The white man walked slowly. The left hand, which supported his rifle,
remained motionless, but removing the right from his revolver, he
continued making signs, whose friendly meaning was so obvious that it
was impossible for the natives to mistake it.

While approaching in this guarded manner, he Studied them with the
closest scrutiny. Interesting under any circumstances, they were
vastly more so at this time. What struck him in addition to the
characteristics already named, were their frowsy eyebrows and
glittering coal-black eyes. These were unusually large and protruding.
The noses, instead of being broad and flat, like those of the native
Africans, were Roman in shape. The mouths were wide, and, when they
spoke, he observed that the teeth which were displayed were black,
showing that a fashion prevailed among this unknown tribe similar to
that in vogue among many of the natives in the East Indies.

Now, Professor Grimcke was too experienced an explorer to walk directly
into danger, where there was no prospect of avoiding a desperate
encounter. While eager to make friends with all the people whom he
met, he did not intend to assume any unnecessary risks. The demeanor
of the natives tendered it certain they were hostile. They made no
responsive signs to those of the white man, and the latter would have
checked himself half way, but for his suspicion that they were
mystified by his conduct and were undecided as to the precise thing to
do.

He not only heard their peculiar rumbling voices, but saw from the
movements of their lips and their glances in each other's faces, that
they were consulting as to what they should do. The white man was
already so close that he could easily be reached by the bowman, and