ut of his hair and stuck the quill end into one of the
buttonholes of his flannel Norfolk jacket.

The little dark face before him was lined with creases, and the flashing
eyes nearly closed, while as he stood unresistingly Mark replaced the
band of gold--for gold it was--about his head, and then taking the
ostrich feather from his breast he thrust the quill beneath the band so
that it hung over on one side with quite a cock.

"There, he looks splendid now," cried Mark, "only don't look so fierce.
Now then--right arm;" and seizing it the boy held it up, thrust one
bangle over it and ran it up the pigmy's plump little arm right above
the elbow, till it was arrested by the tightened biceps.

He served the left arm in the same way, and then sinking on one knee he
caught the sturdy little leg by the ankle, and holding one bangle out
before him thrust it over the little fellow's foot. The next minute the
ornamentation was completed by the thrusting on of the second anklet,
and then Mark sprang up, while the rest looked on, some amused, the
little blacks with their eyes full of wonderment and as if not
comprehending this scene.

"Now," cried Mark, "let's have another try;" and touching the gold rings
one after the other, he said slowly, "Where--find?"

The little chief looked at him questioningly, then at the rest of the
white visitors, and turned to his followers, who looked at him blankly,
all but the doctor's patient, who, seated in his basket--as Dean
afterwards said, as if he were for sale--whispered faintly a couple of
words.

"Can't you understand?" said Mark, and he touched the gold band again
and began a very effective pantomime, running here and there, peeping
under the bushes, peering in between the trees, looking up, then down,
in all directions, dropped upon one knee, to begin scratching up the
sandy earth, which he took up in handfuls and turned over in his hands,
and then shaking his head sadly he turned to the little black again,
crying, "Can't find any; can't find any. The gold--the gold!"

The little party of pigmies stared at him blankly, and then at each
other.

"Well done," said the doctor. "Try again. Capital!"

"No, no," said Mark. "They will think I have gone mad."

"Yes," said Dean, grinning.

"Bah! That settles it; I won't," cried Mark. "Oh, I wish I knew what
that little chap said!" For the doctor's patient whispered something
again, with the result that his little chief bounded