"The only thing to do now," said Mr. Hume, "is to visit the pool, and make a close examination of the walls."
"We could not examine the wall without swimming in the pool," said Venning, "and before I do that I am prepared to stay here a very long time."
"I cannot say I relish the idea myself, but I see no other way out of the mess. We must have the Okapi before the full moon. I will take a look at the pool alone to-morrow."
CHAPTER XX
THE SECRET WAY
But when day dawned the vice-chief was summoned to hear a message from Muata, who had reported that Hassan had discovered the dark river leading up to the tabooed pool, and was sending up a strong fleet of canoes, while still more canoes were gathering on the other river by which he had made his first attack. His orders were that a body of picked men were to join him to take part in an attack on the first body of the enemy. Mr. Hume was fully occupied in carrying out these instructions, but on the chiefs mother suggesting that the chosen band should be accompanied by the Young Lion, he emphatically declined to allow this.
"As you wish to keep us here," he said, "we will stay here; and, take notice, we have already seen what was in the mind of the chief by taking steps to protect the entrance above the tabooed water."
The chiefs mother desisted, but she went up to interview the two young chiefs.
"The great one," she said, "has very strong medicine?"
Compton nodded his head gravely.