"Hey, Race, where are we?" "We're still about 40 miles from your father's laboratory." "What is down there?" "No one really knows." "No one's ever gone in before." "Why?" "There's a story the jungle is inhabited by tribes of hostile Indians..." "...who worship the airplane." "The airplane?" "Yep." "They've never seen a white man." "I'II bet they're rough." "Right, Bandit." "Rough as they come." "What is it, Race?" "Engine trouble." "We're going down." "Pick a soft spot." "I'II do my best, Hadji." "Check your seat belts." "This may be rough." "Brace yourselves!" "You kids okay?" "Yeah, I'm okay." "How about you, Hadji?" "I am all right." "We have to call for help." "The radio's dead." "Are you sure?" "Yeah, it's dead, all right." "We'II have to walk out." "Boy, it looks like that plane's had it." "That's for sure." "Let's head for the river and follow it to the coast." "Someone's in trouble." "Let's go!" "bull's-eye, Race." "Jonny, wait!" "It's a kid." "We've got to untie him." "Not till I'm sure that man-kiIIing panther is dead." "Hey, I don't think he is a kid." "He is very small." "He's as tall as he'II ever be." "He's a Pygmy." "Cut him loose, Jonny." "Right." "There you go." "That must mean "thank you."" "Look at the size of this panther that almost ate our friend." "Boy, he's a big one." "Look, Hadji, a" "Hey, where did our friend go?" "He's gone." "No, there he is." "Hey, come back." "Hey!" "No use, he's gone." "We'd better do the same and fast." "Whoever put that fellow out for cat food might come back." "We'd better not be here then." "I'm for that." "Freeze, boys." "One move and they'II make pin cushions out of us." "Sorry, pal." "I don't understand a word you say." "Okay, okay, I get your point, so we start walking." "I don't like the looks of these little ones." "What do you think they'II do to us?" "I don't know." "But don't show any fear." "Thattaboy, Bandit." "That'II show them we're not afraid." "I'm sorry, Dr. Quest." "We will put every available aircraft to work on the search." "Thank you, Senor Encino." "Let's check that map." "We've got trouble if they're down in Pygmy country." "Si, they are very dangerous." "well, if they are, Iet's hope Race and the boys are not in their hands." "What's going on out there?" "Looks like they're praying to that model airplane." "They've been doing that for hours." "See if the guards are there." "Yeah, still there." "Okay, get some rest." "Whatever they're planning for us will wait till morning." "I don't feel very sleepy." "Neither do I." "Neither does Bandit." "well, get some rest anyway." "You may need your strength." "Race, we got company." "It's the headman himself." "Sounds like he's pronouncing a sentence on us." "Beat it!" "Yeah, don't make so much noise." "We're tired and trying to get some sleep." "Boy, is he mad." "Now, don't worry about it, fellas." "We've been in tougher spots." "We've gotten out of them." "What if I don't want my hands tied?" "That's a pretty good answer." "Sounds like an airplane." "Look, they're worshipping the airplane." "Yeah, but it's too far away to see us." "Can you still do that Ievitation trick you learned in India?" "I think so." "Then now's the time." "But who?" "The headman there." "It's been a Iong time, but I'II try." "Look, Race, it's working." "Quiet, Jonny." "Hadji's got to concentrate." "Good boy, Hadji." "That should shake them up a bit." "Jonny, grab their spears..." "...and start moving back toward the jungle." "Right, Race." "I got them, Race." "What now?" "careful, Jonny!" "I goofed." "Oh, me and my big feet." "I'm sorry, Race, Hadji." "We could have been long gone by now." "Oh, that's okay, Jonny." "It could have happened to anyone." "What's next, Race?" "I don't know." "Quiet, Bandit." "What's the matter, boy?" "What is it?" "Race, Hadji, look!" "There's something moving over there." "Bandit, quiet!" "Sit, boy." "What is it?" "Or who is it, Race?" "I don't know." "Whoever it is has a reason for hiding." "Race, look!" "The spear that was pulled into the fire, it's burning." "Quiet, boy." "hold still, Hadji." "He won't hurt you." "It's our friend who was put out for cat food." "Boy!" "He had me worried when I saw that knife." "Hurry!" "That burning spear is gonna give one of those Pygmies a hotfoot." "Right." "Let's get out of here." "Fast!" "He sounds very unhappy." "I wish we could have seen it." "Save your breath and run." "They'II be after us in a minute." "Everyone set?" "Ready." "Okay here." "I wish I knew how to thank him." "Let's see." "What was that he said when we helped him?" "I remember." "Hey, how about that?" "I speak their language." "Where to now, Race?" "No place special, Hadji just away from here." "We're gonna have to stop someplace here." "Why, Race?" "The river current's too slow." "The Pygmies'II be tracking us." "At this rate they'II cut us off." "Hey, there's the spot I've been looking for, up there on that hill." "It's a natural for a defense." "If we hold them off, we'II have a chance of being rescued." "Come on, boys." "Let's go up and dig in." "Do you really think they'II track us?" "I'm sure of it, Jonny." "Take a look by the river." "There's your answer." "Gosh, it didn't take them long." "Look, they sniff the ground like dogs." "They're the best trackers in the world." "well, that does it." "They spotted us." "Now we'II have to fight." "Okay, Iet's give them a good one." "Here's one." "Down the alley." "Boy, what a shot!" "You got the three, four, seven, and eight pins with that one." "Wow, are they ever mad!" "Here they come again." "Duck!" "What now, Race?" "Another boulder?" "No, the log." "Come on, boys, push!" "A strike!" "That ought to hold them for a while." "Look!" "Over on the next hill." "Yeah." "They've got a clear shot from there." "You watch down the hill." "I'II take care of those babies." "Right." "That should keep them quiet for a bit." "Hey, Race!" "Those guys on the hill are getting close." "Keep throwing rocks." "I'II take care of them in a second." "Hurry, Race!" "Okay." "I'm ready." "Let her fly." "What was that?" "A bank shot?" "Any more around?" "Company from the other side." "Hey, where did that one come from?" "There!" "In the top of that tree." "Boy, what a spot for a sniper!" "It's the headman." "Race, in the tree." "Yeah, I see him." "But it's a Iong shot." "Hey, we're on your side, remember?" "Good shot, Race!" "It's like shooting fish in a barrel." "Don't start cheering too soon." "One good rush from both sides at once and we're in trouble." "And here they come." "How about that?" "They're running away." "We scared them off." "No!" "Listen, Jonny." "I hear it, Hadji." "helicopters." "That's what chased our little friends off." "But they're a Iong way off." "They could miss seeing us." "Yeah, you're right." "If we only had something to signal with." "Hadji, lend me that ruby of yours." "You can have anything I have." "But why my ruby?" "We're going to try to attract their attention." "They see it!" "They are coming!" "Here's your ruby, Hadji." "Stand by for rescue, I hope." "well, that was an adventure, wasn't it?" "It sure was." "Not one I'd Iike again, right, boys?" "Agreed." "Right." "well, that makes it unanimous." "Say, why were you coming to see me, anyway?" "I would have been back in a few days." "This came in the mail." "It looked important." "Yes, it does look important." "Oh, no!" "Bad news, doctor?" "Anything but, Race." "It's a form letter from the African geographical Society asking me if I would be interested in participating in a roundtable discussion on the following subject." "Are you ready?" "Fire away, doctor." ""Are Pygmies warm and friendly people?" "Yes or no?"" "Pygmies friendly?" "No!" "I think I'II send all of you and let you argue the "no" side." "You'II win hands down."