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Rh She evidently felt hurt by my repulsion, and when I looked at her I saw tears in her eyes.

Stooping down she picked up a piece of fungus, then going down on her knees held it out to me.

I took it, and not knowing what else to do with it, ate it.

This she evidently understood as a sign of forgiveness, for she bent down and put her mobile lips to my hand.

Then arising she walked out of the cave without speaking.

What would happen next? I was not long kept in doubt.

The creature, who was the leader of those who had found me, entered with six of them and approached me.

He stopped in front of me and said, "come with me."

I got up and followed him; the six others walking behind me. We passed out of the cave into the store-room, and through it into the other.

Here were some hundreds of them evidently awaiting my arrival.

Directly they saw me they set up a cry which nearly deafened me.

I could not see the white female, and wondered where she was.