towards Mark,
touched his gold ornaments again, and then snatched his spear from a
companion who had been holding it, and touched the two ferrules that
were beneath the blade and at the end. These with almost lightning-like
movements he touched with index finger, following up the act by touching
the fillet and bangles, and then looking enquiringly in Mark's eyes he
uttered one word.

"Yes," cried Mark, at a venture. "Where do you get it?"

The little fellow's face lit up now with a smile, and drawing himself up
he raised his spear and stood pointing right into the wood.

"I think he understands now," said the doctor. "Look; what does he mean
by that?"

For the little fellow in a series of gazelle-like leaps bounded to first
one and then the other waggon, and came running back with his eyes
flashing, to stand pointing as before right into the depths of the
forest. This done, he made a mark in the sandy earth with the butt of
his spear, and then walking backwards he drew a line as straight as he
could for about fifty yards, keeping parallel with the edge of the
forest, and ending by curving his line round till he reached the first
trees.

"What does he mean by that?" said Mark, as the little fellow came
running back.

"I think I know," said Dean.

"So do I," cried Mark. "Here, Mak, what does this mean?"

The black faced slowly to them from where he had been leaning against
the tree watching as if amused, and raising his spear he walked
importantly to the waggons, touching first one and then the other with
his spear before turning and pointing right into the forest, and ending
by drawing a similar line to that made by the little visitor.

"Well, that's plain enough," said Mark excitedly. "I make it that the
pigmy means that if we want to find the gold we must walk right round
the other side of the forest; but Mak means that this is the way to find
the big stones."

"Big--stones--kopje," cried Mak, nodding his head sharply, and after
pointing again with his spear he slowly described a semi-circle upon the
earth.

"Yes, I think you are right," said Sir James. "At any rate, doctor, we
may as well try."

"Certainly, sir," said the doctor, laughing. "But it's rather a queer
way of learning our route. I agree with Mark, though, that both Mark
and the pigmy mean the city, only the little fellow tries to tell us
that we shall find the gold there, while Mak means the big stones."

"Big stones!" cried Mak