Before the sentence was finished the man gave a gasp and fell back, dead.
"It is a wonder that he lived as long as he did," said Dr. Pestle, examining the wound. "Let us give the wretch a decent burial and then be off. He spoke about civilized people; we must look them up."
There being no objections, a grave was scooped in the soft earth and the body buried.
Then our friends mounted their horses and started over the plain in the direction taken by Doc Clancy and the herd of horses.
Darkness overtook them before they reached the timber belt at the other side, but as it was moonlight, they kept right on.
A couple of hours later they reached the timber and followed a level roadway through it.
The belt was less than a mile wide, and ten minutes later the party halted, for the simple reason that they could go no further in that direction.
A huge stone wall, not unlike the great wall of China, was before them.
An iron gate of massive proportions stretched across the roadway, which showed that our friends had arrived at the entrance of some undiscovered city.
"Well, well!" exclaimed Prof. Drearland, in a tone of delight. "We have made the greatest discovery of the age. Who would have believed that such a thing as a thick wall of masonry and a huge gate of iron was in the very heart of Africa, where it is supposed that naught but wild beasts and savages live? This is something grand, my friends. We must get that gate open and see what lies beyond."