Tiger fell forward, his head hitting Toby on the back of the shoulder.
“I’m glad it’s over, too,” said Toby, thinking that Tiger was merely resting his head with relief against the shoulder of someone he cared for. When Tiger didn’t raise his head again, Toby realised something was wrong. He twisted around and lifted Tiger’s heavy bulk. Only when Tiger slipped from his hands and landed with a heavy thud against the side of the boat did Toby see the spearhead erupting through the front of Tiger’s torso.
“Tiger!” he shouted. He turned to Pete and Sandy. “He’s been hit! Help him!”
Toby began to pull the spear through, twisting it gently to ease the smooth, polished shaft out of his beloved Tiger.
Pete had to stay at the engine, his eyes flitting between Toby, the natives in their canoe an
