ently forward until they stood facing us, at the distance
of but ten or twelve feet. Then, seeing that we maintained a defensive
attitude, they paused, and one of them, stepping a little before the
rest, spoke to us in a loud and authoritative voice, at the same time
motioning us to throw aside our weapons.

"Can't you muster a few words of their heathen talk, Archer?" said
Browne, "perhaps if we could only understand one another, we should find
there is no occasion for us to quarrel. It seems so irrational to run
the risk of having our brains knocked out, if it can be avoided."

I shook my head: the few phrases which I had picked up from Arthur and
Eiulo, could be of no use for the present purpose, even if they should
be understood.

The spokesman, a sinewy, hard-favoured savage, whose native ugliness was
enhanced by two scars that seamed his broad squat face, repeated the
words he had before uttered, in a higher key, and with a still more
imperative air, accompanying what he said, with gestures, which
sufficiently explained what he required.

"If I understand you, my friend," said Browne, appearing to forget in
the excitement of the moment that what he was saying would be utterly
unintelligible to the person he addressed, "If I understand you, your
demand is unreasonable. Throw away your own weapons first; you are the
most numerous party:" and he imitated the gestures which the other had
made use of.

The savage shook his head impatiently, and keeping his eyes steadfastly
fixed upon Browne, he began to speak in a quiet tone. But I saw that
though looking at Browne, his words were addressed to his companions,
who gradually spread themselves out in front of us and without making
any openly hostile demonstrations, handled their weapons in what seemed
to me a suspicious manner.

"Be on your guard," said I, speaking in my ordinary tone, and without
looking round, "I am sure they are meditating sudden mischief."

Scarcely were the words uttered, when, with the quickness of lightning,
the spokesman hurled his club at Browne, narrowly missing his head, then
bringing his spear into a horizontal position, he made a thrust full at
his chest with his whole force.

Browne, however, was on his guard, and knocking aside the point of the
spear, he swung round his long club; and, before the other could draw
back, brought it down with such effect upon his right shoulder that his
arm fell powerless to his side, and the spea