re off with the dawn, in high hopes of reaching the lake, for the
water in the stream seemed warmer than usual, though the explorer laid
this to imagination.

The country was open enough for the wagon to proceed without hindrance
at a little way from the vegetation of the river. In the course of the
morning Charlie descried what looked like grass huts ahead, but as they
did not dare leave the wagon it was nearly noon before they came up to
the little village.

"Deserted, of course," exclaimed the General when they drew near.

"Old and broken down, too," added Jack. "They're pretty well covered
with vines and creepers, and that hut over on the left is a--why, all
those mounds are old huts, General!"

Sure enough, at close quarters they saw that scores of little mounds
scattered around had once been huts, fallen to pieces under the attacks
of animals and the weather. The few that were standing had been somewhat
preserved by the shelter of spreading juniper trees overhead, and young
bamboos had sprouted around and inside, thus serving to keep them in
shape.

"Pretty rotten," said Charlie, poking one with his rifle. The grass and
twigs fell at the touch. "They've been deserted for years. But look over
there--that used to be a yam patch, and I'll bet a dollar--"

Without finishing he flung himself from the saddle and ran to an
overgrown stretch of ground, where his quick eye had detected a few yams
growing wild, with a variety of squash. Most of them were trampled or
eaten by animals, but they managed to collect a dozen of each, which
would give a welcome variety of food.

"General!" called out Jack, fifty yards away.

"Come over here, all of you."

He was standing over something on the ground, at the edge of the forest.
When the others arrived, he pointed to an immense buffalo track in the
soft ground.

"There's your giant bull," he said triumphantly. "This is no place for
us, I guess."

"I should say not!" cried Schoverling. "What a brute that fellow must
be! Ever see as big a track, Doctor?"

"Never," and the German wagged his great beard, with a dubious glance
around. "Come, let us go on. Ach, what a country is this!"

An hour later they outspanned for the noon halt. By some subtle warning,
Schoverling led them away from the river to a little bare mound crowned
by a single spreading mimosa, around which the oxen were grouped. Below
on one side, stretched the jungle. On the other, tall grass, reeds and
un