all his influence at court could
do, and indeed it was as much as he expected to accomplish. He
admitted that Waggaman and Burkhardt were likely to interfere, but he
did not believe they could do so to any serious extent, provided the
white men themselves were circumspect in their behavior.

While this interesting interchange was going on, the two boats were
side by side, so gently impelled that their progress was moderate and
conversation pleasant. Thinking that the Professor had slept long
enough, and that he ought to know the news, Fred Ashman turned to wake
him; but to his surprise, the German met his look with a smile and the
remark that he had heard every word spoken. Then he rose to a sitting
posture, saluted Ziffak and proceeded to light his pipe.

The latter pleased the whites still further by explaining that he meant
to keep them company for the rest of the distance. Despite his
encouraging statements, they felt much easier with him as their escort.

By using their paddles with moderate vigor, they could reach their
destination by the middle of the afternoon. There was no better hour
to arrive, for the king was always in his best mood after enjoying his
siesta, which was always completed by the time the sun was half-way
down the sky.

It was to be expected also that before that hour, Waggaman and
Burkhardt would spread the news of the expected coming of the wonderful
strangers. They would do what they could, to excite distrust and
enmity, but Ziffak was positive that since his brother had given his
promise, it would be sacredly kept, and that for two days at least
their stay at the village would be without peril to any one of the
little company.

CHAPTER XX.

AT THE MURHAPA VILLAGE.

The sun was half-way down the sky when the canoe containing the
explorers, and accompanied by the smaller craft impelled by Ziffak,
rounded a bend of the upper Xingu and came in sight of the village of
the Murhapas.

The herculean native gave an extra sweep of his paddle which sent his
boat slightly in advance of the other, and, striking the shore, he
sprang out and turned about to wait for them to disembark.

The scene was an impressive one, which every member of the company was
sure to remember the rest of his life.

The huts in which these strange people made their homes were similar in
structure to those of the Aryks, but instead of being built around the
three sides of a rectangle, composed one row, n