ocure the paddles was the
difficulty. They were probably in the houses of the owners, and it was
a question whether these owners would part with the paddles, and whether
it would be safe to enter into a bargain with them, lest they should
betray us to the king.

"To my mind, the best thing we can do, sir, is to make some paddles for
ourselves," observed Tom Tubbs.

"Of course," answered Charley; "we can work away as soon as it is dark,
and have them ready by to-morrow night. Longer than that we must not
stay in this horrible place, we shall have wood enough for our purpose
in the building, by pulling down part of the rear of our house, where it
won't be missed, or from the trees in our garden, or part of the
fencing. We should have a paddle for each person, as we shall require
two or three canoes to convey all our party."

This matter settled, we were about to return, when we saw a female at
the door of one of the largest houses near the water, at the end of the
village which we had just reached. She appeared to be beckoning to us;
we went forward, and great was our surprise to find that she was no
other than Iguma, the young lady I had saved from the ape, and whose
marriage with Prince Kendo I had afterwards witnessed. Feeling sure
that gratitude would animate a female bosom, I asked Harry to tell her
the difficulty in which we were placed, and, throwing ourselves on her
generosity, entreat her to assist us in escaping. She seemed much
pleased at seeing us, and at once recognised me, and said she had not
forgotten the service I had done her. We then informed her how we were
situated. She at once said she would do all she could to help us, but
that her power, she was afraid, was very limited. She complained that
her husband was constantly away on shooting expeditions, and that she
held his drunken uncle, King Kickubaroo, in great awe, and that he
evidently had no affection for her. She told us that we need have no
fear about canoes, as her husband had three or four which were hauled up
on the bank inside a yard, close to which we then were, and that by
climbing over the fence we should find them at any time ready for use.
As to paddles, she acknowledged that they were generally kept shut up in
the house, to prevent the canoes being taken away, but that she would
try and place them on board the following evening as soon it was dark.
Thus all was quickly arranged for our attempt to escape.

As soon as we got