ant lashing my ankles firmly
together.

"Dere, dat will do, Peter; I t'ink him cannot do much harm now,"
remarked the voice of my whilom guide; and as the fellow spoke I was
relieved of the very considerable weight that had been pressing upon me
and holding me down. Then I was rolled over on my side, and, as the
blanket that enveloped my head and very nearly suffocated me was
cautiously removed, I felt the prick of something sharp against my left
breast, and the same voice that had spoken before observed--

"Massa Courtenay, we hab no wish to hurt you, sah; but it am my painful
duty to warn you dat, if you sing out, or make de slightest attempt to
escape, I shall be obleeged to dribe dis lilly knife ob mine home to yo'
heart, sar. So now you knows what you hab to expec'. Does you
understan' what I say, sah?"

"Certainly I do," answered I, with suppressed fury, "your meaning is
clear enough, in all conscience. But beware what you do, my fine
fellow. You were seen by several of my friends at the hotel, who will
have no difficulty in identifying you; and I warn you that you will be
made to pay dearly for this outrage to a British naval officer. What is
the meaning of it all? Have you any idea of the enormity of your
offence?"

"Oh yes, sah," answered my guide cheerfully, "we hab a very clear idea
ob dat, haben't we, Peter?" addressing another big, powerful negro of
somewhat similar cut to himself, but attired in much less respectable
garments.

Peter grinned affirmatively, but said nothing; whereupon his companion
continued--

"Now, Peter, where am dat gag? Just bring it along, and let us fix it
up, so as to make all safe. It would be a most drefful misfortune if
Massa Courtenay was to sing out, and force me to split him heart wid dis
knife ob mine; so we will just make it onpossible for him to do any such
foolis' t'ing."

All this time the knife--a formidable dagger-shaped blade fully a foot
long--was kept pressed so firmly to my breast that it had drawn blood,
the stain of which was now dyeing the front of my white shirt, so the
moment was manifestly inopportune for any attempt at escape or
resistance even; I therefore submitted, with the best grace I could
muster, to the insertion of the gag between my teeth, reserving to
myself the right to make both ruffians smart for their outrage upon me
at the first available opportunity. But before the gag was placed
between my teeth, I contrived to repeat my i