I04 THE WOODLANDS ORCHIDS 



hunting-ground for collectors, but he only mentions the 

 fact to explain his imprudence in leaving Leboeuf for some 

 hours. The latter woke, found himself quite alone — for all 

 the servants were merry-making, of course — and he also 

 started off collecting. Unfortunately he traversed the 

 village. And some of the chiefs took him in a friendly 

 spirit to the barrel under the tree. 



Wilson was returning — happy with a load of new orchids 

 maybe — when he heard a shot, followed by a clamour of 

 young voices. Next instant a swarm of children burst from 

 the forest, and ran screaming across the open ground. 

 Wilson had heard that cry before. His blood chilled. If 

 the men of the other village were furious, how would it be 

 with these drunken savages ! He hurried to the spot whence 

 the children had emerged. 



As their voices died away he became conscious of shout- 

 ing — an exultant tone. It was Leboeuf. They met in the 

 outskirts of the wood. At sight of Wilson he bawled — 



' Hi, young un ! got any weeds to sell ? Give you 

 tuppence for the lot. Pretty flowers — all a-blowing and 

 a-growing ! Take 'em to the missus ! The ladies loves 

 you chaps. I say, what'll old Cutter look like when he sees 

 l/iat ? ' Leboeuf threw down an animal which he carried on 

 his shoulder, and danced round it, shouting and laughing. 



It was a small creature, brownish-grey, with enormous 

 ears very human in shape, long skeleton hands, and a bushy 

 tail thicker than a lady's boa. By that and the ears Wilson 

 recognised the Madagascar sloth, rarest of all animals then 

 in museums, and very rare still. He had no particular 

 reason to suspect that the natives reverenced it, but a beast 

 so eerie in appearance and habits might well be thought 

 sacred. 



He implored Leboeuf to leave it and come away ; 

 Leboeuf did not even listen. After dancing and roaring 



