hrough Aboh, on the beauty and size of his
plantation, and the fruit it contained.

"Very good for eat, but no good for trade," was the answer. His majesty
had, it was evident, an eye to commerce, and we discovered that the
article which he could obtain with the least difficulty, and sell at the
highest price, were elephants' tusks. His hunters, we found, frequently
went in chase of the monsters for a twofold purpose,--to obtain ivory,
and to keep them at a distance from the plantain grove, among which two
or three elephants in a few hours might have committed immense damage.
He had arranged a grand elephant hunt, not having taken part in one
since his illness. He had made up his mind that we should accompany
him, believing that our rifles would be the means of securing more ivory
than could his own people with their darts and spears. We hoped that if
we complied with his wishes, he would be more ready to allow us to take
our departure. We accordingly agreed to accompany him. Tom wished to
go also, but, although he was able to walk, Charley advised him not to
run the risk of again spraining his ankle, feeling sure that great
activity would be required from the experience we had already had in
getting out of the way of elephants.

"But I've been thinking, sir, that we might have a chance of making our
escape while we are out hunting. We could easily slip away from the
natives, and push on fast in the direction we want to go."

"There are two objections to that," answered Charley. "In the first
place, the natives can travel through the forest faster than we can, and
would soon overtake us; then, as we could not go out hunting with our
packs, we should have to leave them behind us; besides which, I would
rather leave the king who has treated us so hospitably, in an open
fashion, with his goodwill, instead of stealing off like deserters."

"I dare say you are right, sir," answered Tom, "but we shall look very
foolish if the king, after all, insists on our stopping with him."

"Should such be the case, we can but take up our packs and march off,
and should any attempt be made to stop us, fight the black fellows."

"That's the sort of plain sailing I like," said Tom.

We were surprised next morning at the extent of the preparations made
for the hunt. We found nearly four hundred men, armed with spears and
javelins, assembled in the great square of the village, a large number
having come from the neighbouring ha