Billy was wide awake now and made a motion as if he would light the
lantern.

Sikaso stopped him with a quick gesture.

"Do not light the lamp, my white brother," he whispered in the same
tense tones, "to do so would be to reveal to those who are now
approaching that we are awake and expect them. Rather let us
pretend that we are unaware that they come and spring upon them like
the leopard when she is least expected."

"Yes, but--" exclaimed Billy in a bewildered tone, "what do you
mean, Sikaso, what enemies are coming? How do you know that they
are approaching?"

"I have seen it in the smoke," was the somber reply; "the smoke
never lies. After I lay down on my skins I could not sleep, I felt
there was danger approaching us. From where I knew not. So I made
the "fetish" fire. In it I saw a band of men coming toward us down
the river and at the head of them was a dark man--a man you know
well, my white brother with the four eyes."

"Diego!" exclaimed Billy divining the other's thought.

"Yes, Diego; cursed be the day that my war-axe did not cleave his
ugly skull; but beside Diego there is another. Hearken to the words
of Sikaso, the elephant in his rage is not more merciless, the
serpent not more cunning, the crocodile not more savage in onslaught
than this other. He is Muley-Hassan, the Arab, and the deeds he has
done, my brother, when recounted turn strong men's blood to water."