better than we can
look after ourselves." While he was speaking, the noise increased.
Never did I hear such savage shrieks, cries, and howls.

"The people are cutting themselves with knives, and flints, and
spear-heads, to show their grief for their dead chief," observed Dick,
after he had taken another look outside the hut. He sat down, and
seemed considering what he should do. After some time, I heard a
footstep approaching the hut, and the old woman I had before seen
entered.

She looked very anxious, and told Dick he must get out of the way, and
hide himself for some days, when he would be safe. Dick thanked her
warmly.

"You have been kind to me, and you will be kind, I know, to my son; and
if you will hide us away together I shall be happy."

Dick then told me to come forward. The old woman looked very much
surprised at seeing me, and on hearing that I had been taken care of by
Motakee, advised me to go back at once to him, and to take Dick along
with me. There was no time to be lost. Having ascertained that the
coast was clear, she told us to hurry off into the wood, and to make our
way as fast as we could to Motakee's village, promising, if she could,
to put her people on a wrong scent, should they think of pursuing us.

We did as she had advised. We had not, however, got far into the wood,
when, as we were making our way along the hillside, as I looked back
through an opening in the trees, I saw a number of people advancing
towards the hut, shrieking, and shouting, and flourishing their weapons.
There could be little doubt that their intention was to get hold of
Dick. We hurried on, and did not stop till we were far away beyond the
sound of their voices.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

DICK AND CHARLEY REUNITED.

The natives in the villages were so busy celebrating their victory, or
mourning for their slain warriors, that Dick and I escaped observation
and reached the spot where I had left my stilts.

"Now, Dick," said I, mounting on them, "come along; you shall hide near
the village, and I will go boldly into it, as if I had been taking only
a longer walk than usual. Then, as Motakee will be glad to see me back,
I will tell him that the other old chief, Toobo Cava, is dead, and you
ought to be set at liberty, and ask him to protect you. If he says he
cannot, you must make your escape, and I'll follow; but if he says yes,
we will live together happily till we can get away from this savage
country.