time to collect fuel and kindle it, the insects,
marching onward, destroyed everything in their way. Although they fell
by tens of thousands, others took their places. It was not until the
morning that they disappeared, having destroyed in that short time a
large portion of the provisions in the place. Fortunately they did not
eat up the fruit nor the live animals, but among other things destroyed
was the skin of the huge ape which we had intended to take to England to
exhibit to naturalists, feeling sure it would create more surprise than
anything else we could carry with us. The entire skin was devoured, and
the head picked clean so that only a whitened skull remained. As we had
been up all night fighting the ants, we were glad to lie down again and
obtain some sleep in quiet.

We had just risen, rubbing our eyes and still feeling very drowsy, when
Prince Ombay came in and invited us to accompany him on another hunt,
observing that it was necessary to replenish the stock of provisions
destroyed by the ants. We, of course, could not refuse.

"I would advise, gentlemen," said Tom, when he heard through Aboh what
the prince wished, "that we carry our knapsacks on our backs, and then,
if we have the chance, we can take French leave of our friends. They
would scarcely attempt to stop us by force; and one can make them
understand that we must be off."

"Tom's advice is good," said Charley. "Let us clap on our packs as a
matter of course."

We had a scanty breakfast, as the whole of the village was on short
commons. We hoped before long to get some venison, on which we could
feast before taking to flight. When, however, the prince saw what we
were about, with a smiling countenance he said--

"Hang up your fetishes again, you can do without them when hunting, and
when you come back you can worship at your leisure."

From this we found that our knapsacks were looked upon as objects of
worship, perhaps this accounted for their not having been stolen.
Charley tried to persuade the prince that we should kill more game if we
took them, but he either suspected our intentions, or thought that they
were safer in our houses, and insisted that we should leave them behind
us. We had let Aboh understand what we had been doing, for we knew we
could trust him, but we thought it wise not to say anything to Shimbo
until the moment had arrived, when Aboh would tell him of our
intentions, feeling sure that he would be ready t