g the king how we had
saved his daughter and son from death. He only answered "that his
daughter did not now belong to him, and his son must answer for
himself."

This convinced us that the black king had not a spark of gratitude in
his composition. We, however, addressed ourselves to Prince Ombay, who
appeared more inclined to accede to our request than was his father, but
he told us he dared not interfere with his authority.

Week after week went by, and we were kept in a state of vassalage. When
we went out hunting, the king, suspecting that we might make our escape,
always kept one of the party at home with our knapsacks. During the
whole time, however, neither we, our knapsacks, or our guns were
interfered with, the people evidently looking on them as fetishes, not
daring to touch them. They also believed us to be something above the
common, or we should not have been treated so civilly by them. At last
we could bear it no longer.

"Come with me, we must fight our way out of this," exclaimed Charley.

"That is more easily said than done. Although we might kill a few
people we should be overwhelmed with numbers," observed Tom.

"Let us try if we cannot deceive them by pretending to be reconciled to
our lot," said Harry; "or if one of us shams to be ill, they'll think we
cannot move under the circumstances; such a trick would be perfectly
justifiable."

"Of course it would," said Tom, "and I'll be the one to sham ill, you'll
see how I'll howl and shriek, until the people will be glad to get rid
of us for the sake of peace and quiet."

The next evening Tom put his proposal into execution. No sooner had the
villagers turned in than he began howling and shrieking in the most
fearful manner.

"I think you are overdoing it," observed Harry, "we shall not get any
sleep either."

"Never mind that for a few hours," answered Tom, "I must howl on until
they come and see what's the matter." He got some white earth with
which he bedaubed his face, and which made it of an ashy paleness as he
now lay covered up with mats on one side of the house.

The noise had been heard by the prince, who, with several other persons,
came to know what was the matter. Tom made no answer, but howled and
shrieked louder than ever, as if racked with pain.

Aboh, who had not, however, been let into the secret, informed the
prince that the white man was very ill, and that he was afraid we should
all catch the same complaint. T