Listen!" Both men moved instinctively towards the open part of the hut and looked across towards the village.

Up from the little open space in front of the King's dwelling-house leaped a hissing bright flame; they had kindled a fire, and black forms of men, stark naked and wounding themselves with spears, danced around it and made the air hideous with discordant cries.

The King himself, too drunk to stand, squatted upon the ground with an empty bottle by his side.

A breath of wind brought a strong, noxious odour to the two men who stood watching.

Captain Francis puffed hard at his cigarette.
"Ugh!" he muttered; "beastly!" "You may take my word for it," Trent said gruffly, "that if your two hundred soldiers weren't camped in the bush yonder, you and I and poor Monty would be making sport for them to-night.