said: "Bind them, and tie them in
their hammocks. Let not their bonds be loosened until our march be ended,
for both are my prisoners." And he laughed triumphantly at our
discomfiture.

"You shall pay for this insult with your life," Omar cried angrily.

"Take off his European clothes, and let his string of royal jujus be
burned. Henceforth he is a slave, as also is his white companion."

Next moment twenty ready hands tore from Omar most of his well-worn
clothes, and although he fought with all the strength of which he was
capable, his necklet of jujus, the magical charms that protected the
Queen's son from every evil, was ruthlessly spat upon and destroyed by
the excited natives, together with his clothes.

Then, after each of us had been tied in a hammock with our hands behind
our backs, we were lifted by four stalwart bearers and carried forward at
a brisk pace towards an unknown bourne.

It was evident that we were not going to Mo, and it was equally evident
too, that Kouaga, whom we had trusted implicitly, was our bitter enemy.

CHAPTER VII.

SAMORY'S STRONGHOLD.

THROUGH dense dark forests and over great open grass-lands, passing
several villages, we were carried forward many days, still bound and
never allowed to have our hands free except during our meals.

The face of Kouaga grew more brutal and fierce as we proceeded, and he
urged on the carriers until we found ourselves travelling at a pace that
for African natives was amazing.

Omar spoke little. He was always pre-occupied and thoughtful. He had told
me that he now regretted having brought me with him from England, but I
assured him that our misfortunes were not of our own seeking, and urged
him to be of good cheer.

Truth to tell, my heart was full of dark forebodings. I saw in the ugly
countenance of Kouaga expressions of deadly hatred, and I knew that they
were of ill-portent. Yet to escape in that deadly bush, extending for
hundreds and hundreds of miles, dark, monotonous and impenetrable, meant
certain death even if we eluded the watchful vigilance of this muscular
negro.

One day, when passing through a forest village, a half-naked savage
rushed towards us brandishing his spear and uttering a loud yell, but
whether expressive of hatred or joy I knew not. Suddenly, as he
approached the hammock in which Omar was lying, my friend addressed him
in some tongue that was strange to me, but to which the native answered
readily.

"As I