ated enemy,
Samory. I smiled as I reflected what terrible revenge this great army of
the Naya could wreak upon the Arab chief, and found myself anticipating
the day when the soldiery of Mo should gather before the old villain's
stronghold.

Kona, who had come up beside me, walked on in silent amazement. He knew
nothing of civilization, and the sights he now witnessed held him dumb.
The African mind is slow to understand the benefits of civilization and
modern progress, unless it be the substitution of guns for bows and
bullets for arrows. At last we turned a corner suddenly, and saw before
us, rising against the intensely blue sky and flashing in the brilliant
sunlight, the three great gilded domes of the royal palace.

"Gold!" cried Kona, in an awed tone. "See!" and he turned to several of
his sable brethren. "See! they build their great huts of solid gold! What
treasure they must have!"

As we advanced in imposing procession, the great gate of this royal
residence, grim and frowning as a fortress, over which a large flag was
floating, bearing the sign of the vampire bat, opened wide, and,
unchallenged by the crowds of gaily-dressed soldiers drawn up in line
and saluting, we went forward amid vociferous cheering.

Ours was indeed a progress full of triumph and enthusiasm. The heir to
the throne, long since mourned for as lost, had returned, and the loyal
people were filled with great rejoicing. Through one spacious courtyard
after another we passed, always between long lines of stalwart
men-at-arms, bearing good English rifles and well-made accoutrements,
until, ascending a short flight of wide steps of polished black stone, we
found ourselves in a great hall beneath one of the gilded domes that had
so impressed our head-man. Before us was a huge curtain of purple velvet
that screened from view the further end of the hall, but when all had
assembled and stood grouped together, this drapery was suddenly lifted,
disclosing to our gaze a sight that filled us with greatest wonder and
amazement.

The central object was the historic Emerald Throne, a wonderful golden
seat so thickly encrusted with beautiful green gems as to appear entirely
constructed of them. Some of the stones were of enormous size,
beautifully cut, of amazing brilliance and fabulous value. Above, was
suspended a golden representation of a crocodile--the god Zomara. Lolling
lazily among the pink silk cushions was a woman, tall, thin-faced and
ascetic