t I
believe to be simply a lot of gibberish, ending up with the statement
that we shall be able to have a guide to-morrow. The fact is that I
rather suspect him of entertaining a desire to possess himself of our
rifles, and believe him to be capable to going to considerable lengths
to get them; hence his extreme anxiety to keep us here all night.
Therefore, when I found that there was no hope of persuading him to let
us have a guide to-night, I informed him that we were four very great
and powerful witch-doctors, as he must already have seen; and that, if
he wished us to remain in the village all night to-night, it would be
necessary to light four large fires--one for each of us--to propitiate
the evil spirits, so that they should not enter the village during the
night and destroy any of the inmates."

"Well," exclaimed Lethbridge, "I shall be very greatly surprised--and
disappointed, too--if they do not in a very few minutes see an `evil
spirit' that will considerably astonish them, and--Ah, hurrah! there she
is! Good old Mildmay! I felt certain that he would be on the
look-out."

And, so saying, he sprang to his feet and waved his handkerchief
energetically in the direction of the great conical shape that, gleaming
and flashing like burnished silver in the rays of the setting sun, at
that moment hove in sight over the tree-tops on the north-western margin
of the enclosure. Three white-clad figures were standing in the bows of
the superstructure, examining the open space through binoculars; and as
Lethbridge waved his handkerchief they waved in return, while one--the
smallest--was seen to run excitedly aft and dart into the pilot-house.
The savages also saw the portentous apparition, and fled, howling with
abject terror, to the shelter of their huts; while the _Flying Fish_,
sweeping gracefully round, came to earth within a few feet of the spot
where the four white men stood awaiting her arrival. A minute later
'Msusa, watching the four white men from beneath a pile of skins heaped
up just within the doorway of his hut, saw them walk in under the huge,
mysterious thing that had just descended from the clouds, and
inexplicably disappear.

Great were the rejoicings of those left on board the _Flying Fish_ at
the safe return of the truants; and equally great, perhaps, was the joy
of the truants at finding themselves re-united to their companions, and
once more amid the familiar surroundings of their luxurious trav