Part 52 (1/2)

He applied hi the boy round, and when he looked up again the wolanced around hi into a noble vault, lit up froh a fissure in the roof Opposite to where he stood, and a little above, the river ereen slide, to break into white where it fell upon the rocks before its headlong rush at his feet

In the rock above the point where the river eed there were several round holes, and at intervals of a few seconds, coluh these with loud reports They shot far out, then broke into fine spray, on which the light produced wonderful colour effects He could scarcely take his eyes off these blow- holes, so strange, so fascinating was the sight, and it was only the faint sound of a sigh that called his attention to his patient

CHAPTER XXI

A VOICE FROM THE DEAD

Coave it to hi over the leaves, closely filled with neatly written handwriting interspersed with e from the dead--a priceless treasure; and as he read and sa valuable it was as a record of close and intelligent observation in a new field, he was seized with an eagerness to be off with it out of the wilderness He hurried to the cave, but, of course, there was no one there Then, still carrying the priceless book, he ran on to the gorge, where the warriors whose task it was to guard that part were gathering Soths of cotton, and drew his attention to theonya one had noticed the great chief and the Spider enter the gorge

”And it is not meet,” they added, ”that we should seek to find out where the chiefs had gone, since the place beloas taboo”

”It is well,” said Compton; and he returned to the cave to ith as much patience as he could suone down to the pool in search of theboat

The afternoon, however, passed quickly, for he was poring over the Journal, and it was almost dark when a step without attracted his attention

”I say,” he shouted, ”co who entered, but the chiefs mother She looked tired, and her short skirt was stained with mud and moss

”Halloa, it's you, is it?”

She squatted before the fire with her eyes on the book ”Ye will make medicine now, son of the wise man Ye will teach our men how to build swift boats, and how to make the 'fire that kills”

”You are wet; you have been in the water”

”Oh! it is a little thing”

”I thought you were the great one, or the Spider I have not seen theone a journey What says the medicine?”

”It says that until they return safe as when they went, it will not speak,” said Co in his ain, son of s be done that s?”

”I have said The things that willout--the swift canoes and the shooting fire That is my word”

”And this is my word If any injury befall them, the ainst yon and yours”

He looked at her very sternly, atteed fro had happened to his friends

”Wow! Are my people so few that a boy can talk to ers

”And what stand would you and your people have onyareat one is not at hand to help?”