Part 12 (1/2)

Perhaps thereabout in knots s on their business One group--captains, to judge fro round the ar in the wall, which they reached by sitting upon each other's shoulders This ath a man, of whom at that distance they could see only that he was old and stout, ca

”That is the Yellow Devil,” said Otter, ”and thoseat the maid who is called the Shepherdess She is locked up there until the hour comes for her to be sold They will be the bidders”

Leonardthe place Presently a drue tin pails of s stuff

”Yonder is the food for the slaves,” said Otter again ”See, they are going to feed them”

The_sjambochs_ or hide whips in their hands, advanced across the open space till they came to the moat which separated the slave camp from the Nest, whence they called to the sentry on the ee He obeyed and they crossed Each man with a bucket was followed by another who bore a wooden spoon, while a third behind the coan their rounds, theout portions of the stiff porridge and throwing it down upon the ground before each slave in turn as food is thrown to a dog Then the Arab with the gourd poured water into wooden bowls, that the captives ht drink

Presently there was a halt, and the officers gathered together to discuss so

”A slave is sick,” said Otter

The knot separated, but a big white an to strike at a dark thing on the ground which did not see and called aloud Then two of the Arabs went to the little guard-house that was by the drawbridge and brought tools hich they loosed the fetters on the li her fro iron bar

This done, soed the body to the high enclosure of earth and up a short ladder having a wooden platfor the deep canal below

”This is how the Yellow Devil buries his dead and cures his sick,” said Otter

”I have seen enough,” answered Leonard, and began to descend the tree hastily, an example which Otter folloith more coround, ”you are but a chicken The hearts of those who have dwelt in slave ca, and, after all, better the belly of a fish than the hold of a slave dhow _Woho do these things? Is it not the white men, your brothers, and do they not say many prayers to the Great Man up in the sky while they do theive s of civilisation as they have often been put into practice in Africa And to think that this fate ht soon be his own!

Leonard drank the brandy and sat awhile in silence, pushi+ng up his beard with his hand and gazing into the gathering gloo brother's bed; it was a pose that he adopted unconsciously when lost in thought

”Coth, ”we have travelled here to please you; now give us the benefit of your suggestions How are we going to get your mistress out of that camp?”

”Loose the slaves and let them kill their masters,” Soa answered laconically

”I doubt there is not much pluck in slaves,” said Leonard

”There should be fifty of Mavooh if they have ar further ideas

”My snake puts it into ood friend when men are few and foes are many; also that the reeds yonder are dry, and the sea wind rises and will blow hard before ht

Moreover all these houses are thatched, and in a wind fire juenerals? You are our captain, Baas; speak and ill do your bidding Here one counsel is as good as another Let fate speak through your mouth”

”Very well,” said Leonard ”This is oes a little further than yours, that is all We ain entrance to the Nest while it is still dark, before the uised as we are, perhaps the sentry will let us pass unquestioned

If not, we must kill him, and silently”

”Good,” said Otter, ”but how about the woman here?”

”We will leave her hidden in the bush; she could be of no help in the caht hinder us”