| caption: |
Chapter Eighteen. A Skirmish with Head-Hunters |
| caption: |
sight of some six hundred enemy warriors |
| text: |
Feeling that for the time being the chapter of Pangsha's punishment is closed, we follow the path running along the edge of the ridge that falls steeply away into the valley. The main village is down there in the hollow on our right. Good God! Unbroken chains of fully-armed warriors stream along the path leading from the village, and our eye, following the path up the hill side, discovers that it runs along the mountain half-way up, and eventually crosses our path at right angles. In spite of their spears and their heavy shields, the warriors run with astonishing swiftness, and although they are still a great distance away, and appear only as tiny figures, yet there is something extremely expressive in their movements. Is it their firm determination this time to fight to the death? Their hoarse war cries resound through the air; there is nothing tentative about them, and we are left in little doubt as to the business in hand. |
