re,down-facedlittlechaps,andhadenoughtomakethemso.Itseemsthatthehumansholdonesideofthisplateau—overyonder,whereyousawthecaves—andtheape-menholdthisside,andthereisbloodywarbetweenthemallthetime.That'sthesituation,sofarasIcouldfollowit.Well,yesterdaytheape-mengotholdofadozenofthehumansandbroughttheminasprisoners.Youneverheardsuchajabberin'andshriekin'inyourlife.Themenwerelittleredfellows,andhadbeenbittenandclawedsothattheycouldhardlywalk.Theape-menputtwoofthemtodeaththereandthen—fairlypulledthearmoffoneofthem—itwasperfectlybeastly.Pluckylittlechapstheyare,andhardlygaveasqueak.Butitturnedusabsolutelysick.Summerleefainted,andevenChallengerhadasmuchashecouldstand.Ithinktheyhavecleared,don'tyou?"
Welistenedintently,butnothingsavethecallingofthebirdsbrokethedeeppeaceoftheforest.LordRoxtonwentonwithhisstory.
"Ithinkyouhavehadtheescapeofyourlife,youngfellahmylad.Itwascatchin'thoseIndiansthatputyoucleanoutoftheirheads,elsetheywouldhavebeenbacktothecampforyouassureasfateandgatheredyouin.Ofcourse,asyousaid,theyhavebeenwatchin'usfromthebeginnin'outofthattree,andtheyknewperfectlywellthatwewereoneshort.However,theycouldthinkonlyofthisnewhaulsoitwasI,andnotabunchofapes,thatdroppedinonyouinthemorning.Well,wehadahorridbusinessafterwards.MyGod!whatanightmarethewholethingis!YourememberthegreatbristleofsharpcanesdownbelowwherewefoundtheskeletonoftheAmerican?Well,thatisjustunderape-town,andthat'sthejumpin'-offplaceoftheirprisoners.Iexpectthere'sheapsofskeletonsthere,ifwelookedfor'em.Theyhaveasortofclearparade-groundonthetop,andtheymakeaproperceremonyaboutit.Onebyonethepoordevilshavetojump,andthegameistoseewhethertheyaremerelydashedtopiecesorwhethertheygetskeweredonthecanes.Theytookusouttoseeit,andthewholetribelinedupontheedge.FouroftheIndiansjumped,andthecaneswentthrough'emlikeknittin'needlesthroughapatofbutter.NowonderwefoundthatpoorYankee'sskeletonwiththecanesgrowin'betweenhisribs.Itwashorrible—butitwasdoocedlyinterestin'too.Wewereallfascinatedtoseethemtakethedive,evenwhenwethoughtitwouldbeourturnnextonthespring-board.
"Well,itwasn't.TheykeptsixoftheIndiansupforto-day—that'showIunderstoodit—butIfancyweweretobethestarperformersintheshow.Challengermightgetoff,butSummerleeandIwereinthebill.Theirlanguageismorethanhalfsigns,anditwasnothardtofollowthem.SoIthoughtitwastimewemadeabreakforit.Ihadbeenplottin'itoutabit,andhadoneortwothingsclearinmymind.Itwasallonme,forSummerlee