THE MAGIC PORTALS CLOSE. 411 



the narrow grass valley, we entered the forest 

 the dark, dripping, and unfriendly forest. 

 Over the edge we dropped and clambered down 

 through the hanging vines and the sombre trees. 

 By-and-by, we emerged on the open plains be- 

 low, the plains on the hither side of the Naros- 

 sara, the Africa we had known so long. The 

 rain ceased. It was almost as though a magic 

 portal had clicked after us. Behind it lay the 

 wonderful secret upper country of the unknown. 



