,theroundchest,noneck,agreatruddyfrillofabeard,thetuftedeyebrows,the'Whatdoyouwant,damnyou!'lookabouttheeyes,andthewholecatalogue.Whentheape-manstoodbyChallengerandputhispawonhisshoulder,thethingwascomplete.Summerleewasabithysterical,andhelaughedtillhecried.Theape-menlaughedtoo—oratleasttheyputupthedevilofacacklin'—andtheysettoworktodragusoffthroughtheforest.Theywouldn'ttouchthegunsandthings—thoughtthemdangerous,Iexpect—buttheycarriedawayallourloosefood.SummerleeandIgotsomeroughhandlin'ontheway—there'smyskinandmyclothestoproveit—fortheytookusabee-linethroughthebrambles,andtheirownhidesarelikeleather.ButChallengerwasallright.Fourofthemcarriedhimshoulderhigh,andhewentlikeaRomanemperor.What'sthat?"
Itwasastrangeclickingnoiseinthedistancenotunlikecastanets.
"Theretheygo!"saidmycompanion,slippingcartridgesintotheseconddoublebarrelled"Express.""Loadthemallup,youngfellahmylad,forwe'renotgoingtobetakenalive,anddon'tyouthinkit!That'stherowtheymakewhentheyareexcited.ByGeorge!they'llhavesomethingtoexcitethemiftheyputusup.The'LastStandoftheGrays'won'tbeinit.'Withtheirriflesgraspedintheirstiffenedhands,midaringofthedeadanddyin','assomefatheadsings.Canyouhearthemnow?"
"Veryfaraway."
"Thatlittlelotwilldonogood,butIexpecttheirsearchpartiesarealloverthewood.Well,Iwastellingyoumytaleofwoe.Theygotussoontothistownoftheirs—aboutathousandhutsofbranchesandleavesinagreatgroveoftreesneartheedgeofthecliff.It'sthreeorfourmilesfromhere.Thefilthybeastsfingeredmeallover,andIfeelasifIshouldneverbecleanagain.Theytiedusup—thefellowwhohandledmecouldtielikeabosun—andtherewelaywithourtoesup,beneathatree,whileagreatbrutestoodguardoveruswithaclubinhishand.WhenIsay'we'ImeanSummerleeandmyself.OldChallengerwasupatree,eatin'pinesandhavin'thetimeofhislife.I'mboundtosaythathemanagedtogetsomefruittous,andwithhisownhandsheloosenedourbonds.Ifyou'dseenhimsittingupinthattreehob-nobbin'withhistwinbrother—andsingin'inthatrollin'bassofhis,'Ringout,wildbells,'causemusicofanykindseemedtoput'eminagoodhumor,you'dhavesmiledbutweweren'tinmuchmoodforlaughin',asyoucanguess.Theywereinclined,withinlimits,tolethimdowhatheliked,buttheydrewthelineprettysharplyatus.Itwasamightyconsolationtousalltoknowthatyouwererunnin'looseandhadthearchivesinyourkeepin'.
"Well,now,youngfellah,I'lltellyouwhatwillsurpriseyou.Yousayyousawsignsofmen,andfires,traps,andthelike.Well,wehaveseenthenativesthemselves.Poordevilstheywe