The chief pointed up the river, and said that if the white man had medicine strong enough to destroy the devil the people would be very grateful. Mr. Halliday thought he might turn this superstition to good account. He explained that he had come from the end of the world to make a home in this country, and the devil had no doubt established himself on the ground in order to show that it was to be a white man’s property. But now that he had come, the devil’s work of guarding the land was over, and if the chief would promise to be a friendly neighbour, the devil should be at once destroyed, and a good price should be paid for the land, since it was clearly a part of the chief’s grazing grounds. The chief gave the promise with alacrity, adding that he would become the blood brother of any man who should rid the country of so terrible a creature. Thereupon Mr. Halliday asked him to lead the way as far as he dared, and he should see for himself that the devil had no power against the white man’s magic. The chief sent a messenger back to the village with this good news, and soon a great throng of people came flocking down, men, women, and children, some blowing rude horns, others beating drums, all in great excitement. The devil was on the bank of the river from which the white men had crossed. Having swum back in company with the chief and half-a-dozen of his men, the travellers marched up the river, the populace flocking along the other bank, being only occasionally visible among the trees. After walking for about half-a-mile, the chief struck away from the river, and led the way to a saucer-like depression between two ranges of low hills. It was open grass country for the most part, but at the further end of the hollow, about three miles away, there was a thick mass of forest. All at once the chief came to a halt, and, pointing ahead, declared that the devil was there, and he would go no farther. Neither Mr. Halliday nor John could distinguish the post among the long grass, but asking the chief to remain where he stood, they went forward to search for it. After a few steps they missed Coja, and turning to look for him, found that he had halted a hundred yards or so from the chief, being evidently unwilling to face the devil, and at the same time wishing to appear braver than the natives. Walking some distance apart, so that they should not miss the post, Mr. Halliday and his son in a minute or two caught sight simultaneously of what they sought. A thick knobby post stood among the grass, its top about a foot above the level of the stalks. The knob had been carved with some skill to the shape of a face with the mouth wide open. "We may as well do the job with becoming solemnity," said Mr. Halliday. "We’ll have a shot or two at it before we go near. Range about a hundred, isn’t it?" "I should think so. Bet you I get most shots in his mouth."