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Updated: September 19, 2025
The fire was put out, and presently two figures appeared within the range of the bull's-eye lantern a woman and the jackal. The woman halted to speak a few words to Muata, then she put a hand on the hunter's shoulder and peered into his face. She laughed and said something. "What says the wise woman, Muata?" "Lion not gorilla. Haw!
And while they rested in the afternoon, Muata came out of the gorge chanting his song of triumph at the head of the picked warriors who had gone down into the forest to hang on the trail of the wild men.
Looking back, they saw the fire spring up at the appointed landing-place, and, listening intently, they caught the crackling of the burning wood. "They move," said Muata.
"I never recognized the beggar," said Venning, "and even now I cannot recall a feature that was like the Zanzibar! How did you discover him, Muata?" "Wow! He wore nothing in his ears, there were no marks on his body, he had rubbed the dark juice of the chewing-leaf over his skin, and there was a lie on his tongue, and in his eyes. Ho! white men, this is my word, that we fall on them to-night."
It would be a real treat to have space enough for a trot. But, I say, it is time you two slept." "That is just what I have been thinking," said Mr. Hume. The two boys took the levers, but Muata declined to rest. He said there were two openings leading from the lagoon to the hills one a broad channel, commonly used, the other a smaller channel.
Venning looked at the chief with curiosity. "Are there many wizards in the forest, Muata?" he asked with a smile. "By day and night, many; but most by night. Our people will not venture forth in the darkness of the forest for fear of the wizards and the bad spirits that watch from behind the trees and follow stealthily; but a spell was given to Muata. He could walk in the night."
More than this the old man could not say, and presently he fell asleep; but from the wild man Muata learnt that his mother had indeed been at the village. "And you will want to leave us, chief?" said Mr. Hume, when the story had been straightened out. "Ow aye. Shall a son leave the mother who bore him through the dangers of the wood? I will follow;" and his eyes lingered on the Ghoorka knife.
Hume sailed the Okapi single-handed, taking her across the lake-like width till he was under the wooded hills of the south bank, where he beat about for an hour or so in the hope that Muata might have covered the distance at the native's trotting-pace.
You will shout and rejoice. I know. I was young, too, and I also came through the dark way." "Where now, Muata?" asked the hunter. "If the great one cares to leave the canoe, we could reach the top to-night, and sleep far above the woods. None come here. The water is 'taboo, and the boat would be safe." "Let us go up," urged Compton.
Hassan comes hither in the morning, and with these eaters of men, these jackals of the wood, he will go on his way." "I see," said Mr. Hume, slowly. "They are not on our trail." "Let us go for them now," said Compton, who had been eagerly listening. Muata paid no heed to the words. "There must be a new plan, chief," said Mr. Hume. "And what says the great one?"
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