210 WILD LIFE UNDER THE EQUATOR. 
my waist, and that very morning I felt confident and 
secure. 
After consultation, we concluded that we would fol- 
low the foot-prints to the point they had come from, 
which we did, and at last reached a spot where we saw a 
small canoe tied to a tree. This canoe certainly did not 
belong to any people we knew, and consequently must 
come from some far village situated on the very head- 
waters. of the Ovenga River, and belonged no doubt to 
-those savage and warlike Bakalai ighaliing that wild 
mountainous region. 
Our great object was to prevent them from following 
our tracks, and thus finding our camp. What was to be 
done? 
Our foot-prints were mixed with theirs, and my shoes 
had left unmistakable marks of their heels and soles, and 
I wondered what those fellows would think in seein 
them. My only hope was that they, would be seized 
with terror, and that in those marks they might see the 
tokens of a mighty spirit. 
Close by, entering into that creek, there was a beauti- 
ful little rivulet of clear water, whose pebbly bed sug- 
gested to me that we had better’ follow its course, and 
then make a short cut and find our way the best we 
could. 
Another idea occurred to me that Querlaouen and I 
had better ascend some tree not far off, and wait and see 
really who these men were. 
So we ascended the pebbly stream, leaving no marks 
behind us, and then made for the forest again, and pro- 
ceeded almost to the spot where the canoe was. Not far 
from there were two short trees, the thick foliage of 
