, who, on
listening, was convinced that I was right.

"Still, we will go on," he said. "If the voices are those of natives,
we can but retire; and the very fact of our doing so will show them,
should they discover us, that we have no ill-feeling or hostile
intentions towards them."

We went on and on through the thick forest, which afforded us ample
shelter. The voices we had heard grew louder and louder, and we saw
that we were approaching an opening, when just at the edge of it we
found a thick belt of bushes, which completely concealed us from any one
beyond, though we managed to look through it. The scene which presented
itself induced us to remain instead of retiring. In the centre, on the
top of a mound, stood a tall, gaunt old woman, her long white hair
streaming behind her back in the wind. In her left hand she held a long
stick, which she flourished above her head, while with the other she was
making the most vehement gestures. Around the woman, and densely packed
together, were collected a number of men of all ages, and a few women--
as we supposed, from seeing several sturdy infants rolling about on the
grass by their sides. The eager faces of her audience were intently
fixed upon her as she poured forth a torrent of words, the meaning of
which was beyond our comprehension. So intently were they listening,
that we ran but little chance of being discovered, unless she should
happen to turn her eyes in the direction of the spot where we lay
hidden.

For several minutes she went on, eloquently addressing the assembly and
wildly gesticulating, apparently in the endeavour to arouse them to some
mode of action which she was advocating. From some of the words which
reached our ears, we at length could not help suspecting that she was
speaking about us, and advising the warriors of her tribe to put a stop
to our progress through the country. The longer she went on the more
convinced we became of this, and we could not help dreading that they
would suddenly start up to rush towards our camp, and discover us.

Mudge touched me on the shoulder, and made a sign to me to retreat while
there was time. I passed it on to Paddy and Popo, who were on the other
side. Just at that moment, on looking round, I saw the countenance of a
black close behind me. Had our enemies surrounded us? If so, we should
have to fight hard for our lives. Great was my satisfaction, when a
second glance showed me that the new-come