ungry and starving many a time, and once we were
so much reduced to the starvation point that we boldly but stealthily
entered a village in order to capture food, and escaped. About two
months ago we were unfortunate enough to wander between two conflicting
forces, and in the attempt to escape, were finally taken by the victors
and conducted to their village in grand style. From our appearance it
was probably difficult to judge whether we were white or black, but as
we had the freedom of a small space adjoining our hut, and were encamped
by the running stream, where water was handy, we had an opportunity to
take a bath, which so changed our appearance that the natives could
hardly believe we were the same captives they had taken two days before.
We since learned that this alteration in our appearance is what caused
them to postpone the sacrifice. They are intensely superstitious, and
could not understand why the transformation had been made. Then the
round silver match box which Tom incautiously exhibited, excited their
curiosity, and its glitter attracted them, so that everything we had was
taken away, particularly the buttons which we had about us."

"That," remarked the Professor, "is also a trait common with all
savages, to regard all articles which have a luster, as a charm. The
Druids, in ancient times, used balls of crystal as part of their
superstitious worship, and even in the present day, in our own civilized
country, we have plenty of people who have an idea that hypnotism can be
brought about by gazing at a brightly polished sphere. It can be seen
how much these articles are prized by a low order of people, because of
the varied colors which are formed at the different parts of the
globular surface. It is for the same reason that the eye becomes the
most attractive part of the human form, and why some are actually
overcome by a piercing glance, or subdued by the genial beams of a
kindly eye."

"But I have little more to add to the tale. We were kindly treated by
those people, and given a greater share of liberty as time wore on, and
when the watchfulness was not so keen we took the first opportunity
offered, to escape, and after wandering about from place to place, often
without food, we were almost ready to return and throw ourselves on
their mercy. For fully a month we kept out of their way, and when we saw
them coming, and knew what a struggle we would have to elude them
without food, we boldly marched i