signs, and then lay down beside them to await the
signal from Jack's party.

Although the attack of both our parties was to be simultaneous, the
first shot was to be fired by our troops in the dell. I will therefore
describe their part of the engagement first. Jack described it to me
minutely after all was over.

On reaching the dell Jack disposed his forces so as to command the only
approach to it. The hundred musketeers he placed in a double row
directly across the deepest and darkest part. The spearmen he divided
into two bodies, which he posted on the flanks of the musketeers among
the bushes. He then showed the rear rank of the latter how to point
their pieces over the shoulders of the men in the front rank at a given
signal, but carefully reiterated the order not to touch a trigger until
the word "Fire" should be given.

"Now, Peterkin," said Jack, when these dispositions had been made, "it
is time for you to get ready. Makarooroo and I can manage these
fellows, so you have my permission to go and play your own independent
part. Only let me warn you to remember your last exploit in this way,
and see that you don't do yourself a damage."

"Thanks, noble general, for the permission," answered Peterkin, "of
which I shall avail myself. In reference to your advice, I may remark
that it is exceedingly valuable--so much so, indeed, that I would advise
you not to part with it until asked for."

With that Peterkin ran into the jungle, and was soon lost to view.

On gaining a sufficient distance from the men, he took off the greater
part of his clothes, and wound round his person several pieces of
light-coloured cotton that he chanced to have with him, and some pieces
of old newspaper. Then he decked his head with leaves and ragged
branches, as he had done before in the haunted cave, making himself, in
short, as wild and fantastic a looking creature as possible--the only
difference between his getting-up on this and the former occasion being
that he was white instead of black. For he wisely judged that a white
demon must naturally appear infinitely more appalling and horrible to a
negro than one of his own colour.

The two cones of moistened powder, however, which he had prepared for
this occasion, were very much larger than the former, and had been
fitted into two wooden handles, or cups, for safety. With these in his
hands, he crept to the top of a steep, sloping mound or hill near the
entrance to the d