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reasoning most logically that a god would not be much of a god with less than
twenty-four wives.
He fingered the instruments and the control, half hoping and half fearing that he
would alight upon the combination that would put the machine in flight. Often
had he watched the British air-men soaring above the German lines and it looked
so simple he was quite sure that he could do it himself if there was somebody
who could but once show him how. There was, of course, always the hope that
the white man who came in the machine and who had escaped from Numabo's
village might fall into Usanga's hands and then indeed would he be able to learn
how to fly. It was in this hope that Usanga spent so much time in the vicinity of
the plane, reasoning as he did that eventually the white man would return in
search of it.
And at last he was rewarded, for upon this very day after he had quit the machine
and entered the jungle with his warriors, he heard voices to the north and when
he and his men had hidden in the dense foliage upon either side of the trail,
Usanga was presently filled with elation by the appearance of the British officer
and the white girl whom the black sergeant had coveted and who had escaped
him.
The Negro could scarce restrain a shout of elation, for he had not hoped that fate
would be so kind as to throw these two whom he most desired into his power at
the same time.
As the two came down the trail all unconscious of impending danger, the man
was explaining that they must be very close to the point at which the plane had
landed. Their entire attention was centered on the trail directly ahead of them, as
they momentarily expected it to break into the meadowland where they were sure
they would see the plane that would spell life and liberty for them.
The trail was broad, and they were walking side by side so that at a sharp turn
the park-like clearing was revealed to them simultaneously with the outlines of
the machine they sought.
Exclamations of relief and delight broke from their lips, and at the same instant
Usanga and his black warriors rose from the bushes all about them.
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