CHAPTER XXVI. 
IN THE WILD FOREST.—HOSTILE TRIBES.—AN INTRENCHED 
CAMP.—FORAYS FOR PROVISIONS. 
T Am in the midst of the densest and wildest part of the 
forest, situated not far from the Ashankolo Mountains. 
Who are these three wild-looking men that are with 
me? | 
They are Querlaouen, Malaouen, and Gambo. 
What are we doing seated on the ground, each one of 
us seeming so thoughtful? 
We are holding a grand council. 
The country to which we have come is a very danger- 
ous one, for war is raging in the Ashankolo land; and 
though the Ovenga River lies between us and the Ashan- 
kola people, and though we are at a good distance from 
_ them, we do not feel safe. They might come to hunt in 
this very region. The Bakalais of the Ovenga were at 
war with them, or rather the Ashankolo had declared war 
against the people of the Ovenga, and had killed two men 
a few weeks before belonging to the village of a chief 
called Anguilai. 
We ran the chance of being killed at night when 
asleep if these fellows discovered where we were; and 
during the day they might lie in ambush for us, or they 
might go and fetch a great number of people to attack 
us. 
