He was free at last, and, as if Dame Fortune had decided to take him in charge, he had hardly reached the margin of the Xingu, at a point considerably below the village, when he almost stumbled over Pedros, who was waiting and wondering what he ought to do next.
Both the Professor and his friend were glad that Bippo had managed to get away.

They liked the fellow, and, even if they must be sacrificed, it was a relief to know that the poor native, who had had such a woful experience since leaving the Amazon, now had a fighting chance of escaping from the dreadful region.
Besides, as has been shown, the presence of the fellow was more of an incumbrance than a help.

But for the delay caused by Long's rush to his help, the whites would have made a dash for liberty themselves, though the question of their escape was problematical to the last degree.
Precious little ground could the explorers see for extricating themselves from their peril.

The Murhapas numbered a hundred, all were brave, and the weapons in their hands were dreaded tenfold more than firearms.

It seemed miraculous that Grimcke and Long had not been pierced long before.