It was apparent from his manner that he was on the point of making a communication of importance, but he seemed to change his mind suddenly, and, for a time, spoke upon matters of such trivial account that his listeners were surprised.
The next astonishing thing which he did was to declare that the stories he gave to Ashman the night before, when made a prisoner by him were fables.

There was no enchanted lake in the neighborhood, and his account of the burning mountain was a myth, as were his yarns about the diamonds obtained from the same mountain.
The Professor nodded his head, laughed and said he was glad to be told that; for, while he wished to believe their good friend, when he was in earnest, he found it hard to swallow those marvellous narratives which exceeded anything that had ever come to their ears.
Long and Ashman also expressed great relief at the naive confession of the head chieftain.

All the same, however, not one of them was deceived by the fellow's subterfuge.
They knew that the stories which Ziffak related on the shore of the Xingu were true.

Seized at that time by a burst of confidence, he had unburdened himself to the young man for whom he formed such deep admiration.
Since that time, and especially since his angry interview with his royal brother, he appreciated the grievous mistake he made and was now anxious to recall it.

He, therefore, declared the accounts to be of the Munchausen order.