hat could be closed. Whenever the rare occasions arose for
such a sealing of the inhabitants of a house, it was done by means of
furs suspended in front of the entrance.

The white men noted this with quick eyes, and then went back to the
front apartment.

"In the event of attack," said the Professor with the utmost coolness,
"you can take the rear door and I the front."

Long nodded his head; he understood and was ready.

They had hardly entered the front apartment, when both were struck by
the unusual chatter of voices on the outside. There must have been a
large gathering of people who were growing excited about something.

The Professor was about to step into the opening to learn what it
meant, when Bippo burst into the apartment, the picture of fright and
terror.

"Going to kill us!" was his alarming exclamation; "make me run--almost
kill me!"

"Where's Pedros?" asked Long.

"He scared--run into woods--won't come back--run all way to Am'zon!"

"I think he'll have to stop once or twice to get breath before he
reaches there," was the characteristic comment of the Professor, who
standing near the door, listened more closely to the threatening words
and exclamations on the outside.

It sounded singular to recognize more than one expression uttered in
English by these people, who, until a few years before were unaware
that such people were living.

But for the proof Ziffak had given of his loyalty the whites might have
connected his absence with the ugly signs outside; but the confidence
even of Jared Long in his friendship was unshaken.

"Bippo," said the Professor, speaking with the same quiet
self-possession he had shown in the first place, "they are going to
attack us; more than likely we shall be killed, but there is a chance
for you, because you are dressed like these people, and, so long as you
can keep in the shadow, you can pass for one of them; you can slip out
by the opening at the rear without being noticed; steal away, find
Pedros if you can, and leave."

The eyes of the servant seemed to protrude from his head, as he grasped
the fearful meaning of these words. Then, clutching his spear in his
hand, he whisked like a shadow into the rear apartment beyond sight.

Grimcke and Long smiled in each other's face; they could not blame the
fellow for thinking of his own safety.

"The music will begin in a few minutes," added the Professor. "I think
you had better guard the rear; you understan