rapidly as possible into the
thick of the crowd of natives, and then to charge upon them with sword
and cutlass, reserving our pistol fire for emergencies. I hope by this
plan to scatter the savages and cause their retirement for at least a
few brief minutes, during which we must dash in, cut loose the
prisoners, and retire with them to the boat. There must be no more
fighting than is actually necessary to enable us to accomplish our
purpose."

The general patted me approvingly on the back. "Excellent, my lad,
excellent," he whispered. "There spoke the prudent commander. I
foresee that you will do well in your profession. And now, let us get
on."

"One moment, general, if you please," said I. "I want to reconnoitre
before advancing into the open."

"Right," he answered. "And I'll go with you."

I nodded consent, and at once led the way toward the screen of bush that
interposed between ourselves and the village. The distance to be
traversed was merely some sixty or seventy yards, and to cover this we
were obliged to make our way through some sparsely-scattered mangroves.
It took us less than a minute to accomplish the journey, and then we
found that the bush was much less dense than it had appeared to be,
since we were enabled without the least difficulty to penetrate it to a
spot where our whole party could comfortably stand, and where the
intervening screen was so tenuous that, ourselves unseen, we could see
everything that was happening in the village. This was so obviously the
proper spot from which to make our attack that the general at once went
back to bring up the men, while I remained to make such few observations
as the brief time at my disposal would permit.

I found that we were on what might be termed the right front of the
village, which was a tolerably important place, consisting of some two
hundred roomy huts, constructed of wattles and sun-baked clay, and
thatched with palm leaves. The huts, however, had no interest for me
now; it was the scene that was being enacted in the wide, open space in
front of the village that riveted my attention. This space was occupied
by a crowd of fully a thousand blacks--men, women, and children--most of
whom were practically naked, and all of whom were slowly circling in a
weird kind of dance round a small area, in the midst of which were
planted eleven stout stakes at distances of about fifty feet apart.
These stakes were, of course, upright, and stood