in on them and taken the rifle and other things from them. Then they were bound with thongs and carted up the beach. During all this time the thrashing on the beach ahead had continued, and now the boys saw what caused it. In some unaccountable manner a whale had become cast up by the breakers. He was caught in some brushwood and a fallen tree, but was doing his best to get back into his native element. The savages considered the whale a great find, and were doing all in their power to make him their prisoner and kill him. Scores of arrows had been shot into the huge, blubbery body, and the beach was dyed crimson with the blood of the marine monster. Yet he thrashed around lively, and one native who went too near was knocked senseless by a blow from the whale's tail. The fighting with arrows went on for a quarter of an hour longer, and in the meantime a long rope, made of vines and as tough as rawhide, was passed around the monster and made fast to a tree back of the beach. The whale fought to the last, but gradually its struggles grew less and less, and finally ceased altogether. Then arose a loud shouting, and rushing in, the savages began to dig at the body with their long knives and their war hatchets. Some of the blubber they ate raw, much to the disgust of the prisoners, who found themselves forced to look on. "They are worse than Esquimaux," muttered Dave. "Ugh! it makes me sick at the stomach." "I wonder what they intend to do with us?" "There is no telling. But I guess they won't eat us so long as the whale meat lasts. They seem to relish that immensely." The boys passed a dismal half-hour, and during that time the savages cut up the whale and carted the meat off in huge chunks. Then a savage who was evidently a chief came up and ordered some of his followers to bring Dave and Bob along. Still bound, the two chums were picked up by two savages, who seemed to count their weight as nothing. A journey lasting over an hour followed, straight into the interior of the island. At the end of the inland lake previously mentioned, the band of savages halted. Bob and Dave were tied fast to two trees, and then the natives proceeded to hold a council of war. They wished to question the lads, but not one of them could speak English. Presently a loud chanting was heard, and from a distance the boys saw more savages approaching. There were three men and half a dozen women. There was likewise another man, but he was white, even though his face had evidently been stained a reddish-brown color. This man wore an attire which was comical in the extreme. The suit consisted of a sailor's shirt and trousers, the latter cut off at the knees, and a shiny stovepipe hat, the band filled with feathers. "Great Scott!" burst from Dave. "Look at that scarecrow!"