surroundings. The former seemed to be nothing more than
rude huts with rounded thatched roofs covered by saplings. The flyers
saw many dark figures, with little or no garb, running about and
excitedly gesticulating upward to their position. As they circled
lower, these figures, evidently natives, suddenly vanished within their
abodes.

"They seem scared to death of us," remarked Paul, laughing.

"Apparently they think the Sky-Bird is some gigantic member of the
feathered kingdom about to swoop down and devour them for their sins,"
added Paul, who was equally amused. "Pete Deveaux and his crowd ought
to have landed here some time this morning, though, and you would think
the sight of their machine taking on gas would have gotten the blacks
used to an airplane."

Be that as it may, every one of the dusky figures below had vanished as
though the earth had swallowed them up. A strange if not foreboding
stillness hung over the town. You would have thought it contained not
a single being, at least not one who was awake.

All at once John, who had been intently looking around the outskirts of
the town, observed an open spot marked with the welcome sign of a white
T. He joyfully called the attention of his comrades to this, and as
they looked they saw the form of a man emerge from the shadows
bordering the field and wave his arms upward at them. From the fact
that this person was attired in European costume, they judged he must
be Mr. MacInnis, the Scotch trader who had been appointed to look after
their fuel interests at this point.

It was a novel experience to be able to make a landing unhampered by
throngs of curious inhabitants, as they now did. The field was quite
level, though sandy, as might be expected so close to the big desert,
and they had to dodge several clumps of small growths, presumably juju
trees, before they could taxi to a stop.

The man in linen now rushed up to them, and introduced himself as Mr.
MacInnis. He hurriedly shook hands with the boys, displaying, they
thought, great nervousness while greeting them, and several times he
turned his head and looked in the direction of the nearest shacks of
the town.

Then he asked what they thought a very queer question. "Have you
fellows enough petrol and oil to last you through to your next stop?"

"That's Aden," answered John; "we didn't fill to capacity at Freetown,
and I'm afraid not. Why, what is the matter? Haven't you any fuel
here fo