I uttered a cry of despair! Conseil took up his gun, and aimed at a savage who was poising his sling at ten yards from him.

I would have stopped him, but his blow took effect and broke the bracelet of amulets which encircled the arm of the savage.
"Conseil!" cried I."Conseil!" "Well, sir! do you not see that the cannibal has commenced the attack ?" "A shell is not worth the life of a man," said I.
"Ah! the scoundrel!" cried Conseil; "I would rather he had broken my shoulder!" Conseil was in earnest, but I was not of his opinion.

However, the situation had changed some minutes before, and we had not perceived.

A score of canoes surrounded the Nautilus.

These canoes, scooped out of the trunk of a tree, long, narrow, well adapted for speed, were balanced by means of a long bamboo pole, which floated on the water.
They were managed by skilful, half-naked paddlers, and I watched their advance with some uneasiness.