ccustomed to play
some strange freak in this almost unknown part of the world.

The king and his daughter Ariel had complexions as fair as the natives
of Georgia and Persia, and yet Ziffak, a full brother of Haffgo, was as
ebon-tinted as the darkest warrior of the tribe. Since the features of
all were similar in a general way the cause was one that could not be
explained.

It was a moment when the new-comers fully appreciated the value of a
friend at court. They felt that had each possessed a dozen repeating
Winchesters they would have been of no avail after leaving their canoe
and entering the village. They had now placed their lives in the hands
of Ziffak, and, should he choose to desert them, they were doomed; it
was too late to retreat.

Many of the warriors scowled at the white men and their two helpers as
though they would have been glad to impale them with their spears, but
no demonstration was made. Evidently Ziffak possessed unlimited power
and was backed by the pledge of the king.

Professor Grimcke was the first to step ashore, Ashman and Long
following immediately. The three whites formed abreast, while Bippo
and Pedros covered [Transcriber's note: cowered?] so close that it was
hard for them to keep from stepping on their heels. Ziffak placed
himself at the head, as the escort, and moved up the sloping bank with
the dignity of a conqueror.

The women, showed more taste in their dress, for all wore loose-fitting
gowns of native cloth, gaudily colored, though the children were
attired similarly to the men, with little more than a breech cloth
about the loins. Even the boys of a most tender age were each armed
with a javelin, none of them, however, having the points of the weapons
poisoned as did their fathers and elders when on the war-path.

Another striking characteristic of these people was the abundance of
gold and diamond ornaments. Not a woman was visible from whose ears
were not suspended heavy rings of the precious metal, while the
majority had diamonds fastened in the gold, all of several carats'
weight, and some so large and brilliant that they would have sold for
immense sums in a civilized country.

The older females had not only rings hanging from their ears, but still
more valuable ornaments depended from their noses. It would have
enriched an army to loot the Murhapa village.

Each of the whites carried his Winchester, and Bippo and Pedros did not
forget their almost harmless