ink they ask us to league against some enemy."

'"I like this not," said Witta, of a sudden. "Back into midstream."

'So we did, and sat still all, watching the black folk and the gold they
piled on the bank. Again we heard drums beat in the forest, and the people
fled to their huts, leaving the gold unguarded.

'Then Hugh, at the bows, pointed without speech, and we saw a great Devil
come out of the forest. He shaded his brows with his hand, and moistened
his pink tongue between his lips--thus.'

'A Devil!' said Dan, delightfully horrified.

'Yea. Taller than a man; covered with reddish hair. When he had well
regarded our ship, he beat on his chest with his fists till it sounded
like rolling drums, and came to the bank swinging all his body between his
long arms, and gnashed his teeth at us. Hugh loosed arrow, and pierced him
through the throat. He fell roaring, and three other Devils ran out of the
forest and hauled him into a tall tree out of sight. Anon they cast down
the blood-stained arrow, and lamented together among the leaves. Witta saw
the gold on the bank; he was loath to leave it. "Sirs," said he (no man
had spoken till then), "yonder is that we have come so far and so
painfully to find, laid out to our very hand. Let us row in while these
Devils bewail themselves, and at least bear off what we may."

'Bold as a wolf, cunning as a fox was Witta! He set four archers on the
foredeck to shoot the Devils if they should leap from the tree, which was
close to the bank. He manned ten oars a side, and bade them watch his hand
to row in or back out, and so coaxed he them toward the bank. But none
would set foot ashore, though the gold was within ten paces. No man is
hasty to his hanging. They whimpered at their oars like beaten hounds, and
Witta bit his fingers for rage.

'Said Hugh of a sudden, "Hark!" At first we thought it was the buzzing of
the glittering flies on the water, but it grew loud and fierce, so that
all men heard.'

'What?' said Dan and Una.

'It was the sword.' Sir Richard patted the smooth hilt. 'It sang as a Dane
sings before battle. "I go," said Hugh, and he leaped from the bows and
fell among the gold. I was afraid to my four bones' marrow, but for
shame's sake I followed, and Thorkild of Borkum leaped after me. None
other came. "Blame me not," cried Witta behind us, "I must abide by my
ship." We three had no time to blame or praise. We stooped to the gold and
threw it back over our shou