sc of liquid gold.

Nor was the plain all level. Here and there, above the wooded surface,
rose isolated hills, of rounded mound-like shape, also clothed with
timber, but with trees whose foliage, of lighter sheen, showed them to
be of species different from those on the plain below.

Through a break among the branches of those now shadowing them on the
mountain brow, the travellers for some time contemplated the country
before them, and across which, upon the morrow, they would have to make
their way.

At this moment Saloo muttered some words, which, coupled with the
expression upon his countenance as he gave utterance to them, alarmed
his companions. The words were,--

"It lookee like countly of _mias lombi_. Cappen Ledwad, if dat wild
debbel lib in dem wood below, bettel we go all lound. We tly closs it,
may be we get eat up. Singapo tiga not so dang'lous as _mias_--he not
common kind, but gleat _mias lombi_--what Poltugee people callee `_led
golilla_.'"

"The _red gorilla_!" ejaculated Captain Redwood. "Is it the
_ourang-outang_ you mean?"

"Same ting, Sahib cappen. Some call him _oolang-ootang_, some say _led
golilla_. One kind belly big--belly bad--he call _mias lombi_. He
cally away women, childen; take 'em up into top ob de highest tallee
tlee. Nobody know what he do then. Eat 'em up may be. What fol else
he want 'em? Ah! Cappen Ledwad, we dlead de oolang-Dyak. He no half
dang'lous like oolang-ootang led golilla."

Notwithstanding the _patois_ of his speech, what Saloo said was well
enough understood by his companions, for in the _led golilla_ or
_oolang-ootang_ of his peculiar pronunciation, they recognised the long
known and world-renowned ape of Borneo, which, although safe enough when
seen inside the cage of the showman, is a creature to be dreaded--at
least the species spoken of--when encountered in its native haunts, the
forests of Sumatra and Borneo.

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

TOUGH TRAVELLING.

Next morning they did not start so early, because the great plain before
them was shrouded under a fog, and they waited for it to pass off.

It was not dispelled until the sun had risen in the heavens behind them,
for their backs were still to the east, their route lying due westward.

During the night, and again in the morning, they had discussed the
question of striking straight across the plain, or making a circuitous
march around it. When the fog at length lifted, this point was