a sling,
before throwing the stone.

To the awed spectators he seemed a black ring of fire, so dizzyingly
swift were the gyrations, from the midst of which came a buzzing moan
of terror.

Only for a second or two was he subjected to this torture. Suddenly
Ziffak ran toward the Xingu and then let go of the ankles. The black,
limp object went spinning far out in the air, as if driven from some
enormous catapult.

Across the remaining space he went, falling several feet from shore and
disappearing beneath the surface. But such fellows are extinguished
with difficulty, and the cold water quickly revived him.

By and by he came up, blew the moisture from his mouth, swam to shore,
climbed timidly out, and, sneaking up the bank again, humbly took his
place at the rear of the procession.

But Ziffak, having disposed of the joker, paid no further attention to
him, caring naught whether he swam or was drowned. The lesson was one
that he would not forget, and produced a salutary effect upon the rest
of the multitude. They instantly fell back so far that Bippo, finding
he had not been seriously hurt, saw that he was safe from further
disturbance.

It was only a few minutes later that Ziffak halted, his friends
immediately doing the same.

The cause was apparent: they had reached the dwelling place of Haffgo
king of the Murhapas.

CHAPTER XXI.

HAFFGO, KING OF THE MURHAPAS.

It was a memorable interview which the explorers held with Haffgo, king
of the mighty Murhapas.

Since Bippo and Pedros were servants, they were not admitted to an
audience with the potentate. Ziffak conducted the others into the hut
adjoining the palace. This was his own building, where his aged mother
had charge. She understood matters from her son, and the frightened
fellows were made to feel that they were safe for a time from the
annoyances and persecutions of the multitude.

The apartment was an oblong one, being at the front, and was
characteristically furnished. Instead of the smooth bare ground which
formed the floors of the other buildings, the palace was entirely
covered with the skins of wild animals, gaudily stained. The whole
looked like a gorgeous, oriental carpet, which was as soft as down to
the tread.

There were no chairs or benches for auditors, for no one presumed to
sit in the presence of majesty. The walls were hung with the same
species of ornamented furs, set off here and there by spears, bows and
arr