Long had recovered from his first burst of fury, and, though the Professor could have sunk the javelin in the naked body, he withheld it, not unwilling that his assailant, now that he had started to flee, should escape.
The one who had so foolishly come back to the river side was left in the worst possible situation, for both his enemies stood between him and the sheltering forest and he was defenceless.

He was at their mercy, and such people as those natives neither gave nor expected quarter, when engaged in their savage warfare.
The fellow acted like a bewildered animal.

The white strangers were standing a few paces apart, so as to form the two angles of a triangle, while he made the third.

The nearest point to the forest way midway between Grimcke and Long, as was apparent to the savage, who was fairly cornered.
Had the Xingu behind him been as placid as farther above or below the rapids, he would not have hesitated to plunge into its waters, trusting to his skill in swimming; but, to dive into the raging current would have been as certain destruction as for a man to undertake to swim unaided through the whirlpool below Niagara.
Grimcke and Long were not unwilling to torment the fellow, because of his cowardly attempt a few minutes before, though, as has been stated, neither intended to do him any special harm.
The affrighted native crouched down, as though seeking to draw himself into such a narrow compass that the terrible javelin could not reach him.

Despite the proof he had seen of the power of the civilized weapons, he held his own in greater dread.
Grimcke raised the spear, as if poising it aloft to hurl at the savage.
The latter uttered a howl of terror, and, with his head still low, attempted to dart between the strangers.