The Land of Mystery

stood at the head of the rapids and surveyed their su

er ending wonder to those who look upon it for the first time. The river above made a sharp bend, shutting off the view so full

r, calmly surveying the river and shores; "and I hope Ashman will

is

as he asked the question, and pointed

he very spot where they themselves had stood a brief while before, evide

they displayed a marked contrast in other respects. They were taller, more athletic, with immense bushy heads of

strapped behind his shoulders, while the oth

s mean fight,

it," replied

er than their arrows and spears, e

t we intend them no harm, and you know what an advantage it

the bank toward the savages. If the latter preserved their armed neutrality, all woul

ible course. While the rights of every barbarian should be respected, it is all important that he should know

everal minutes, during which the white men scrut

who, it was quite apparent, intended to dispute their return; but if such was really their purpose, they would have little trouble in heading off the whites

same time for the first offensive move of the savages. He carried his Winchester in one hand, while he rested t

s friend a few paces, then halting with his Winchester ready for any e

among the trees so invitingly near, but something must have been said by his companions to check him, for he stopped abruptly, and not only came back to his first position, but advanced a

d fitted it against the string of his bow. The fact that the missile was undoubtedly coated at the end with a virus more dead

icant preliminary, his companions shifted their grasp upo

but when about to hurl them, the hand was shoved further toward the head. Both natives thus shifted their right hands, though

onless, but removing the right from his revolver, he continued making signs, whose f

named, were their frowsy eyebrows and glittering coal-black eyes. These were unusually large and protruding. The noses, instead of being broad and flat, like those of the native Africans, were Roman in shape. The mouths

ll the people whom he met, he did not intend to assume any unnecessary risks. The demeanor of the natives tendered it certain they were hostile. They made no responsive signs to thos

faces, that they were consulting as to what they should do. The white man was already so close that he could easily be reache

ense that was impossible. Unable to understand the words spoken, they were equally unacquainted with the we

Jared Long; "keep your face toward th

essor slowed his pace, still making his gestures of good w

hers were willing to accept his offers, they should signif

d the woods, which were now so close to his right side as to be instantly available. When

ing every movement; "he'll whisk behind the tree the in

to his right hand, holding the arrow in place against the string with the same hand, w

lant New Englander, "that c

turned aside and vanished among the trees. Being in the Professor's line of vision the la

e who had so stealthily entered the wood. Convinced that his real peril lay among those trees, Grimcke began a backward

ry that the white man would not stir from the place where he had first halted. He would thus aim to secure a position from which he could hurl his javelin at him without detection. Grimcke conceived this was certain to tak

itching movement which he hoped would carry him out of danger. He had gone barely a couple of yards when the

displeasure. Indeed, he remained so fixed in his position that Grimcke was convinced he was listening for the sound of the

Professor, satisfied that the three natives were as venomo

d to look behind him, but never was there a more welcome sound

d Long, "but don't try to

th a certain dignity that was not lacking in impressiveness. His aim was to give the act the appearance of a strategic movement, as it ma

he succeeded, or not was certain to become apparent within the following five