"Don't be foolish!" he said. "Those are drums of welcome."
He spoke a few words to Kulki in the Gorol language, which he was beginning to learn, and the savage answered grinning:
"They are the drums of Chief Wabiti, my father. We are near his camp now."
"Here they come!" exclaimed Dan. "Say, this beats a circus parade!"
Ahead of them on the forest trail the boys caught sight of dark figures moving among the trees and spots of gay color. As they reached a small clearing, Kulki led the party to a fallen log at one side, where Dick sat with his followers standing around him.
Then Chief Wabiti and his people entered to greet their new ruler, the Boy King, with drums beating and voices raised in a shrill song of welcome.
"Quick, Raal, where is the crown?" Dick asked and his savage henchman hastily unwrapped the heavy diadem from a covering of zebra skin and handed it to his master, bowing low as he did so.
Dick placed the crudely fashioned crown of soft gold and uncut gems upon his head, while Dan inspected him with a grin, remarking, "It sets a little sideways, Dick. Say, you need me along to keep your royal crown from slipping over your eye."
"Lay off, Dan! Don't get funny!"
Dick turned to Kulki. "Where's my sword of state?"