Dead Man's Land Part 40

"Might or might not," said the doctor.

"Yes," said Mark, who seemed very thoughtful, "and I might or might not be right if I said that I believe it isn't bra.s.s but gold."

"What!" cried the doctor. "Nonsense!"

Mark seemed as if he did not hear the doctor's contemptuous words, while his cousin, startled by Mark's suggestion, now said eagerly, "And there are those two bits like ferrules about the chiefs spear. They are not bra.s.s wire."

"No," said the doctor, "but they might be thicker pieces beaten out into ferrules. But really, boys, you have started a curious train of thought. I hardly noticed the bangles; I was so much occupied with the little fellow's wound. It might be what you say. I wish you had spoken before. It is a most interesting suggestion. Well, it isn't worth while to go after them, and we will examine them closely to-morrow morning."

"But you said that we were going away to-day," said Mark.

"Yes," replied the doctor, "but we are not obliged, and--really, this is interesting. It opens up quite a train of thought. Here, we will talk it over with Sir James at breakfast."

It was talked over quietly during the meal, and the party stayed that day, while the next morning both boys were awake before daylight and on the look out, with Mak, for the coming of the little strangers. But there was no sign of the tiny black chief and his men.

"They won't come," said Mark impatiently, "and we have let the chance slip by of finding out something very interesting."

"But we don't want to find out anything about gold," said Dean, with a ring of contempt in his words.

"No," said Mark, "but I should have liked to have found out that it was gold, all the same. Well," continued the boy, "that little chap has done with the doctor, and there will be no more bandaging."

"And no more of those big birds, unless we shoot them ourselves," said Dean.

"Wrong!" cried Mark excitedly. "Here they are!"

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO.

A RICH DISCOVERY.

Dean Roche started in his excitement, for as his cousin spoke he saw that Mak, who had been waiting near, stood pointing with his spear at the little party of pigmies who were winding through the bushes and low growth at the forest edge, the little chief at their head, followed by four of his men bearing a couple of little antelopes swinging from spears, while behind them were two pigmies carrying what seemed to be a sort of creel, in which was their wounded fellow.

"I say, look!" cried Dean. "He must be better."

"Go and tell the doctor, Mak," said Mark, and then as Mak strode off, "I am glad they have come," cried Dean.

"Yes. We must tell the doctor to look at the bra.s.s bangles," said Mark.

"They are not bra.s.s," cried Dean. "I am sure they are gold."

The doctor came out, meeting the messenger, and Dan, who was on the watch, followed him with what was required.

The necessary attention to the wound followed, and the doctor quite excitedly pointed out with what wonderful rapidity the terrible injury was healing up.

"There," he suddenly cried, turning to the little chief, who stood leaning upon his spear, "you need not bring your friend any more, for we are going away."

The little fellow gazed up wonderingly in his eyes, and Mark burst out laughing.

"What does that mean?" cried the doctor sharply, but without moving his eyes from the pale yellow ring that encircled the pigmy's brow. Then lowering his eyes he searchingly looked at the bangles on wrist and arm.

"Do you hear what I said? What does that mean?" he asked.

"I was laughing at you for speaking so seriously," said Mark. "He can't understand a word."

"Of course not," said the doctor. "Why, Mark," he cried, "I believe you are right, boy."

"That it is not bra.s.s?" said Mark excitedly.

"That it is not bra.s.s," replied the doctor. "Where can they obtain it?"

"Not in the woods, surely," said Mark.

"Oh, here's your father," said the doctor, as Sir James came towards them from the waggon.

"Look at these bangles, sir," continued the doctor, "and the band round this little fellow's head. What do you say they are?"

Sir James looked at the yellow objects attentively.

"They cannot be bra.s.s," he said decisively, "or in the moisture of that forest they would have tarnished. Why, boys, we didn't come hunting for the precious metal, but we have found it, all the same."

"Yes, there's no doubt of it," said the doctor. "Well, the ancients must have obtained plenty of gold somewhere, and they are supposed to have built a big city in this direction. I feel disposed to put these things together and to say that this city must exist, and that these little fellows must have found their gold ornaments somewhere there.

What can we do to find out from them where they obtained the gold?"

"Ask them, sir," said Mark.

"How?"

"I don't know," said Mark; "but I will try."

"Well, go on," said Sir James.

Mark looked doubtfully at his father for a few moments, and then turned his eyes upon his cousin, as if for help; but Dean only shook his head.

"Well, go on," said the doctor.

"It is all very well to say, Go on, sir," retorted Mark, "but it isn't a Latin exercise, and it isn't an equation. I don't know how to begin."

Then as a thought struck him he bent down to the little chief and touched his bangles and armlets, finis.h.i.+ng off by placing a finger upon the thin ribbon-like band which bound his forehead.

The little fellow looked at him wonderingly as if he did not understand, and turning to the doctor's patient he said a word or two in a questioning tone.

This was answered in almost a whisper of a couple of monosyllabic words, which resulted in the little chief slipping one wire bangle from his arm and handing it to Mark, the Illaka looking on attentively the while.

Mark shook his head, but the little fellow thrust the bangle into his hand and looked at him enquiringly.

"No, no," said Mark, "I want to know where you get it."

The words had no sooner pa.s.sed the boy's lips than the pigmy s.n.a.t.c.hed off the fellow bangle from above his elbow, and held them both out.