ee the prisoners. Uraso was one of the first to
come up, and he was soon followed by John, all in excitement over the
news. George was the first one to get a hatchet. He soon chopped a way
through, and Uraso was the first to crawl into the enclosure, followed
by George.

The latter staggered back, as he saw the scene before him. The enclosure
was fully fifteen feet high, and occupied a space, probably, twenty feet
each way. It was constructed of a species of bamboo, exceedingly hard,
two rows of these paling being driven into the ground close together, so
that it was impossible to see through the stockade at any point.

Within there was absolutely nothing but the bare ground, and a mass of
indescribable filth, as may be imagined. Here, lying on the earth, were
five men, with little or no clothing, covered with dirt and vermin. Two
of them were in fairly good condition, an evidence that they had not
long been prisoners.

[Illustration: "_'Stop!' cried John, 'It will be death for any one to
touch him'_" [See p. 52]]

The other three were emaciated, and what surprised the boys most was the
long, matted and tangled beard of one of the three. The moment John saw
that form he turned to the boys and fairly shrieked: "This is a white
man. Cut down that fence, so the men can be taken out, and the moment
they are removed set fire to this place."

The boys could not understand John's vehement expression.

"Shall we burn the village?" asked Harry.

"Oh, no! Burn only this enclosure, and don't let a vestige of it
remain."

His orders were quickly carried out. Meanwhile, not a quarter of a mile
away, were the Chief and the owners of the village, who, upon seeing the
smoke and the flames, appeared to be frantic. No doubt they regarded it
as a sign that the village was doomed, but they were soon reassured by
the time the stockade was finally consumed, and the few watchers
reported to the Chief that nothing but the prison had been destroyed.

"We have destroyed the Bastille," remarked John, "and must now take care
of the prisoners." They found that it was indeed a white man who had
been rescued. He was frightfully emaciated, and too weak to talk.

This was also the condition of the two natives. The other two were soon
restored, after receiving nourishment, and were ready to tell their
story. They had been taken two weeks previously in a battle with the
tribe to the north.

Through these men they learned that there were only