,
sure evidence of his excited feelings. It sounded as if Ziffak was
striving to placate him, but his royal brother grew more savage each
moment.

The words of all were uttered in the Murhapa tongue, so that the
listeners could form no idea of their meaning. Had they been able to
do so, it is safe to say that they would have been in anything but a
comfortable frame of mind.

CHAPTER XXIII.

THE SHADOW OF DANGER.

A few minutes later, Ziffak came through the door of the king's
residence and greeted the explorers.

His dusky countenance showed unmistakable traces of emotion, but like a
true warrior, he knew how to govern his feelings. When he spoke, there
was no agitation perceptible in his voice.

He motioned to his friends to enter the adjoining hut, where Bippo and
Pedros had been left. The Professor showing a natural timidity, he
stepped forward and led the way.

Immediately, the party found themselves within a structure, which while
no larger than the others, still, in view of the royal prerogatives of
the occupant perhaps, possessed more conveniences. The lower
apartment, or rather floor, was separated into three divisions, the
front being that in which the cooking was done, while serving also for
a sitting and general reception room.

The mother of Ziffak and King Haffgo was a tall, muscular widow of
threescore and ten, much wrinkled, but strong and active on her feet.
Her countenance was darker if possible than that of the head chieftain,
making it the more wonderful that Haffgo should be the reverse in that
respect of both.

The royal mother paid little heed to her visitors, probably believing
they were able to take care of themselves without help from her.
Indeed, shortly after the white men entered, she took her departure,
and was not seen again until dark, when she came in to help provide
them with their evening meal.

Bippo and Pedros finding themselves safe at last were doing what they
could to make up for the sleepless nights and hard labor they had
undergone on their way thither. They were stretched upon some skins in
one corner, sleeping heavily and refreshingly.

Ziffak sat on the floor with the whites. It was apparent from his
manner that he was on the point of making a communication of
importance, but he seemed to change his mind suddenly, and, for a time,
spoke upon matters of such trivial account that his listeners were
surprised.

The next astonishing thing which he di