then beckons, and GREAT BIG LITTLE PANTHER and the tribe are around her, carpeting the ground. Far away some one treads on a dry leaf.)
TIGER LILY. Pirates! (They do not draw their knives; the knives slip into their hands.) Have um scalps? What you say?
PANTHER. Scalp um, cho, velly quick.
THE BRAVES (in corroboration). Ugh, ugh, wah. (A fire is lit and they dance round and over it till they seem part of the leaping flames. TIGER LILY invokes Manitou; the pipe of peace is broken; and they crawl off like a long snake that has not fed for many moons. TOOTLES peers after the tail and summons the other boys, who issue from their holes.)
TOOTLES. They are gone.
SLIGHTLY (almost losing confidence in himself). I do wish Peter was here.
FIRST TWIN. H’sh! What is that? (He is gazing at the lagoon and shrinks back.) It is wolves, and they are chasing Nibs!
