d was to declare that the stories
he gave to Ashman the night before, when made a prisoner by him were
fables. There was no enchanted lake in the neighborhood, and his
account of the burning mountain was a myth, as were his yarns about the
diamonds obtained from the same mountain.

The Professor nodded his head, laughed and said he was glad to be told
that; for, while he wished to believe their good friend, when he was in
earnest, he found it hard to swallow those marvellous narratives which
exceeded anything that had ever come to their ears.

Long and Ashman also expressed great relief at the naive confession of
the head chieftain. All the same, however, not one of them was
deceived by the fellow's subterfuge.

They knew that the stories which Ziffak related on the shore of the
Xingu were true. Seized at that time by a burst of confidence, he had
unburdened himself to the young man for whom he formed such deep
admiration.

Since that time, and especially since his angry interview with his
royal brother, he appreciated the grievous mistake he made and was now
anxious to recall it. He, therefore, declared the accounts to be of
the Munchausen order. His listeners read his purpose and it suited
them to let him think they accepted every word of his remarkable
recantation.

He impressed upon them that the king was angry because of their coming
to his village. Indeed Ziffak was afraid that he would recall his
permission to allow them to stay the two days, and might compel them to
leave that night.

This was startling news, and, when Ziffak was pressed, he admitted that
during his absence on the Xingu to meet them, Waggaman and Burkhardt
had returned and secured an audience with His Majesty. This explained
the new phase of matters and was anything but welcome information, but
there was no help for it.

The Professor asked Ziffak whether he could not bring the two white men
to his home, in order that an interview might be had. If that could be
done, Grimcke was hopeful that a better understanding could be
established, but the head chieftain replied that he had not seen either
of the white men since he returned, nor did he know where to find them.
They occupied a building on the opposite side of the king's home, but
he was told they were not there. No doubt they were purposely keeping
out of the way of the new-comers.

Suddenly Ashman asked their friend whether there was any objection to
his taking a stroll a