us apprised the others of our approach, whereupon they
hastily rose from the fire and spread out so that on our nearing them we
were immediately surrounded.

"Hassan," said Denviers, "tell these grinning niggers that we mean to go
no farther until they have provided us with food."

The Arab managed to make himself understood, for the savage who had led
us into the snare pointed to one of the caverns which ran off from the
main grotto, and said:--

"Sports of the ocean current, which brought ye into the way whence ye
may see the Great Tamil, enter there and food shall be given to ye."

We entered the place pointed out with considerable misgivings, for we
had not forgotten the plot of the Hindu fakir. We could see very little
of its interior, which was only partly lighted by the torch which the
Tamil still carried affixed to his spear. He left us there for a few
minutes, during which we rested on the limestone floor, and, being
unable to distinguish any part of the cavern around us, we watched the
entry closely, fearing attack. The shadows of many spears were flung
before us by the torch, and, concluding that we were being carefully
guarded, we decided to await quietly the Tamil's return. The much-needed
food was at length brought to us, and consisted of charred fragments of
fish, in addition to some fruit, which served us instead of water, for
none of the last was given to us. The savage contemptuously threw what
he had brought at our feet, and then departed. Being anxious to escape,
we ventured to approach again the entrance of the cavern, but found
ourselves immediately confronted by a dozen blacks, who held their
spears in a threatening manner as they glared fiercely at us, and
uttered a warning exclamation.

"Back to the cave!" they cried, and thinking that it would be unwise for
us to endeavour to fight our way through them till day dawned, we
returned reluctantly, and threw ourselves down where we had rested
before. After some time, the Tamil who evidently looked upon us as his
own prisoners entered the cavern, and with a shrill laugh motioned to us
to follow him. We rose, and re-entering the grotto, were led by the
savage through it, until at last we stood confronting a being at whom we
gazed in amazement for some few minutes.

Impassive and motionless, the one whom we faced rested upon a curiously
carved throne of state. One hand of the monarch held a spear, the butt
end of which rested upon the ground, whi