At the base I left an opening sufficiently large for me to crawl through.

Then I placed inside a quantity of inflammable material--such as wood and dry bark;--and as all these preparations went forward in a very leisurely manner, my monthly reception was quite due when everything was ready.

Wishing to have an exceptionally large gathering, I sent out invitations to all the surrounding tribes to come and see my wonderful performance at which I would "set fire to the rocks and stones." A perfectly enormous crowd assembled at the time appointed, for my previous achievements had led the black-fellows to suppose I had some marvellous manifestation in store for them.

Never can I forget the keenness with which that great assembly anticipated the entertainment in store for them.

And remember, they were growing pretty _blase_ by this time, having witnessed so many miracles.
In the twilight of the evening, when the murmur of the multitude was hushed, I crawled cautiously into the cairn (I should have been buried alive had it collapsed), and at once commenced operations with the flint and steel and tinder which I had taken care to leave there.