way back
to the camp without difficulty. In a short time we caught sight of a
number of dark figures forming a semicircle in front of a cavern, the
entrance to which was surrounded by trees and numberless creepers
clinging to the rock. The men were dancing in their usual strange
fashion, leaping and springing, and twisting their bodies into all sorts
of curious attitudes; singing at the same time at the top of their
voices. Suddenly, at a signal from their fugleman, they all dropped
down on their knees and began to creep towards the cavern, rubbing their
noses every now and then on the ground. Thus they continued moving
about in front of the cavern, no one apparently daring to approach too
near the entrance.

As we were unwilling to be discovered, which we thought would be the
case should they on rising face about in our direction, we slowly
retreated towards our camp. On looking back, we saw that they were
still crawling about on hands and knees; and as the spectacle was rather
humiliating than interesting, we did not feel inclined to watch their
further proceedings.

After lying down I was very soon asleep. When Mudge called me, he told
me that the shouting and singing had been going on ever since, and that
neither Pullingo nor his son had returned.

"They'll come back, however, before morning," I observed.

I was wrong, for when I awoke they were not visible; nor, as far as our
telescope could enable us to distinguish objects, was a black to be
seen. We had several birds remaining, and we cooked them; still fully
expecting that Pullingo and his son would return for breakfast. We ate
our portion, keeping the remainder for them; but after waiting for some
time, they did not make their appearance.

"It would be useless to lose more time," observed Mudge at length. "It
is very evident that Pullingo and Quaquagmagu have taken French leave,
and gone off with their companions. The chances are that we shall see
no more of them. If the old fellow changes his mind, which perhaps he
may do when he recollects the pleasant roasts with which we supplied
him, he can easily track us along the valley."

"I can scarcely fancy that he would have gone off without wishing us
good-bye," I observed. "We'll give him another chance: I'll fire off my
gun, which I suppose he will understand as a signal that we are on the
march."

"Don't throw away a shot for so uncertain an object," answered Mudge.
"Let us look out for the