contemplation.  It appeared impossible that so sweet, secluded a spot could be the habitation of savages, vengeful and cruel.  Yet those black, moving dots down yonder, clustering in front of the various lodges, I knew were naked heathen, blood-thirsty and vindictive.  Now that the earliest rays of sunlight were beginning to tinge with gold the crest above me, every expectant face in the tribe would be upturned toward my perch, wondering at the slightest delay in their morning signal.  My eyes becoming accustomed to the distance, could even distinguish those faint sparks of light where the priests below gathered before the great altar-house to wave back response.  If we would live for even another day there must be no failure now.  Nerving myself for the task, I stepped forth on to the narrow shelf—­no more than the merest black dot to the watching eyes beneath—­and flung forth the flaming torch in fiery welcome to the Sun.  A shrill cry from the throats far below reached my ears in the merest thread of sound, yet before I drew back from the edge, I witnessed a responsive signal of flame from the mound summit, and inferred that no suspicion had been aroused in the minds of the guardians of these heathen rites.  Satisfied of our present safety I walked back to the great chamber, and beheld the old priest and Cairnes glaring angrily at each other, while the latter nursed his leg so tenderly as to make me apprehensive of further trouble having arisen between them.

“What now, brother Cairnes?” I questioned in some anxiety, noting as I came nearer stains of fresh blood on his hose.

“Yonder black-faced cannibal buried his teeth in my calf,” he growled gloomily.  “Saints of Israel!  I did merely lean over seeking another bit of meat, when he fastened on to me in that fashion, and hung there like a bull-dog until I choked him loose.  ’Tis my vote we kill the ungodly man-eater, who has already feasted off your hand and my leg.”

The energetic movement of his red head clearly evidenced the sincerity of his feelings, yet it was not in my heart to avenge our wrongs upon a helpless prisoner.

“No, friend; we are white, not red.  The pain will pass presently, and it would not be a Christian act to dispose thus of one bound in our hands.  I will give him other food to chew upon, then make fast his mouth while we go together and search out the secrets of this hole.  It will be best to discover early whether this varlet speaks true or false as to the chances of escape.  Hand over here the meat and water.”

I endeavored to question the fellow further while he sullenly partook of the food offered, but he gave back merely short, uncivil answers, and those of little value.  Finally, despairing of learning more from such a source, we securely bucked the sullen fool, rolled his body close against the wall out of sight of any chance visitant, and then made preparation to explore our prison-house and discover for ourselves