Part 19 (1/2)

”Pongo,” nodded the dwarf, and Burt gave up trying to talk to him

Noo of the men darted ahead at a fast run For another halfthe river bank Then the forest ended suddenly

”Here we are!” cried Critch

Before thee of the white dwarfs As Captain Montenay had said, it was a very large one Despite their plight, the boys looked eagerly for the hut of Pongo

”There she is!” exclaiave a cry Off to their left, ale of the trees and soe hut surrounded by soray in the sunset Their attention was soon draay froe and out poured the tribe to welcouess, there were soate of the zareba as they came up

Mbopo saluted theether and pushed through the crowd Behind the warriors and inside the zareba was a still larger asseateway, the boys found themselves in the presence of the chief, no doubt the same whom Montenay so disliked, for he was an old and shriveled man whose countenance boded ill for the two captive youths

Clad in a splendid leopard-skin robe, he was seated on a pile of skins

Ranged behind hier than most of their fellows, and at one side were a dozen s As the party ca up a roaring clamor that amazed the two boys

Mbopo fell on his face before the chief, and the others of the party after hilittering eyes of the old chief while he listened to Mbopo's recital At its conclusion he motioned to the latter to rise, and said a feords The young dwarf replied and see to his feet in a fla his arm, he pointed toward the separate hut, and both boys distinctly caught the one word ”Pongo” At a sharp command Mbopo and another dwarf jerked the boys and led the the hih of relief on some skins, ”the old boy certainly has it in for us He ain't exactly a nice specimen, is he?”

”Notto sleep, Burt I'm too tired to care what happens”

Burt stretched out likewise and immediately was lost in slumber The day's trip had been a hard one indeed, and neither boy was able to resist the chance to snatch a little rest When they awoke they were in darkness, and the voice of Mbopo was in their ears

”All right,” gru ood,” ca accustoht flickered in through the entrance By this they saw the forourd containing a sweetish drink ot out his ht, by which they found it was nearly eight o'clock They had been sleeping only three hours, but even that small amount of rest had refreshed them wonderfully, and the food and drink made new boys of them

When they had finished the last scrap, Mbopo roan, for his muscles were stiff and sore, and a moment later they were outside Here they could see a nu in a vacant space near the thorn zareba, and toward this Mbopo led theo runted Burt

”Shut up,” ordered Critch ”Our friend's got a notion in his head that we're here to kill the lion, I'll bet a dollar Say, going to stand for that branding stunt?”

”Not if I know it,” cah See what turns up”

”No talkee,” cautioned their guide They drew near the fires, and saw that the whole tribe was gathered around in a see feast In the center of this semicircle, not far fros, the toreat awe of the wizened potentate, fell on his face in salute Once more the boys calmly met the evil black eyes that stared at thelare of the chief

After a few ave a sharp order A dozen feet distant stood a s soht forward a long thin object that sent a thrill through Burt It was a rudely-fashi+oned branding iron

The warrior thrust one end into the fire Burt moved closer to his chum, with fists clenched He kneell how useless it would be to put up any fight, but he was deterle The old chief save ato the shoulder of the boys, stepped forith axes ready

”No use, old man,” said Critch quietly ”We'll have to take our uess”

The four warriors led the boys to the fire One of them reached up and deliberately tore Burt's tattered shi+rt from his shoulder The pale-faced boy made no move to resist, and next moment the white-hot iron was taken from the fire, and the tom-toms rolled forth their thunder

But at that instant even the noise of the great dru roar that turned the eyes of all upon the thorn wall The startled boys saw the latter bend, there came another terrific roar, then the stout thorn zareba was burst apart and into the enclosure rolled the form of an immense lion!