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gloom and mystery of the place and happening； but they showed
themselves doggedly unafraid； and were for pushing on。 The Poonga…
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Poonga men； on the contrary； were not awed。 They were bushmen
themselves； and they were used to this silent warfare； though the devices
were different from those employed by them in their own bush。 Most
awed of all were Joan and Sheldon； but； being whites； they were not
supposed to be subject to such commonplace emotions； and their task was
to carry the situation off with careless bravado as befitted 〃big fella
marsters〃 of the dominant breed。
Binu Charley took the lead as they pushed on； and trap after trap
yielded its secret lurking…place to his keen scrutiny。 The way was beset
with a thousand annoyances； chiefest among which were thorns； cunningly
concealed； that penetrated the bare feet of the invaders。 Once； during the
afternoon； Binu Charley barely missed being impaled in a staked pit that
undermined the trail。 There were times when all stood still and waited
for half an hour or more while Binu Charley prospected suspicious parts of
the trail。 Sometimes he was compelled to leave the trail and creep and
climb through the jungle so as to approach the man…traps from behind； and
on one occasion； in spite of his precaution； a spring…bow was discharged；
the flying arrow barely clipping the shoulder of one of the waiting
Poonga…Poonga boys。
Where a slight run…way entered the main one； Sheldon paused and
asked Binu Charley if he knew where it led。
〃Plenty bush fella garden he stop along there short way little bit；〃 was
the answer。 〃All right you like 'm go look 'm along。〃
〃'Walk 'm easy；〃 he cautioned； a few minutes later。 〃Close up； that
fella garden。 S'pose some bush fella he stop； we catch 'm。〃
Creeping ahead and peering into the clearing for a moment； Binu
Charley beckoned Sheldon to come on cautiously。 Joan crouched beside
him； and together they peeped out。 The cleared space was fully half an
acre in extent and carefully fenced against the wild pigs。 Paw…paw and
banana…trees were just ripening their fruit； while beneath grew sweet
potatoes and yams。 On one edge of the clearing was a small grass house；
open…sided； a mere rain…shelter。 In front of it； crouched on his hams before
a fire； was a gaunt and bearded bushman。 The fire seemed to smoke
excessively； and in the thick of the smoke a round dark object hung
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suspended。 The bushman seemed absorbed in contemplation of this
object。
Warning them not to shoot unless the man was successfully escaping；
Sheldon beckoned the Poonga…Poonga men forward。 Joan smiled
appreciatively to Sheldon。 It was head…hunters against head… hunters。
The blacks trod noiselessly to their stations； which were arranged so that
they could spring simultaneously into the open。 Their faces were keen and
serious； their eyes eloquent with the ecstasy of living that was upon them
for this was living； this game of life and death； and to them it was the only
game a man should play； withal they played it in low and cowardly ways；
killing from behind in the dim forest gloom and rarely coming out into the
open。
Sheldon whispered the word； and the ten runners leaped forwardfor
Binu Charley ran with them。 The bushman's keen ears warned him； and
he sprang to his feet； bow and arrow in hand； the arrow fixed in the notch
and the bow bending as he sprang。 The man he let drive at dodged the
arrow； and before he could shoot another his enemies were upon him。 He
was rolled over and over and dragged to his feet； disarmed and helpless。
〃Why； he's an ancient Babylonian！〃 Joan cried； regarding him。 〃He's
an Assyrian； a Phoenician！ Look at that straight nose； that narrow face；
those high cheek…bonesand that slanting； oval forehead； and the beard；
and the eyes； too。〃
〃And the snaky locks；〃 Sheldon laughed。
The bushman was in mortal fear； led by all his training to expect
nothing less than death； yet he did not cower away from them。 Instead； he
returned their looks with lean self…sufficiency； and finally centred his gaze
upon Joan； the first white woman he had ever seen。
〃My word； bush fella kai…kai along that fella boy；〃 Binu Charley
remarked。
So stolid was his manner of utterance that Joan turned carelessly to see
what had attracted his attention； and found herself face to face with
Gogoomy。 At least； it was the head of Gogoomythe dark object they
had seen hanging in the smoke。 It was freshthe smoke…curing had just
begunand； save for the closed eyes； all the sullen handsomeness and
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animal virility of the boy； as Joan had known it； was still to be seen in the
monstrous thing that twisted and dangled in the eddying smoke。
Nor was Joan's horror lessened by the conduct of the Poonga…Poonga
boys。 On the instant they recognized the head； and on the instant rose
their wild hearty laughter as they explained to one another in shrill falsetto
voices。 Gogoomy's end was a joke。 He had been foiled in his attempt
to escape。 He had played the game and lost。 And what greater joke could
there be than that the bushmen should have eaten him？ It was the
funniest incident that had come under their notice in many a day。 And to
them there was certainly nothing unusual nor bizarre in the event。
Gogoomy had completed the life…cycle of the bushman。 He had taken
heads； and now his own head had been taken。 He had eaten men； and
now he had been eaten by men。
The Poonga…Poonga men's laughter died down； and they regarded the
spectacle with glittering eyes and gluttonous expressions。 The Tahitians；
on the other hand； were shocked； and Adamu Adam was shaking his head
slowly and