companion and I sank into a kind of drowsy repose, while the
chief and Kory-Kory seemed to be slumbering beside us.

I awoke from an uneasy nap, about midnight, as I supposed; and,
raising myself partly from the mat, became sensible that we were
enveloped in utter darkness. Toby lay still asleep, but our late
companions had disappeared. The only sound that interrupted the
silence of the place was the asthmatic breathing of the old men I
have mentioned, who reposed at a little distance from us.
Besides them, as well as I could judge, there was no one else in
the house.

Apprehensive of some evil, I roused my comrade, and we were
engaged in a whispered conference concerning the unexpected
withdrawal of the natives when all at once, from the depths of
the grove, in full view of us where we lay, shoots of flame were
seen to rise, and in a few moments illuminated the surrounding
trees, casting, by contrast, into still deeper gloom the darkness
around us.

While we continued gazing at this sight, dark figures appeared
moving to and fro before the flames; while others, dancing and
capering about, looked like so many demons.

Regarding this new phenomenon with no small degree of
trepidation, I said to my companion, 'What can all this mean,
Toby?'

'Oh, nothing,' replied he; 'getting the fire ready, I suppose.'