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shaped rock； or peak； at the end of the promontory
which we had weathered with so much peril； between me
and the majestic sight； and blotted it from my view。 I
still continued to stare at the rock； however；
absently enough； till presently it became edged with
the fire of the growing light behind it； and then I
started； as well I might； for I perceived that the top
of the peak； which was about eighty feet high by one
hundred and fifty thick at its base； was shaped like a
negro's head and face； whereon was stamped a most
fiendish and terrifying expression。 There was no doubt
about it； there were the thick lips； the fat cheeks；
and the squat nose standing out with startling
clearness against the flaming background。 There； too；
was the round skull； washed into shape perhaps by
thousands of years of wind and weather； and； to
complete the resemblance； there was a scrubby growth
of weeds or lichen upon it； which against the sun
looked for all the world like the wool on a colossal
negro's head。 It certainly was very odd； so odd that
now I believe that it is not a mere freak of nature；
but a gigantic monument fashioned； like the well…known
Egyptian Sphinx； by a forgotten people out of a pile
of rock that lent itself to their design； perhaps as
an emblem of warning and defiance to any enemies who
approached the harbor。 Unfortunately we were never
able to ascertain whether or not this was the case；
inasmuch as the rock was difficult of access both from
the land and the water…side； and we had other things
to attend to。 Myself； considering the matter by the
light of what we afterwards saw； I believe that it was
fashioned by man； but whether or not this is so； there
it stands； and sullenly stares from age to age out
across the changing seathere it stood two thousand
years and more ago； when Amenartas； the Egyptian
princess； and the wife of Leo's remote ancestor
Kallikrates； gazed upon its devilish faceand there I
have no doubt it will still stand when as many
centuries as are numbered between her day and our own
are added to the year that bore us to oblivion。
〃What do you think of that； Job？〃 I asked of our
retainer； who was sitting on the edge of the boat；
trying to get as much sunshine as possible； and
generally looking uncommonly wretched； and I pointed
to the fiery and demoniacal head。
〃Oh Lord； sir；〃 answered Job； who now perceived the
object for the first time； 〃I think that the old
gentleman must have been sitting for his portrait； on
them rocks。〃
I laughed； and the laugh woke up Leo。
〃Hullo；〃 he said； 〃What's the matter with me？ I am all
stiffwhere is the dhow？ Give me some brandy；
please。〃
〃You may be thankful that you are not stiffer； my
boy；〃 I answered。 〃The dhow is sunk； and everybody on
board her is drowned； with the exception of us four；
and your own life was only saved by a miracle；〃 and
while Job； now that it was light enough； searched
about in a locker for the brandy for which Leo asked；
I told him the history of our night's adventure。
〃Great heavens！〃 he said； faintly； 〃and to think that
we should have been chosen to live through it！〃
By this time the brandy was forthcoming； and we all
had a good pull at it； and thankful enough we were for
it。 Also the sun was beginning to get strength； and
warm our chilled bones； for we had been wet through
for five hours or more。
〃Why；〃 said Leo； with a gasp as he put down the brandy
bottle； 〃there is the head the writing talks of； the
'rock carven like the head of an Ethiopian。'〃
〃Yes；〃 I said； 〃there it is。〃
〃Well； then；〃 he answered； 〃the whole thing is true。〃
〃I don't at all see that that follows；〃 I answered。
〃We knew this head was here； your father saw it。 Very
likely it is not the same head that the writing talks
of； or if it is； it proves nothing。〃
Leo smiled at me in a superior way。 〃You are an
unbelieving Jew； Uncle Horace；〃 he said。 〃Those who
live will see。〃
〃Exactly so；〃 I answered； 〃and now perhaps you will
observe that we are drifting across a sand bank into
the mouth of the river。 Get hold of your oar； Job； and
we will row in and see if we can find a place to
land。〃
The river…mouth which we were entering did not appear
to be a very wide one； though as yet the long banks of
steaming mist that clung about its shores had not
lifted sufficiently to enable us to see its exact
width。 There was； as is the case with nearly every
East African river； a considerable bar at the mouth；
which； no doubt； when the wind was on shore and the
tide running out； was absolutely impassable even for a
beat drawing only a few inches。 But as things were it
was manageable enough； and we did not ship a cupful of
water。 In twenty minutes we were well across it； with
but slight assistance from ourselves； and being
carried by a strong though somewhat variable breeze
well up the harbor。 By this time the mist was being
sucked up by the sun； which was getting uncomfortably
hot； and we saw that the mouth of the little estuary
was here about half a mile across； and that the banks
were very marshy； and crowded with crocodiles lying
about on the mud like logs。 About a mile ahead of us；
however； was what appeared to be a strip of firm land；
and for this we steered。 In another quarter of an hour
we were there； and； making the boat fast to a
beautiful tree with broad； shining leaves； and flowers
of the magnolia species； only they were rose…colored
and not white； which hung over the water； we
disembarked。 This done； we undressed； washed
ourselves； and spread our clothes and the contents of
the boat in the sun to dry； which they very quickly
did。 Then； taking shelter from the sun under some
trees； we made a hearty breakfast off a 〃Paysandu〃
potted tongue； of which we had brought a good quantity
with us from the Army and Navy Stores； congratulating
ourselves loudly on our good fortune in having loaded
and provisioned the boat on the previous day； before
the hurricane destroyed the dhow。 By the time that we
had finished our meal our clothes were quite dry； and
we hastened to get into them； feeling not a little
refreshed。 Indeed； with the exception of weariness and
a few bruises； none of us were the worse for the
terrifying adventure which had been fatal to all our
companions。 Leo； it is true； had been half drowned；
but that is no great matter to a vigorous young
athlete of five…and…twenty。
After breakfast we started to look about us。 We were
on a strip of dry land about two hundred yards broad
by five hundred long； bordered on one side by the
river； and on the other three by endless desolate
swamps； that stretched as far as the eye could reach。
This strip of land was raised about twenty…five feet
above the plain of the surrounding swamps and the
river level； indeed； it had every appearance of having
been made by the hand of man。
〃This place has been a wharf；〃 said Leo； dogmatically。
〃Nonsense；〃 I answered。 〃Who would be stupid enough to
build a wharf in the middle of these dreadful marshes
in a country inhabited by savages； that