preserved their armed neutrality, all would be well enough, but at the
first sign of hostility he advocated opening fire on them.

Perhaps he was right in the declaration that anything like timidity in
dealing with savages is the worst possible course. While the rights of
every barbarian should be respected, it is all important that he should
know that such concession is made not through fear, but because the
superior party wishes to be just and merciful.

The natives stood as motionless as statues for several minutes, during
which the white men scrutinized them with an interest that may be
imagined.

The first and most natural thought of our friends was that an encounter
could be avoided by entering the forest on the right and passing round
the savages, who, it was quite apparent, intended to dispute their
return; but if such was really their purpose, they would have little
trouble in heading off the whites in the dense wood, beside which, for
the weighty reasons already named, it would have been exceedingly
unwise to act as though afraid of the dusky natives.

Despite Long's protest, the Professor decided to make a friendly
advance, being vigilantly on his guard at the same time for the first
offensive move of the savages. He carried his Winchester in one hand,
while he rested the other on his revolver. He was determined, while
hoping for comity, to be prepared for hostility or treachery.

Long was so dissatisfied with the looks of things, that he followed his
friend a few paces, then halting with his Winchester ready for any
emergency, and certain in his own mind that a sharp fight was