AT THE VILLAGE. 785 



faces of the Africans showing their wonderment and awe too plainly to be 

 mistaken. 



"What does he say?" asked Jack of Pongo, who bowed his head in recognition 

 of something just uttered by the leader of the six, upon whom and the white men 

 the women and children of the little settlement were gazing with wondering 

 curiosity. 



" He says he is glad to welcome their brothers from over the sea, and hopes 

 they will always live with him." 



" That's about the size of the usual lie a civilized person tells, when some one 

 calls that he don't want to see. Well, Pongo, it won't do to slight him by telling a 

 yarn any smaller than his. Say that that's just what we've been dying to do ever 

 since we were born ; that we've called to see what arrangements we can make, and 

 that we love all the Korahs here enough to eat them." 



The Bushman indulged in a faint smile and shook his head ; that kind of a 

 response would not do. 



"Well, you know about what should be said ; I'll leave it to you." 



Thereupon Pongo turned about and exchanged several sentences with his 

 countrymen, who were evidently surprised to see one of their own number, as he 

 might be called, among the visitors. 



Turning to the Texan, the Bushman explained' that what had passed between 

 him and the Korah leader was of little real significance, consisting mainly of high- 

 flown compliments and protestations of friendship, which deceived neither party. 



" I guess we might as well come to the p'int," remarked the Texan, glancing 

 'round at Mr. Godkin and Bob for their approval ; "tell them, Pongo, that we thank 

 them for their kindness to one of us, and we have come to take him back to our 

 camp." 



The three whites watched the countenance of the leader as this message was 

 interpreted to him. 



A block of stone could not have been more expressionless. Then, when the 

 slow-speaking Bushman had finished what he had to say, the Koruh looked up and 

 spoke hastily to the effect that neither he nor any of his people had ever looked 

 upon a white person until that day. 



"Tell him he's a liar and I'll prove it I " exclaimed the Texan, losing his temper. 



"Go slow, Jack," said Mr. Godkin, soothingly ; " we'll be as resolute as neces- 

 sary, but you know that sort of language is unparliamentary." 



"Say to him, then," added Jack, "that we know the young gentleman is here, 

 that he is in one of those huts over yonder, and that if he isn't produced p. d. q 

 I mean within five minutes we'll clean out this whole shebang." 



The substance of which was duly translated to the spokesman of the Korahs. 



