quest here was wild and useless and
that we should do well to try to escape from the place before we became
involved in a war of extermination between two branches of an obscure
tribe, one of which was quite and the other semi-savage.

Indeed, although Ragnall still hung back a little, it had been arranged
that I should try to purchase camels in exchange for guns, unless I
could get them for nothing which might be less suspicious, and that we
should attempt such an escape under cover of an expedition to kill the
elephant Jana.

Supposing such a vision to be possible, then might it not have come, or
been sent to deter us from this plan? It would seem so.

Thus reflecting I went to sleep worn out with useless wonderment, and
did not wake again till breakfast time. That morning, when we were alone
together, Ragnall said to me:

"I have been thinking over what happened, or seemed to happen last
night. I am not at all a superstitious man, or one given to vain
imaginings, but I am sure that Savage and I really did see and hear the
spirit or the shadow of my wife. Her body it could not have been as you
will admit, though how she could utter, or seem to utter, audible speech
without one is more than I can tell. Also I am sure that she is captive
upon yonder mountain and came to call me to rescue her. Under these
circumstances I feel that it is my duty, as well as my desire, to give
up any idea of leaving the country and try to find out the truth."

"And how will you do that," I asked, "seeing that no one will tell us
anything?"

"By going to see for myself."

"It is impossible, Ragnall. I am too lame at present to walk half a
mile, much less to climb precipices."

"I know, and that is one of the reasons why I did not suggest that you
should accompany me. The other is that there is no object in all of
us risking our lives. I wished to face the thing alone, but that good
fellow Savage says that he will go where I go, leaving you and Hans here
to make further attempts if we do not return. Our plan is to slip out
of the town during the night, wearing white dresses like the Kendah, of
which I have bought some for tobacco, and make the best of our way up
the slope by starlight that is very bright now. When dawn comes we will
try to find the road through that precipice, or over it, and for the
rest trust to Providence."

Dismayed at this intelligence, I did all I could to dissuade him from
such a mad venture, but quite wit