After a long walk Ndova uttered the sounds made by his species—the white-nosed monkeys or ndovas. They answered his call; we could hear them coming towards us. Rogala immediately tied Ndova with a rope and held him fast. Then we hid under a short tree with thick foliage. Soon the monkeys were above our heads talking to Ndova, who answered them. We stood still, then moved carefully out of our hiding-place, having in the meantime made Ndova fast to a branch of the tree. We took aim, fired, and two big monkeys fell dead almost upon our heads.
Rogala gave a grim look of satisfaction. Then looking at the two monkeys, I said to Rogala: "Look at what Ndova has done for us. Without him we should be without food and starving."
We could not wait until we returned to the camp. We lighted a big fire, cut one of the monkeys in two, and roasted it. So we had a good meal, and gave a lot to Andekko.
There was great rejoicing that evening in the camp round the roast half of one of the monkeys. Alapai, who had discovered a cluster of trees with nuts, brought a number of tondas, berries and fruits; so Ndova had also a feast.
CHAPTER XXV
I FIND STRANGE FOOTPRINTS ON THE BANKS OF A RIVULET—ROGALA AND I SET OFF IN PURSUIT—WE FIND A MAN UNDER A KOOLA TREE—SURPRISE AND CAPTURE HIM—TERROR OF OUR CAPTIVE—WE TAKE HIM TO CAMP AND DISCOVER HE IS A CANNIBAL
One day I had not walked two hours when I was startled by the discovery of two human footprints on the banks of a little rivulet. They looked so fresh that I thought the man had been there but a short time before me. I looked around, but saw no one, and heard nothing. I held one of my revolvers ready to fire at sight.
I hurried back to the camp and told Rogala of my discovery. He listened attentively, and then said with much earnestness: "I wonder if the Bakalais of the village we left have sent a spy to see where we live and learn what we are doing."