Several people who had gone to see about their fires rushed, yelling, across the square to the bank.
"It was as I said," shouted the old black hunter.

"See where he creeps down-stream on the bull." "Wow! he has hidden the canoe in leaves.

It is as a tree floating." "Ow ay, we smell meat!" sang a big man, stamping his feet.
"We smell meat--red meat, fat meat; the red meat of the fat cow for the women; the tough meat of the old bull for the men;" and the women clapped their hands.
The Belgian officers were awakened, and stepped out of their darkened rooms.

They found the village empty, save for Venning stooping over his last parcel, and Muata at his post with what looked like a yellow native our lying at his feet.
"The bull opens his mouth!" chanted the old hunter.

"He wakes from his sleep! There is the smell of man on the wind! He looks around! He sees a tree borne on the current! He will surely eat lead!" Venning picked up his parcel and followed the officers.