sigh,
"I'll double the chances though." So he looked out for another board or
piece of stick; and having before long got one, carved that in the same
way. The blacks did not seem to suspect his object, and allowed him to
continue the operation. After paddling about an hour, they ran up a
small creek with black mudbanks; and when they had drawn the canoe on
shore, Jack found himself standing before a strong stockade or fort with
a deep ditch round it. There was no gate on the side turned towards the
river, but going round some way, they arrived at an entrance over a
rough drawbridge. The negroes talked a few minutes together, and then
led Jack in. The object for which the fort was used was very clear. In
the centre stood a large barracoon full of slaves. This barracoon was a
shed built of heavy piles driven down into the earth, lashed together
with bamboos, and thatched with palm-leaves. Jack, as he passed, looked
in. Sad was the spectacle which met his sight. The negroes who had
charge of Jack did not appear to have found the person of whom they were
in search; for after waiting some time they led him again out of the
fort and took the road up a hill away from the river. After walking
some way they reached a village or town. It was surrounded by a bamboo
fence. They entered by a narrow gateway at the end of a street. The
houses, or rather huts, were all joined together, forming one long shed
of uniform height on each side of the road. Each habitation had a small
low door, which alone showed the number of separate dwellings in a row.
The sides were composed of broad strips of bark, and bamboo leaves
served for the thatch. Here and there were larger houses built of
bamboo, with raised floors, marking the residences of chief men. At
last they reached a house nearly a hundred feet in length, and, having
ascended some steps, Jack found himself ushered into the presence of a
burly negro, who was sitting in oriental style on a pile of mats smoking
a pipe. He had on a cocked-hat and a green uniform coat covered with
gold-lace, wide seamen's trousers and yellow slippers, a striped shirt,
and a red sash round his waist. From his air he evidently considered
himself a very important personage, and Jack did not doubt that he was
in the presence of some Indian potentate. Round the room were several
mirrors in gilt frames, and on a table stood a large silver bowl, while
there were a couple of chairs and a sofa cove