Brewster had decided to let them take the full load.

“You two can go ahead,” Mr. Brewster told Biff and Kamuka. “The villagers tell me that the trail is well marked, so you won’t miss it. But there may be short stretches that need clearing before we come along.”

It worked out as Mr. Brewster anticipated. At a few spots, Biff and Kamuka encountered tangled undergrowth which they managed to hack away with their machetes, by the time the safari caught up with them. As they were starting ahead again, Mr. Brewster noted the position of the sun.

“Allow about an hour,” he told the boys. “Then start looking for a good campsite. You can wait there for us.”

Biff enjoyed the carefree, late-afternoon hike through the vast green vault of the jungle, particularly with Kamuka, who was quick to spot all forms of wild life. Once, Kamuka pointed to a curious creature with a huge shell that was moving across the trail. Biff looked just in time to see it roll up into a solid ball and play dead.

The thing was an armadillo, the most heavily armored denizen of the jungle. Again, Kamuka called a halt while they watched what looked like a Teddy bear with white legs attached to a gray, black-banded body. It was attacking a huge anthill, darting a long, thin tongue from its snouted muzzle. The creature was a giant anteater, feeding on its favorite prey.

Up popped a group of tawny natives

Kamuka was quick as well as accurate with the machete. Once, while slashing at a low bush, he changed the direction of his swing. The long blade whisked within inches of Biff’s shin. As Biff sprang back, he saw the actual target of Kamuka’s quick aim.

The machete had clipped the head from a snake which had been rearing to strike at Biff’s leg. Pale yellow in color, with brown, diamond-shaped spots, it somewhat resembled a rattler, except that it had sounded no loud warning.

“Mapepire,” defined Kamuka. “Very bad. Worse poison than curare, like Macu use on arrows.”

Biff decided that the snake was a species of bushmaster, one of the most deadly of tropical reptiles.

“Neat work, Kamuka,” Biff exclaimed gratefully. “You sure were johnny-on-the-spot that time!”

“Johnny-on-the-spot,” repeated Kamuka. “What does that mean?”

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