It was twelve o’clock before Dominique joined the waiting group in the wood.

“They have been a long time finding the track, Dominique.”

“Yes, sar, bery long time.  Dey try four tracks, all wrong.  Den dey try ’nother.  Sam say boy tell him try that last, because bad track; lead ober hills, to place where Obi man live.  Black fellow no like to go there.  Bad men there; steal children away, make sacrifice to fetish.  All people here believe that Obi man bery strong.  Dey send presents to him to make rain or to kill enemy, but dey no like go near him demselves.  Dere was a hut a little up dat road.  Party went by dere yesterday.  No more houses on road.  Sam say boy wait dere till he bring me back to him; den go home.  Not like to go further; say can’t miss way dat path.  Leads straight to Obi man’s place.  Fetish on road strike people dead dat go dar without leab ob Obi man.”

“That will suit us well altogether,” Frank said.  “How far is it to where the guide is?”

“One and a half hours’ walk.”

“Then we will be off at once.”

All were glad to be on the move again, and in spite of the heat they proceeded at a rapid pace, until the boatman, Sam, said that they were close to the spot where he had left his companions with the guide.  The rest then entered the wood, and Dominique went on with the boatman.

Ten minutes later a young negro came down the path.  They had no doubt that it was the guide.  Dominique arrived two or three minutes later.

“I suppose that was the guide that went down,” Frank said, as he stepped out.

“Dat him, sar,” he said.  “Quite sure path go to Obi man’s place.  It was miles away in centre of hills.  I pretend want him to go on.  He said no go for thousand dollars.  So me pay him his money, and he go back.  He tell me no use hunt for friends if Obi man hab not giben dem leab to go and see him.  Den the fetish change dem all into snakes.  If he gib leab and not know dat me and oder two men were friends, den de fetish change us into snakes.”

“Well, there is one comfort, Dominique, we shall be able to march boldly along without being afraid of meeting anyone.”

“Yes, sar.  Sam be a little frightened, but not much.  Not believe much in San Domingo about fetish.  Dey better dan dese Hayti people.  Still Sam not like it.”

“I suppose you told him that he was a fool, Dominique?”

“Yes, sar.  Me tell him, too, dat white man tink nothing ob Obi man.  Hang him by neck if he tries fetish against dem.”

Having picked up Sam, they proceeded at a brisk pace along the path, Frank leading the way with George Lechmere.