The little fellow’s face lit up now with a smile, and drawing himself up he raised his spear and stood pointing right into the wood.
“I think he understands now,” said the doctor. “Look; what does he mean by that?”
For the little fellow in a series of gazelle-like leaps bounded to first one and then the other waggon, and came running back with his eyes flashing, to stand pointing as before right into the depths of the forest. This done, he made a mark in the sandy earth with the butt of his spear, and then walking backwards he drew a line as straight as he could for about fifty yards, keeping parallel with the edge of the forest, and ending by curving his line round till he reached the first trees.
“What does he mean by that?” said Mark, as the little fellow came running back.
“I think I know,” said Dean.
“So do I,” cried Mark. “Here, Mak, what does this mean?”
The black faced slowly to them from where he had been leaning against the tree watching as if amused, and raising his spear he walked importantly to the waggons, touching first one and then the other with his spear before turning and pointing right into the forest, and ending by drawing a similar line to that made by the little visitor.
“Well, that’s plain enough,” said Mark excitedly. “I make it that the pigmy means that if we want to find the gold we must walk right round the other side of the forest; but Mak means that this is the way to find the big stones.”
“Big—stones—kopje,” cried Mak, nodding his head sharply, and after pointing again with his spear he slowly described a semi-circle upon the earth.
“Yes, I think you are right,” said Sir James. “At any rate, doctor, we may as well try.”