The monarch who guarded the earth was many feet in diameter, as straight as a flagstaff, and entirely without leaves. Max touched the bark, and withdrew his hand, suddenly. “What is it, Madcap? A viper stung you?” “I don’t know. It seems as if the tree was red-hot,” answered Max. “That is good. How could a tree be red-hot?” “Feel for yourself.” “You are right. By the beard of the prophet the tree must be burning.” Max struck the trunk with a knife, but the blade broke in two, and no impression was made on the tree. Another, and still another tree was tried, with the same result. A couple of hours wandering about, striking trees with the hafts of their knives, or the butt of their guns, convinced them that they had discovered a freak of nature--a veritable petrified forest. It was true. Every tree, by some action of nature, had changed its allegiance from the vegetable to the mineral kingdom. Each of the monarchs of the forest had been turned to stone. There was something appalling in those great stone statues. How many ages had they stood there? What action of nature had changed them from living, sap-flowing trees into blocks of granite, having only the appearance of their former reality? Ibrahim was scared. His face lost its color, and he prostrated himself on the ground. “Come along, old fellow,” said Max. “You are not afraid of these big stones, are you?” Ibrahim did not answer. He was awe-stricken. “Get up, Ib,” exclaimed Max, shortening his companion’s name very materially. It is a matter of doubt how long Ibrahim would have remained prostrate had not some counter irritant appeared. A couple of arrows were fired, and fortunately struck the trees, glancing off close to our young explorers. “Stop that, old fellow, whoever you are, and let us have a look at you,” shouted Max. He had scarcely uttered the words when the whole forest seemed alive. It looked as if every tree had hidden a man, and yet not a living creature had the explorers seen before. Where did all these savages come from? The savages were something superlative. They were almost as naked as when they came into the world. Their bodies were rubbed all over with some filthy-looking clay. The men wore heavy coils of beads round their necks; two heavy bracelets of ivory, rudely carved, on their arms, just above the elbow; and on each wrist was a bracelet or ring, in which, by some cunning device, sharp pieces of flint, and in some cases lions’ claws, had been inserted. These fellows surrounded Max and Ibrahim, dancing in a fantastic manner and flourishing their arrows in the manner of spears, only that they had four arrows in each hand--held between the fingers so that the heads of the arrows were stretched out fan shape. The circle of savages closed in upon the explorers. The faces of the blacks increased in savagery of expression. They spoke a language which neither Max nor Ibrahim understood. “We are in for it,” said Max.