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`` We must rouse Professor Wiseman at once , '' cried Billy . `` It is well , '' muttered Sikaso , `` we shall need every man who can hold a rifle to-night but the professor is old , my brothers , and his heart is as a woman 's . '' `` Well , he 'll have to fight , '' said Billy with bloodthirsty determination . `` I for one am not going to stand calmly by and have my throat cut , or worse still be taken prisoner by this old Muley-Hassan . '' Old Sikaso glanced approvingly at him . `` Well spoken , Four-eyes , '' said he ; `` spoken like a son of a warrior . '' Billy 's ears tingled at the compliment , which was really in the old African 's opinion the highest that could be paid to a man or a boy , and hurried off to wake `` the bugologist '' as be disrespectfully termed the professor .