"For your own good.""Keep away. As far as you can.""Won't you come with me? Three of us―we'd stand a chance."After a moment's silence, Sam spoke in a strangled voice."You don't know Roger. He's a terror.""And the chief―they're both―""―terrors―""―only Roger―"Both boys froze. Someone was climbing toward them from the tribe."He's coming to see if we're keeping watch. Quick, Ralph!"As he prepared to let himself down the cliff, Ralph snatched at the last
possible advantage to be wrung out of this meeting.
"I'll lie up close; in that thicket down there," he whispered, "so keep them
away from it. They'll never think to look so close―"
The footsteps were still some distance away."Sam―I'm going to be all right, aren't I?"The twins were silent again."Here!" said Sam suddenly. "Take this―"Ralph felt a chunk of meat pushed against him and grabbed it."But what are you going to do when you catch me?"