sitor suddenly began to
drag the chest we had used for a table into the hut, and after this he
carried in the kettle, and two or three other things that we had had
out, the rifle included; after which, as we watched him, he patted us
both on the chest to call our attention to what he was going to do, and,
picking up his spear, he thrust it down into the ground close up to the
doorway, its point standing up above the thatch.

"What does he mean by that, uncle?" I asked.

"I think I know, Nat," he replied; "but wait a minute. This fellow is
no fool."

For after calling our attention to what he was going to do, he ran off
into the jungle; and as we watched the spot where he had disappeared, he
peered at us from behind a tree trunk, then from another, and another,
popping up in all sorts of out-of-the-way places where we least expected
to see him, and then suddenly creeping out on hands and knees from among
some bushes, raising his head every now and then as if looking to see if
he was watched, and again crawling on towards the hut.

Just in the midst of the pantomime he became aware of what we had seen
before, about a dozen boys coming cautiously through the forest, when,
jumping up in a rage, he dashed at them, and they disappeared, he after
them, to come back panting and continue his performance, hiding and
creeping out again, and going nearer and nearer to the hut.

"I say, uncle, isn't this all nonsense?" I said.

"No, my boy. He can't talk to us to make us understand, so he is trying
to show us something by signs."

As he spoke the black crept on and on, rising to his knees and peering
round to see if he was watched, and at last, having arrived within half
a dozen yards of the hut, he rose and made a dash for the door, making
believe to see the spear, stuck up there like a sentry, for the first
time, and then stopping short, uttering a howl of dread, and shivering
all over as he crept crouching away, holding out his hands behind him as
if to ward off a blow.

Then suddenly springing up, he ceased acting, looked at us, and laughed.

"Why, what does he mean, uncle?" I said.

"I know," said Uncle Dick quickly; and pointing to some of the savages
down on the shore he went up to the door of the hut, and made as if to
go in, but stopped and pointed again to the savages at a distance.

The black nodded and laughed, danced about with delight, and then
pointing to the savages himself he ran to the door, and ca