The Land of Mystery

e rapids and caused the servants to halt at the moment the canoe was shoved into

n?" he demanded

king up a knowledge of the English tongue. He was so much superior in that respect to hi

he replied, pointing

over

e seed 'em, dey motion for

ing news and Ash

ver there? And why

seed 'em; wa

s were likely to issue from the path at any moment, the young man stepped into the canoe, and,

middle of the stream was reached, and w

ith a poisoned spear; you

ttered their amazement. It was apparent that the news had added to their panic, and t

was they were not in sight. He scrutinized the dark forest and the line of moonlit space

ion of him. It could not be that the natives had deceived him and were anxious to place the Xingu between them and the fierce savages who had ha

to enter the head of Bippo. He spoke to his companions and the three ceased paddling. Ashm

low voice; "they could not have swam the r

beckoned with his right arm, just as a person

," replied Ashman, wit

urpose of learning the extent of the rapids. It followed, therefore, that if they had made their way to the other shore, i

ho was facing the bank they had left, uttered an expression

he saw Professor Grimcke and the New Englander st

ke dat," said Bippo; "we hurry to go

the case, the startling truth was manifest; they had seen two strangers whom they mistook for their own friend

he did not doubt it-a ne

and why had they disappeared when appr

l speed. While doing so, and while Grimcke and Long were doubtless wondering what had got into th

site bank were Grimcke and Long; though when reminded that it was impossible that they could have crossed and recrossed the stream in such a brief time, and without any means

gh to make sure they were white men. The servants were positive on this point, adding the distracting statement that t

how cross riber, but allee same d

camp which it had left so abruptly, and, a minute later, Ashman

were deeply touched by the loss of Johnston. Danger tends to draw the members of a party closely together, and, despite the peculiar disposition of the sailor, the three fe

this story tha

ade, the native approache

e back 'gin? Why you no stay ober

. "We went up this side of the stream, and have not been on the other side since dark. Wh

more than ever, a

his companions with an unshakeable belief in the story given

o had studied the fellow closely; "and it follows t

we were the first of our race to reach this spot; but it is hard in these days

te bank, "they ought to be friends; and, after signaling to our servants to

ieve them friends, but their actions are unsatisfactory. I am inclined to think that the cause of their with

hey feel the same toward us, and are unwilling to make our acqu

mbling in every limb, and with the appearance of a person