For some time they had sat in silence, when their attention was attracted by a rustling sound as of a body brushing against the side of their grass-walled hut. They were sitting just outside the entrance; someone, or some thing, was approaching from behind the hut, keeping close to the outside wall, which was in dense shadow.
Dick and Doc drew their knives and waited. Who or what could it be? Whoever, or whatever it was it was quite evident that it did not wish anyone to know that it was there; the stealthiness of its approach made that quite plain.
Slowly Dick rose to his feet, his knife ready in his hand, and Doc placed himself at Dick's side. Ukundo, unarmed, stood at Dick's left. Thus the three waited in tense silence while the stealthy sounds approached along the side of the hut, through the inky darkness of the shadows cast by the glaring camp fires of the village.
"Demon!" whispered Ukundo.
"Leave him to me then," said Doc. "But if it's a lion you can have it."
"Not a lion," said Ukundo. "Demon—or man!" Presently a low "S-s-t!" sounded from the shadows.
"Who are you?" demanded Dick.
"What do you want?" asked Doc.