He had heard a sound, faint, it is true, but enough to arrest the attention of Long Jim.

Then he went on with a look of disgust.

It was surely one of those snakes again! He was about to pass a great cypress when a pair of long, brown arms reached out and grasped him by the throat.

Long Jim was a strong man and, despite his early advantage, it would have gone hard with the owner of the arms, none other than The Cat himself, but three or four men, springing from the covert, threw themselves upon him.
Paul heard the first sounds of the contest and sprang up.

He saw Long Jim struggling in the grasp of many hands, and snatching at the first weapon that lay near, he sprang to the bank, rushing to the assistance of his comrade.
A shout of derisive laughter greeted Paul.