lligent and well-formed. He had a row of cicatrices down
each cheek like his fellows and wore a leopard skin hung across his
shoulders.

"Mbopo help," he asserted. "How Buburika?"

"Him good," replied Critch. "Good name for Cap'n Mac, ain't it, Burt?
What are your people going to do with us, Mbopo?"

"White boys ju-ju," replied Mbopo. "Give Pongo."

"Is that the lion Buburika laid out?" exclaimed Burt. The pigmy looked
blank and Burt repeated his question.

"Him lion," nodded the other. "Maybe him scared you too. Him scared
white skin. Scared Buburika. What? Mbopo help. Aye, vera good."

The concluding words sent a twinkle into the boys' eyes but they were
careful not to laugh. The very tone was an exact imitation of Montenay's
voice.

"You bet that's good," replied Critch. "Can you get one o' them bang
bangs? Guns?" He made the motion of shooting but Mbopo shook his head
decisively.

"No got. Him stay here." The pigmy pointed to the chief's hut. "Come.
We go. No fash yerself--Mbopo help!"

Barely able to repress their laughter at the comical imitation of
Captain Mac, the boys rose and Mbopo patted their hands encouragingly.
He clicked and his men appeared from different directions. The boys saw
that their guns were left behind.

"That don't look encouraging--" began Critch but Mbopo stopped him with
a warning "no talkee" and the march was again taken up through the
jungle. A number of black dwarfs accompanied them this time and the boys
were amazed at the agility with which the little men swung through the
trees or cleared a path through the jungle growths. They seemed
perfectly confident that their captives would not try to escape. Both
boys realized how useless it would be and had not even discussed the
idea.

At nightfall they halted in a third Wambuti village. On the way the
party of hunters with them brought in a wart hog and a small gazelle. On
these the village feasted that night. There were no more bananas or
plantains but plenty of the ground beans and some manioc and nuts like
chestnuts which the pigmies ate voraciously but which did not appeal to
the boys.

They were left unguarded that night and tried to sleep in the open
beside a fire. The insects proved too much for them, however, and they
were glad to seek the shelter of a hut, cramped as it was. As their
belongings had not been taken, with the exception of their weapons,
Critch still had his compass. That evening they discussed the cours