tude in a very awkward
manner as far as I am concerned. However, there is no use talking about
the matter any longer, I'm getting very sleepy, and should be glad to
turn in and get a quiet snooze, after spending the last three nights up
trees."

My companions were ready enough to follow my advice, and we all wrapped
ourselves up in the pieces of matting with which our new friends had
supplied us, and went to sleep.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

WE FIND WE ARE NOT TO BE IDLE--A BUFFALO HUNT--TWO GOOD SHOTS--AGAIN AT
THE BUFFALO--A STRANGE STEED AND RIDER--I SHOOT BOTH, AND SAVE OMBAY'S
LIFE--MUCH BEAUTIFUL GAME--A COMMOTION IN THE VILLAGE--OUR SLEEP
DISTURBED--THE APE SKIN DESTROYED BY THE ANTS--TOM'S PLAN OF ESCAPE--
PRINCE OMBAY SEES THROUGH IT--A GRAND HUNT--A NOVEL USE FOR A NET--KILL
THIRTY HEAD OF GAME--WILL TOM TAKE THE PRINCESS OFF MY HANDS--A
DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE--THE MARRIAGE--A NOISY WEDDING BREAKFAST--A
BARBAROUS DANCE--THE NATIVE IDOLS--NATIVE SUPERSTITIONS--WE DETERMINE TO
MAKE OUR ESCAPE.

We were allowed a day to rest after our long journey, and were supplied
with abundance of food, but we soon found that our entertainers had no
intention that we should eat the bread of idleness. Prince Ombay, as we
called him, came to see us early the second morning after our arrival,
and began talking away at a great rate. We nodded our heads to show
that we were listening, but as we could not understand more than every
tenth word he uttered, Charley summoned Aboh.

"Him say go out hunting, kill big beast horns on head."

"I suppose he means buffalo," observed Charley.

"Or deer," suggested Harry.

"Are the animals he speaks of big and hairy, or slight and thin, with
very long horns?" I inquired of Aboh.

Aboh put his thumbs up above his head, and then with his hands described
a fat animal with long hair, and made a bellowing noise.

"Ah, he means buffalo, there is no doubt about that," observed Charley.
"Tell our friend we shall be happy to accompany him, and if he can show
us the buffalo, we will do our best to shoot them."

Ombay, on this answer being interpreted to him, appeared well satisfied.
Taking his departure, he in a short time returned accompanied by about
twenty young men armed with spears and javelins--the prince and a few of
his companions of more exalted rank having hangers, mostly rather the
worse for wear. We got our guns ready, and a sufficient amount of
ammunition for the day, and placing o