It was lucky for Jack that the other savages considered the success of
their chief in this encounter to be so certain that they refrained from
interfering. Had they doubted it, they would have probably ended the
matter at once by felling him. But they contented themselves with
awaiting the issue.
The force which the chief expended in wielding his club now began to be
apparent. His movements became slower, his breath hissed through his
clinched teeth, and the surprised savages drew nearer in order to
render assistance. Jack observed this movement. He felt that his fate
was sealed, and resolved to cast his life upon the next blow. The
chiefs club was again about to descend on his head. He might have
evaded it easily, but instead of doing so, he suddenly shortened his
grasp of his own club, rushed in under the blow, struck his adversary
right between the eyes with all his force, and fell to the earth,
crushed beneath the senseless body of the chief. A dozen clubs flew
high in air, ready to descend on the head of Jack; but they hesitated a
moment, for the massive body of the chief completely covered him. That
moment saved his life. Ere the savages could tear the chief's body
away, seven of their number fell prostrate beneath the clubs of the
prisoners whom Peterkin and I had set free, and two others fell under
our own hand. We could never have accomplished this had not our enemies
been so engrossed with the fight between Jack and their chief that they
had failed to observe us until we were upon them.
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