2o6 THE EXPLORATION OF THE NIGER " * Very well/ said the chief. * You had better leave the village now and return here to-morrow evening.'

" So they left ; but one of them managed to warn his sister of what was in the wind, so that the sons of the genii knew what to expect.

" They therefore ran away, walking all night until the dawn, when they climbed a mountain.

" In the morning the chief of the village beat the wardrum, and the horses were saddled.

" The people followed the boys till they came to the mountain they had climbed, when they lost all traces of them.

** Meanwhile one of the children had said, * Shall we have to fight here ? ' " * Of course we shall,' replied another ; and they were just about to defy the enemy with shouts, inviting them to the combat, when a second boy said, * It would be better to go first to the village and fight those that are left behind there.'

" They therefore descended the mountain by the other slope, and returned to the village. When those who had remained there saw them coming they were afraid, and cried, * Alas ! here are the boys coming back again. They have evidently defeated the party we sent out against them.'

" One man went out to parley with the children. They took him prisoner, obtained from him all the information they wanted, and then they drew their swords and killed him.

" They next advanced upon the village, entered it, and even went up to the hut of the chief, who was a very old man. He got up and came to meet them. They shouted, * Thou didst mean to kill us and our mothers with us, but now it is thou who art to die ; thy children and thy