Attack of the Amazons Read Online Free PDF

it.” Captain Daybright nodded approval. But he glanced over toward the inland country—far away, low hills rose, humped like elephants—and he frowned, remembering something. “As I told you,” he said, “for the first hundred miles, you’ve got mostly plains. Then the country starts rising until you get to those hills there. After that I don’t know much about the country except from old reports I get. It’s some pretty thick jungle. You got your machetes?”
    â€œGot ’em,” Reb said, pulling his bright, shiny knife from its sheath and brandishing it.
    Josh would like to have stayed longer, but looking up at the sun he said, “It’s getting late, and I want to make a good start. Good-bye, Captain—good-bye, Dawn.”
    The Sleepers headed away from the beach.
    After they had walked steadily for a while, Josh took one look back. He could just see the top mast of the ship, and it gave him an odd feeling, knowing that they were on their own.
    â€œAre you a little bit worried, Josh?” Sarah asked. She had come up to walk beside him. Her green pack pulled her shoulders back, but she walked strongly, matching him step for step.
    â€œI guess it’s always a little hard, going into an unknown country,” he admitted, “but we’ll be all right. You’re not worried, are you?”
    â€œNot as long as you’re here to lead us.”
    Sarah was well aware of his insecurities, Josh thought, and never missed a chance to give him an encouraging word.
    â€œYou’ve led us through some hard times and dangerous places, and you’ve never failed yet.”
    Josh flushed, but he was pleased. “I don’t know. I’ve thought several times that Dave ought to be the leader. He’s the oldest and the biggest, and I guess he’s the strongest too. Except maybe for Reb.”
    â€œGoél knew who to put in charge. For a long time Dave was so self-centered,” Sarah remembered, “that he couldn’t lead anybody. And as for Reb, he’s not stable enough. He’s bold as a lion and a fine fighter—but a leader has to be able to think ahead, and that’s what you do best, Josh.”
    He smiled and kept his eyes fixed on the rising mounds ahead of them. “I’m glad you think so. It’s goodto hear you talk like that, anyhow. I get a little—well, a little afraid I can’t handle the job sometimes.”
    â€œGoél knew what he was doing when he made you the leader.”
    By the time the sun was falling in the west, everyone was tired.
    â€œThis knapsack is cutting my arms off!” Abbey moaned. She looked hot and sweaty.
    Dave, walking beside her, reached up and unfastened the flap of her backpack before she could stop him. Plucking out the bag of cosmetics, he grinned. “Let’s just throw this away—then it won’t hurt so bad.”
    â€œYou give me that, Dave!” Abbey snatched the bag from him and, reaching awkwardly over her head, stuffed it back into the pack. Then she turned to Josh and said, “Can we stop pretty soon? We’ve come far enough today.”
    â€œI’ve been looking for some water,” Josh said. “You see that line of trees over there? It looks like they might line a creek or a small river. I hope so, anyway.”
    They all perked up and quickened the pace as they headed for the trees. When they got there, they found that the green growth did indeed border the bank of a beautiful small stream.
    â€œHey, I bet there’s fish in there,” Reb said eagerly. “Wash, let’s you and me get the lines out. We can run a trotline tonight.”
    â€œOK,” Wash agreed.
    The two quickly got out their fishing gear. While the others set up camp, they staked out a line that ran a hundred yards down the creek. It was a shallow river, and they could wade it while they tied on hooks at five-foot intervals. They had to bait