" Jack sprang up, and seized a heavy but short bludgeon, while his
strong frame trembled with emotion, and large drops rolled down his
forehead.
At this moment the man who had butchered the savage a few minutes
before advanced towards the girl with his heavy club. Jack uttered a
yell that rang like a death-shriek among the rocks. With one bound he
leaped over a precipice full fifteen feet high, and before the savages
had recovered from their surprise, was in the midst of them; while
Peterkin and I dashed through the bushes towards the prisoners. With
one blow of his staff Jack felled the man with the club; then, turning
round with a look of fury, he rushed upon the big chief with the yellow
hair. Had the blow which Jack aimed at his head taken effect, the huge
savage would have needed no second stroke; but he was agile as a cat,
and avoided it by springing to one side, while at the same time he
swung his ponderous club at the head of his foe. It was now Jack's turn
to leap aside, and well was it for him that the first outburst of his
blind fury was over, else he had become an easy prey to his gigantic
antagonist; but Jack was cool now. He darted his blows rapidly and
well, and the superiority of his light weapon was strikingly proved in
this combat; for while he could easily evade the blows of the chiefs
heavy club, the chief could not so easily evade those of his light one.
Nevertheless, so quick was he, and so frightfully did he fling about
the mighty weapon, that although Jack struck him almost every blow, the
strokes had to be delivered so quickly that they wanted force to be
very effectual.
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