ile they danced and shouted, Hugh
inwardly cursed the ostentation that was delaying breakfast.

Impatiently he made the chief understand what was wanted, and that
worthy proved an excellent substitute for the genii. He rushed over and
bawled a few commands, and a dozen women and men sped away like the
wind. A few moments later the chief entered the temple and found
Ridgeway calmly measuring off the ground for the partitions that were to
transform one room into three.

So apt was the white man at sign making and so apt was the brown man at
understanding that before an hour had passed a dozen strong fellows
were at work, carrying out the designs of the new idol, the morning meal
having been disposed of in the meantime. Using the same kind of material
that comprised the outer walls, a partition was constructed lengthwise
through the centre of the temple. The front half was left as a reception
hall and living room and the rear half was divided into two apartments,
each fifteen feet square. They were to serve as sleeping rooms. These
ruthless improvements made it necessary to remove the great stone idol
from his pedestal.

"Chuck him out into the backyard," said Hugh. That evening the poor old
image, as disgusted as a piece of rock could possibly be, was carried to
the river and tossed into the rapids, his successors standing with the
multitude on the high bank to witness his disappearance and to hear his
unhappy kerplunk! The waters closed over his unhallowed head and the new
dispensation began. Back across the little plain to the torch-lit
village swarmed the fickle, joyous savages.

"Good Lord," observed Hugh, "what a ferocious crowd it is! They tear
their enemies to pieces and yet we have them under our thumbs--for the
present at least."

"I believe they are naturally intelligent, and I'm sure we can help
them. Do you know what those white robes are made from?"

"Certainly. Cotton."

"It is woven grass. They bleach it. The women do the work down by the
river, and the robes worn by their spearmen are really beautiful pieces
of fabric."

"I am going to leave my measure for a pair of white grass trousers,"
said Hugh lightly, "and an umbrella," he added, looking up at the
broiling sky.

Together the white usurpers planned many important improvements against
the probability of a long stay among the savages. A wonderful system of
sewerage was designed--and afterward carried out faithfully. A huge bath
pool was to b