Seeing that they would not return, he heaved the toothsome delicacy at
the lad, who, instead of catching it, knocked it into the river,
whereat the chief became highly excited, and evidently somewhat wroth.
The last they saw of him, he and others were trying to recover it by
the aid of a pole.

"Isn't it horrible?" said Ralph, feeling nauseated at the idea and the
sight. "They seem friendly enough, yet--they eat one another. Pah!"

Duff, at the tiller, laughed. Ben shook his head as he took a fresh
quid.

"Many of these coast tribes are cannibals I've heard," commented the
mate. "In times of famine they eat the old folks and the girl babies.
Queer world, isn't it?"

By the time the firelight had disappeared, and only the stars afforded
a relief to the darkness, the wall of forest on either hand grew vague
and indistinct.

Having the current with them, their progress was more rapid than their
ascent of the stream, and by the time daylight appeared they were well
on their way towards the mouth of the river.

Once, as they were rounding a bend, and were nearer the shore than
usual, a deep, harsh, though distant roar met their ears. Ralph and
Ben wondered what it was, but the mate replied by one significant word:

"Lions."