re we lost the sun. We followed the winding
channels between the trees, and where we could not row we laid hold of
the crusted roots and hauled ourselves along. The water was foul, and
great glittering flies tormented us. Morning and evening a blue mist
covered the mud, which bred fevers. Four of our rowers sickened, and
were bound to their benches, lest they should leap overboard and be
eaten by the monsters of the mud. The Yellow Man lay sick beside the
Wise Iron, rolling his head and talking in his own tongue. Only the
Bird throve. She sat on Witta's shoulder and screamed in that noisome,
silent darkness. Yes; I think it was the silence we most feared.'

He paused to listen to the comfortable home noises of the brook.

'When we had lost count of time among those black gullies and swashes
we heard, as it were, a drum beat far off, and following it we broke
into a broad, brown river by a hut in a clearing among fields of
pumpkins. We thanked God to see the sun again. The people of the
village gave the good welcome, and Witta scratched his head at them
(for gold), and showed them our iron and beads. They ran to the
bank--we were still in the ship--and pointed to our swords and bows,
for always when near shore we lay armed. Soon they fetched store of
gold in bars and in dust from their huts, and some great blackened
elephants' teeth. These they piled on the bank, as though to tempt us,
and made signs of dealing blows in battle, and pointed up to the
tree-tops, and to the forest behind. Their captain or chief sorcerer
then beat on his chest with his fists, and gnashed his teeth.

'Said Thorkild of Borkum: "Do they mean we must fight for all this
gear?" and he half drew sword.

"'Nay," said Hugh. "I think they ask us to league against some enemy."

"'I like this not," said Witta, of a sudden. "Back into mid-stream."

'So we did, and sat still all, watching the black folk and the gold
they piled on the bank. Again we heard drums beat in the forest, and
the people fled to their huts, leaving the gold unguarded.

'Then Hugh, at the bows, pointed without speech, and we saw a great
Devil come out of the forest. He shaded his brows with his hand, and
moistened his pink tongue between his lips--thus.'

'A Devil!' said Dan, delightfully horrified.

'Yea. Taller than a man; covered with reddish hair. When he had well
regarded our ship, he beat on his chest with his fists till it sounded
like rolling dru