minutes he exclaimed: "This is the toughest plant I've ever seen; I
can't get it out." He was at last successful, but as he pulled the root
he gave a cry of surprise.

"There's no bulb," he said. "Look! Only a black root."

Stewart examined the plant. "I can't make it out," he said.

Lewis wrapped the plant in his handkerchief and put it in his pocket.
They entered the wood. The air was still more sultry here than outside,
and the stillness even more oppressive. There were no birds and not a
vestige of bird life.

"This exploration is evidently a waste of time as far as birds are
concerned," remarked Lewis. At that moment there was a rustle in the
undergrowth, and five pigs crossed their path and disappeared, grunting.
Lewis started, and for some reason he could not account for, shuddered;
he looked at Stewart, who appeared unconcerned.

"They are not wild," said Stewart. They walked on in silence. The place
and its heavy atmosphere had again affected their spirits. When they
spoke it was almost in a whisper. Lewis wished they had not landed, but
he could give no reason to himself for his wish. After they had been
walking for about twenty minutes they suddenly came on an open space and
a low white house. They stopped and looked at each other.

"It's got no chimney!" cried Lewis, who was the first to speak. It was
a one-storeyed building, with large windows (which had no glass in them)
reaching to the ground, wider at the bottom than at the top. The house
was overgrown with creepers; the roof was flat. They entered in silence