led and beat the ground with
their heads. One of his own men stepped forward and spoke a few words
and the young man turned to the boys again.

"I friend," he said gently. "No can help much. You slave--go to Pongo."

"To Pongo!" cried Burt in dismay. But he quickly rallied. "Where'd you
learn English?"

"Buburika," smiled the young fellow proudly. "Buburika--Leopard, little
leopard. Him like me. Me help him. Help you maybe. Buburika Mac him
Pongo too."

The other white pigmies chattered something and Mbopo motioned to the
boys to follow them. The black ones brought out the guns taken from the
boys, together with the cartridges and knives. These Mbopo's men took
care of and with the young pigmy at their side the boys were marched
away from the village of the brown tribe.

"No talkee," cautioned Mbopo. In a moment they were hidden from sight or
sound of the village. All about them rose the dense jungle growth. Great
trees stretched high above them with their boughs meeting overhead,
matted with creepers and vines. Only an occasional ray of sunlight
filtered through that vast canopy of foliage under which leaped and
chattered flocks of monkeys. Tiny bees tormented them through the torn
places in their nets.

Every few yards they had to climb half rotted tree trunks studded with
briary creepers and alive with ants. They passed stagnant swamps and
pools covered with greasy green scum and emitting vile odors. Once or
twice a black pigmy appeared silently, received a sign from Mbopo, and
vanished again without a word. That vast silence oppressed the boys
terribly and they were heartily glad when they arrived at a village
similar to that they had left, and halted for dinner.

CHAPTER XIV

THE SACRED LION

"Things might be a whole lot worse," said Critch as he stretched out
after the meal. "I'd kind of like a change from roast bananas and beans,
though."

"A little grub cheers a fellow up some, don't it?" returned Burt. "I
hate to think of what's coming to us, though. D'you s'pose they'll brand
us?"

"Search me," yawned Critch. "I reckon Mbopo'll help us if he can. We
just got to grin and bear it, old sport. Ain't no use whining."

"Whining yourself, you red-head!" retorted Burt indignantly. "D'you
reckon they're toting us for their health? If we could only swipe one of
those guns and lay out the big lion! Here's Mbopo."

The pigmy approached and squatted down before them with a smile. His
face was inte