"Come back
one--two--three. Two die. Sikaso, know."
Before any of the astounded party could frame a question or open
their lips, the huge figure had stalked to the doorway and vanished.
"He'd make a nice, comfortable house-pet that fellow," said Billy,
who was the first to speak. "One, two, three, four, five go to
Bambara," he mimicked. "Come back one, two, three. Two die.
Sikaso know. Br-r-r-r-r, he gives me the creeps."
They all laughed at Billy's absurd aping of the stately negro, but
nevertheless none of them felt inclined for more talk that night.
Somehow, the Krooman had cast a gloom on the party. Had they known
how nearly his prophecy was to come to fulfillment they might even
have been tempted to abandon the expedition.
CHAPTER IV
THE WITCH-DOCTOR
Bright and early the next day Frank and Harry were up and stirring,
and the other members of the party were not long in joining them.
The almost innumerable packing cases and chests containing the
duffle, ammunition, armament and the sections of the Golden Eagle
were scattered about the little "compound" or garden of M.
Desplaines' residence, having been brought ashore overnight by a
crew of Kroomen. M. Desplaines appeared while the boys were still
contemplating their outfit and wondering if it would be possible to
accommodate it all in the little flotilla which, it had been
arranged previously, was to take them up the river to the camping
place from which they were to strike out for the Ivory Mountain.
Pages:
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42