de which hung before
them. Leonard called Soa and asked her what the place was.

"Doubtless the house of a herdsman," she answered, "who is set here to
watch the cattle of the king, or of the priests. It may chance that this
is the dwelling of that man who shot the arrow yesterday."

Having assured themselves that here was a human habitation, it remained
to be ascertained whether it was tenanted. After waiting awhile to see
if anyone passed in or out, Otter undertook this task. Going down on his
hands and knees he crept up to the wall, then along it to the doorway,
and after listening there awhile he lifted a corner of the hide curtain
and peeped into the interior. Presently he rose, saying:

"All right, Baas, the place is empty."

Then they both entered and examined the dwelling with curiosity. It
was rude enough. The walls were unplastered, and the damp streamed down
them; the floor was of trodden mud, and a hole in the roof served as
a chimney; but, by way of compensation, the internal space was divided
into two apartments, one of them a living room, and the other a sleeping
chamber. It was evident that the place had not been long deserted, for
fire still smouldered on the hearth, round which stood various earthen
cooking dishes, and in the sleeping-room was a rough bedstead of wood
whereon lay wrappings made from the hides of cattle and goats. When
they had seen everything there was to be seen, they hurried back to the
others to report their discovery, and just then the rain set in more
heavily than before.

"A house!" said Juanna; "then for goodness' sake let us get into it. We
are all half dead with the cold and wet."

"Yes," answered Leonard, "I think we had better take possession, though
it may be a little awkward if the rightful owners come back."

The best that can be said for the night which they spent in this stone
shanty, undisturbed by any visit from its lawful tenant, is that it
passed a shade more comfortably than it would have done outside. They
were dry, though the place was damp, and they had a fire. Still, until
you are used to it, it is trying to sit in the company of a score of
black people and of many thousand fleas, enveloped with a cloud of
pungent smoke, according to the custom of our Norse ancestors.

Soon Juanna gave up the attempt and retired to the great bed in the
inner chamber, wondering much who had occupied it last. A herdsman,
she judged, as Soa had suggested, for in a corner o