ion was brought to us in a basket, but as the meat was
already tainted, we preferred breakfasting on the plantains sprinkled
with red pepper. We observed a dozen men or more with drawn swords
standing near us as a guard to prevent our escape, though we were in no
way molested. We looked about for Aboh, but he was nowhere to be seen,
and without his aid we could not hope to make the king understand our
wishes. I began to be afraid that he must have been removed from us,
and carried away with the men of his village into slavery, or perhaps
put to death.

"I don't think there's a chance of their killing him or any of the
prisoners, when they can, by sending them down to the coast, obtain a
good price for them," observed Charley. "If the king wants to make use
of us, he will not wish to deprive us of our interpreter."

The king now shouted out to his followers, and they began to make
preparations for the march, still Aboh did not appear. The farther off
we got from King Quagomolo's village, the less chance we should have, we
thought, of recovering our property and getting Tom to rejoin us.
Charley, therefore, eagerly addressed the king, who passed near where we
were sitting, and tried to make him understand by signs what we wanted.
He scratched his head, but evidently did not understand either our signs
or words. At last he spoke to one of his attendants, who hurried off
and soon returned with Aboh, dragging him along by a rope fastened round
his wrists. Poor Aboh looked very downcast. "What's the matter?" asked
Charley.

"Me try run 'way, and king bind him hands with odder prisoners."

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Charley, "it would have been better not
to have attempted it. Now, we want you to ask the king to let us go
back and get our knapsacks, and our companion and we will faithfully
return to him as soon as we have done so."

"Me tinkee king no trust him," answered Aboh.

"What! not trust an officer in the navy, and two other English
gentlemen," exclaimed Charley indignantly. "Tell him then, that one of
us will remain with him, while the other two, with a sufficient guard,
go back, and say that we will return as soon as possible."

"But 'spose King Quagomolo no let go," suggested Aboh.

"Then let King Sanga Tanga say, that if we are detained, he will march a
large army to liberate us."

Aboh fully understood our wishes. He forthwith held a long palaver with
the king. The result was more satisfa