ome
foolhardy wight to venture within its reach, to seize and devour him.
They had been despatched by a despotic king to capture or kill the
creature; but, whilst every man there would have emulated his neighbour
in rushing to certain death against the ranks of an enemy, there seemed
to be so little glory in furnishing a breakfast to this monster that
every individual there inwardly resolved that some other man than
himself should be the first to offer himself as a sacrifice. And,
equally afraid to advance or to retire, there they remained motionless,
and in a state of breathless suspense, waiting for events to develop
themselves. And there they were distinctly visible from the lofty
stand-point of the _Flying Fish's_ deck when the quartette, cigar in
mouth, emerged from the pilot-house after breakfast.

The situation was decidedly comical, and the travellers indulged in a
hearty laugh at the expense of the discomfited savages. But it was
obvious that matters could not be allowed to remain in that condition;
the natives must be impressed with the conviction that hostilities were
neither necessary nor desirable, and that it would be to their advantage
to be on terms of amity with the newcomers. How could this be achieved?
A parley offered the most ready solution of the difficulty; and the
professor--who was a perfect polyglot dictionary in human form--offered
to essay the task of conducting it. This was by no means his first
introduction to savages; he had encountered them in various parts of the
world before, and had never experienced any very serious difficulty in
communicating with them, so that he felt tolerably sanguine of success
on the present occasion.

"The matter is very simple, I think," remarked the German, as he led the
way to the larboard gangway. "We want these people to understand that
we are friendly disposed toward them; that they have nothing whatever to
fear from us; that we have not come here to rob them of one tittle of
their possessions; that we merely wish to explore and examine these
ancient ruins; and that, if they will receive us among them as friends,
they will be distinct and decided gainers by the transaction. Is not
that so?"

"Certainly," remarked the baronet. "Tell them--if you can--that all we
ask is permission to investigate and explore unmolested; and that if
they will accord us this privilege they shall be substantially
rewarded."

"Very good; I will do my best. And that