ow then, stop paddling for a moment;
I'll try an experiment."

So saying, he sprang to his feet, and grasping a rifle in each hand,
held them high above his head, intending thus to show that we were
well-armed, but that we did not intend to use our weapons.

The device was happily successful: the man in the other canoe lowered
the gun with which he was in the act of taking aim at us.

"Now, boys, paddle slowly towards the bank," cried Peterkin, laying down
the rifles quickly and standing erect again with his empty hands
extended in the air, to confirm the fugitives in regard to our good
intentions. They understood the sign, and also turned toward the bank,
where in a few minutes both parties landed, at the distance of about two
hundred yards from each other.

"Mak, you had better advance alone," said Jack. "If it is Mbango and
his friends, they will know you at once. Don't carry your rifle; you
won't need it."

"Nay, Jack," I interposed; "you do not act with your usual caution.
Should it chance not to be Mbango, it were well that Mak should have his
rifle and a companion to support him."

"O most sapient Ralph," said Peterkin, "don't you know that Jack and I
have nothing to do but sit down on this bank, each with a double-barrel
in his hand, and if anything like foul play should be attempted, four of
the enemy should infallibly bite the dust at the same time? But you'd
better go with Mak, since you're so careful of him. We will engage to
defend you both.--Hollo, Puggy! take the line of our canoe here and
fasten it to yonder bush."

The latter part of this remark was addressed to Njamie's little boy,
whose name we had never learned, and who had been called Puggy by
Peterkin--not, let me remark, in anything approaching to a contemptuous
spirit. He evidently meant it as a title of endearment. We had tacitly
accepted it, and so had the lad, who for some time past had answered to
the name of Puggy, in utter ignorance, of course, as to its
signification.

Mak and I now advanced unarmed towards the negroes, and in a few seconds
we mutually recognised each other. I was overjoyed to observe the
well-known face of Okandaga, who no sooner recognised her lover than she
uttered a joyful shout and ran towards him. I at the same time advanced
to Mbango, and grasping his hand shook it warmly; but that good-hearted
chief was not satisfied with such a tame expression of good will.
Seizing me by the shoulders, he put fo