shed together furiously, leaped back and returned to the attack,
while their rolling eyes and thick snarling lips expressed murderous
hatred.

Behind each leader swept the warrior ranks, brandishing their weapons,
guarding with their shields and pretending to attack and retreat in
wild convulsive rhythms.

Their bodies, dripping with sweat, gleamed in the firelight, the whites
of their eyes flashed furiously and foam gathered in the corners of
their mouths as they jerked and writhed in mimic warfare.

All the time the drum kept up its beating, ever faster and wilder, like
the pulse of a fever patient. To this boom-boom-boom was added the
yells and shrieks of the frenzied Kungoras, and above the din rose the
excited chatter of monkeys in the tree tops and the shrill outcries of
parrots and other birds. Even the beasts in the depths of the forest
had caught the tense excitement from afar, and the black jungle echoed
with the roar of lions and the trumpeting of elephants.

"What a night!" gasped Ray, tightening her grasp on Dick.

"It's a grand show!" exclaimed Dan. "Wouldn't miss it for a big league
ball game!"

"Reminds me of the witch-hunt," said Dick in a low voice. "Remember
the night Cimbula was picking out victims for sacrifice?"

"Gee, I thought I was a goner when that black fellow grabbed me," Dan
ejaculated. "Say, let me tell you I have dreamed of that many a night
and started up in a cold sweat."

"That was horrible!" Ray answered. "Every second I expected that
witch-doctor to pounce on me."

"Well, Mahatma," said Dan, "you did a good job to tame those wild
Kungoras. How did you ever teach them to be good? How did you make
them obey you?"

"By the power of the mind," answered the Hindu. "The spirit of the
wise is master of the wildest savage. Watch me, and you shall see."

Fascinated, the two boys and Ray looked on, while the Mahatma leaned
back, closed his eyes and seemed to put the force of his mind upon the
frenzied dancers.

At first there was no response. The dance was more furious than ever.
Then, one at a time, the warriors seemed to come to their senses. Man
after man lowered his weapons, dropped quietly out of the ranks and
returned to squat before the fire, all pausing to make a hasty
prostration in front of the wise man before they sat down.

The Mahatma did not open his eyes until the notes of the big drum had
faded out into silence. By that time all the blacks were seate