"Yes, but the negroes do not fly kites. So where did it come from?"
"Perhaps some kind of white settlement is located in the vicinity or some kind of mission."
"For three days the wind has blown from the west, or from a region unknown and in all probability as uninhabited as this jungle. You know that here there are no settlements or missions."
"This is really curious."
"We had better get that kite."
"It is necessary. Perhaps we may ascertain where it came from."
The captain gave the order. The tree was a few tens of yards high, but the negroes climbed at once to the top, removed carefully the imprisoned kite, and handed it to the doctor who, glancing at it, said:
"There is some kind of inscription on it. We'll see." And blinking with his eyes he began to read.
Suddenly his face changed, his hands trembled.
"Glenn," he said, "take this, read it, and assure me that I did not get a sunstroke and that I am in my sound mind."