ing been supposed that vast
lodes of that metal abounded in the river valley; but, as a matter of
fact, there has been very little silver located anywhere near its
vicinity.

We had managed to shake off the yellow-skinned Mongols immediately we
diverged into the mountains, and since that time we had been crossing
luxurious upland forests, and struggling through long stretches of
jungle country in turn. It was quite possible that the Sakis had seen
us, though we had not seen them, for our time had been more occupied in
evading reptiles and wild animals than in scanning the tree-tops for
their imp-like denizens.

"I vote," said the Captain, who was the dead-shot of our party, "that we
leave the Sakis alone. We're in their country now, you know, and there's
such a thing as tempting Providence."

Phil smiled; he was young and enthusiastic, and he was also an ardent
ethnographist. "We'll take things as we find them, Captain," said he,
"but we usually manage to run across some odd specimens of humanity in
our travels. Now, what did you think of the Achinese?"

"A thocht them wonderfu' bloodthirsty folk," grumbled Stewart, tenderly
patting a slowly healing scar on his cheek. "They vera near feenished
me, an' if Mac hadna come along in time A wad hae been cut into
sausages----"

I interrupted his ruminations, and saved the company a harrowing
description of what had happened in Sumatra. "We've heard that so often
now, Stewart," I said, "that we think you might give us a rest."

Mac cackled harshly in agreement, but Skelton, the stalwart Devonian,
who was doctor of our outfit, said rather grimly, "If you get a similar
smash in this country, Stewart, my boy, I'm afraid you won't live to
tell of it, for we don't seem to be getting into a healthier atmosphere,
though we are a good few thousand feet above sea-level."

Stewart subsided gloomily, feeling his pulse the while.

"A believe ye're richt," he replied lugubriously, "what wi' malaria an'
muskitties, an' Cheeniemen----"

He broke down, and sought sympathy from his compatriot, who was
leisurely chewing quinine tabloids with an air of relish.

"Dinna be nervish, ma man," cheerfully spoke that worthy, "an' aye keep
in mind that A'll mak' ye a bonnie moniment when A gang hame; a rale
bonnie moniment, wi' a maist splendiferous inscreeption. Hoo would this
look, for instance?" Here he struck an attitude, and recited solemnly:
"Errected tae the memory o' puir auld Stewart