thicket, Jethro
cutting a path with his ax through the thorns. An exclamation of
surprise broke from them as they gained the open ground. The whole of
their stores were tossed about in the wildest confusion. Everyone of
the packages had been opened. Tents, garments, and carpets hung upon
the bushes as if the animals had tossed them contemptuously there as
being unfit to eat. Everything eatable had disappeared. The fruit,
grain, and vegetables had been completely cleared up. The skins of
wine were bursted; but the contents had been apparently appreciated,
for none remained in the hollows of the rocks.

"What greedy creatures!" Mysa exclaimed indignantly; "they have not
left us a single thing."

"They do not often get a chance of such dainty feeding," Amuba said.
"I don't think we ought to blame them, especially as they do not seem
to have done very much damage to our other goods."

"Look how they have trampled down the bushes as they went through. I
wish their skins were as thin as mine," Mysa said as she wiped away
the blood from a deep scratch on her cheek; "they would keep up in
their own woods then and not come down to rob travelers."

"At any rate, Mysa, we ought to feel indebted to them," Chebron said,
"for not having pushed their investigations further. We should have
had no chance either of escape or resistance in these bushes. Jethro
told us to move round and attack them from behind; but moving round in
these thorns is all very well to talk about, but quite impossible to
do. Two minutes of active exercise and there would not be a morsel of
flesh left on one's bones."

It was two or three hours before the bearers came back one by one.
They were assailed with fierce reproaches by Jethro for the cowardice
which had been the means of losing all the provisions. Four of their
number were at once paid off and sent back, as there was no longer
anything for them to carry. The others would have left also had it
not been for the escort, who threatened death if they did not at once
take up their burdens and proceed. For Jethro had been liberal with
his stores, and they were as indignant as he was himself at the sudden
stoppage of their rations.

Three days later they arrived at a small village, which marked the
commencement of the territory of the second chief through whose
country the road ran. Here the escort and carriers left them, their
place being supplied by natives of the village. There was no
difficulty in o