Lost in the Jungle

de, but not before having carefully stored under shelter the billets of ebony-w

seemed entirely uninhabited. At any rate, we did

bo, Malaouen, and I held a great council, and, in order not to be heard in case some one might pass, we went ba

ter do, except that every one should have his gun ready, and his powder and bullets handy, his eyes w

Querlaoue

-day we have at last come upon a path. We know that the path has been made by some people or other. It is true we know that we are in the Ashankolo Mountains; that the tribe

e; the little streams we pass we know not. The ant-hills we have seen are not the same as those in our own country. The large st

d by a cheer from my two other fellows, I being

never happened to us before. Ye

rce expression, and the other two said "Yes, somebody wants to

the path, and follow it; perhaps w

Carefully we went through the jungle, the prospect of killing a monkey filling our hearts with joy; for we could already, in anticipation, see a bright fire

e quietly feeding? Although we could not reach them, they were not to be left in undisturbed possession, for a large flock of gray parrots, with red tails, flew round and round the tree, screeching angry defiance at the monkeys, who had at first been hidden by the thick leaves. The monkeys screamed back fie

ain! and, having first passed a field of pla

al fires smouldering, from which the smoke still ascended. We proceeded carefully, for we did not know

a room, stood a huge image of an idol. Oh! how ugly it was. It represented a woma

nas, monkeys, and squirrels-even of crocodiles; and skins of snakes, intermingled with bunche

big idol looked in the co

, What were we going to do? Should we sleep in that forlorn-looking villag

rest, away from the path, but not far from the village." Gambo, Malouen, and Querlaouen shouted with one v

y built with limbs from dead trees that lay scattered about, yielding also a plentiful supply of wood

I could hear the cry of some wild night animal, which had le

e of the big giant trees of the forest came down with a fearful noise, and crushing in its mighty fall dozens of other trees, one of them adjoining our camp. We got up in the twinkle of an eye, frightened out of our wits, for we fancied the whole forest was going to tumble down. The monkeys chattered; a terrific roar f

eemed to shake the very earth to its foundation; and then the rain fell in torrents, and soon deluged the ground. Happily, we knew what we were about when we built our fires, for we had started them on the top of large logs of wood, so arranged that it would have required more than a foot of w

orning the storm ceased, and all again became quiet; only the dripping of the water from the leaves could be heard; then w

oice. Listen! We all listened attentively, and Gambo laid down with his ears to the ground, and then he declar

rs these are. We have our guns and plenty of ammunition

ghted torches were entering the village, and four of them bore what, to all appearances, was a dead body, which they deposited before the huge idol, now moved

IN THE

e wind. I could hear its whispers as it passed through the foliage of the trees. The stars were shining beautifully, and a few fleecy white clouds were floating above our heads. I wish you could have seen us as we lay flat on the ground. Our eyes must have been bright indeed as we looked on the wild scene; and this I know, that our hearts were beating strongly as we lay close together.

an, who appeared almost dead, and they laid him by the side of the other, a

s it held a sharp-pointed knife, and in the other it held a bearded spear. It had a necklace of leopards' teeth, and its hideous head was decorated with birds' feathers. One side of

he people, as silen

ol, and at once, by the language he s

When they were strong they went to the jungle and shot game, and when they had killed it they always brought some to give thee; many times they have brought to thee antelopes, wild boars, and other wild beasts. They have brou

in darkness. Not a voice was heard; complete silence followed. They

ngle in the early morning before it was light. We might tread on a snake, or lay hold of one folded among the lower branches of the trees on which we laid our hands; or a wandering leopard might be prowling round; and, as there certainly were gorillas in the neighborhood, we might come on

se, Shall we go back to the strange village? "Certainly not," at on

from these people the causes which led to their affray, and at

th, and, if so, we might be suspected of being the men who speared them. Then," said he, "what a palaver we should get in! and there would be no other way for us to get out of our troubles except by fighting. You know that the Bakalai here fight well." We

ll as many gorillas, elephants, leopards, antelopes, wild boars, and other wild beasts as we can." It being settled w

ed we did look wild. We did not mind it; our hearts were bound together, we were such great friends.