osing to
abide in the mountains until his chief's wrath should have evaporated.

Rambling one day in his mountain refuge, the dishonest savage turned a
jutting point of rock, and suddenly stood face to face with Zeppa. His
jaw dropped, his eyes glared, his knees smote together, and lemon-yellow
took the place of brown-ochre on his cheeks. It was an awkward place of
meeting, for the path, if we may so style it, was a mere ledge, with a
perpendicular cliff on one side, a precipice on the other.

And well might the savage by overcome with fear, on such a spot with
such a man before him, for, in addition to his commanding stature, Zeppa
had now the wild appearance resulting from long untrimmed locks and a
shaggy beard.

Both locks and beard had also changed from black to iron-grey during
these months of lonely wandering. His dress, too, had become much
disordered and ragged, so that altogether his appearance and fierce
aspect were eminently fitted to strike terror to the heart of a more
courageous man than Wapoota, who happened to be rather mild in
disposition.

After the first stare of astonishment he sank on his knees and held up
his hands as if supplicating mercy. But he had nothing to fear from the
maniac.

"My poor fellow," said Zeppa, in English, laying his hand on the
native's head and patting it, "do not fear. I will not harm you."

Of course Wapoota did not understand the words but he fully appreciated
the action, and the lemon-yellow began to fade while the brown-ochre
returned.

Without uttering another word, Zeppa took Wapoota by the hand and led
him to his cave, where he set before him such fruits as remained over
from his last meal, and then, sitting down, gazed abstractedly on the
ground. Wapoota ate from fear of offending his host, rather than
hunger.

When he had finished, Zeppa rose, pointed to his couch at the inner part
of the cave, nodded to him with a kindly smile, and left him.

At first the savage seemed disposed to make off when Zeppa's back was
turned, but when he saw him slowly ascend the hill with his head bowed
down he changed his mind, made some significant grimaces--which we will
not attempt to explain--and lay down to sleep.

On his return, Wapoota tried to enter into conversation with his host
but Zeppa only smiled, patted him gently on the head and shoulder, and
paid no further attention to him. The savage was somewhat overawed by
such treatment.

Observing his host mo