ht of quite 4 ft. 6 in. It was
found advisable to give these two some badge of office, for when
they had become accustomed to the white men, they stopped the march
for a violent discussion about the glittering jewel worn with such
outrageous pride by the first man. The present of a red silk
handkerchief to one, and of a tin box that had held meat tabloids to
the other, restored peace. The handkerchief was converted into a
turban, the box into a decoration for the breast, and then, chatting
like a treeful of monkeys, the three guides went on at a quick pace.
There was no midday rest, no halt for coffee-making; they had
evidently been told by Muata to hurry, and whenever their white men
showed a tendency to slacken, they frowned, cracked their fingers,
and capered about. Towards night, however, they descended from the
upper road.

"Thank goodness, they'll have to stop when it grows dark," sighed
Venning.

The little men gave a long rolling call by moving the hand before
the mouth; then two of them slipped away, and presently an answering
call came out of the wood. A little later the travellers stood on
the edge of a small clearing, surrounded by little round huts made
of leaves, and in the centre stood the gigantic warrior with the tin
box, and his proud companion with the flame-coloured head. They were
grinning from ear to ear as they beckoned their "white men" to
advance within the circle of that forest city! Stepping over one of
the leafy buildings, and just avoiding knocking down the pillars of
an edifice that was probably the town hall, they entered the
opening, piled their outfit, and started a fire to prepare the
evening meal. The town had appeared deserted, except for the three
little guides; but as the giants sipped from their pannikins little
forms flitted nearer, and quaint little faces peered at them from
every point.

"Take no notice of them," whispered Mr. Hume, as he handed a
pannikin to the first guide.

As that sooty imp sipped, with a loud indrawing of his breath in
dread of scalding, and a loud outward blowing in token of
satisfaction at the comforting taste, the other two guides took the
proffered pannikins from the boys, and the entire population crept
closer and closer, with many a timid jump. When, however, these
strange visitors from the strange outer world, where there was no
roof of trees to keep off the shooting stars and other dangers--when
these queer people began to massage each other