soon forgot the circumstance,
and, feeling tired, lay down to sleep.

Meanwhile Ongoloo marched away with a body of picked men to station
himself in a narrow pass through which he knew that the invading foe
would have to enter. He was hugely disgusted to be thus compelled to
fight, after he had congratulated himself on having brought the recent
palaver to so peaceful an issue. He resolved, however, only to give his
enemies a serious fright, for he knew full well that if blood should
flow, the old war-spirit would return, and the ancient suspicion and
hatred be revived and intensified. Arranging his plans therefore, with
this end in view, he resolved to take that peaceful, though thieving,
humorist Wapoota, into his secret councils.

Summoning him, after the ambush had been properly arranged and the men
placed, he said,--"Come here, you villain."

Wapoota knew that Ongoloo was not displeased with him by the nature of
his address. He therefore followed, without anxiety, to a retired spot
among the bush-covered rocks.

"You can screech, Wapoota?"

"Yes, chief," answered the ex-thief in some surprise, "I can screech
like a parrot the size of a whale."

"That will do. And you love peace, like me, Wapoota, and hate
bloodshed, though you love thieving."

"True, chief," returned the other, modestly.

"Well then, listen--and if you tell any one what I say to you, I will
squeeze the eyes out of your head, punch the teeth from your jaws, and
extract the oil from your backbone."

Wapoota thought that this was pretty strong for a man who had just
declared his hatred of bloodshed, but he said nothing.

"You know the rock, something in shape like your own nose, at the foot
of this pass?" said Ongoloo.

"I know it, chief."

"Well, go there; hide yourself, and get ready for a screech. When you
see the Ratura dogs come in sight, give it out--once--only once,--and if
you don't screech well, I'll teach you how to do it better afterwards.
Wait then till you hear and see me and my men come rushing down the
track, and _then_ screech a second time. Only once, mind! but let it be
long and strong. You understand? Now--away!"

Like a bolt from a crossbow Wapoota sped. He had not been in hiding two
minutes when the Ratura party came stealthily towards the rock before
mentioned. Wapoota gathered himself up for a supreme effort. The head
of the enemy's column appeared in view--then there burst, as if from the
bosom of s