and the value of the
opportunity which he had let slip through his fingers.

Poor Jarwin! words fail to convey a correct idea of the depth of his
despair, for now he saw clearly, as he thought, that perpetual slavery
was his doom. Under the influence of the feelings that overwhelmed him
he became savage.

"Cuff," said he, on the afternoon of the day of his return, "it's all up
with you and me, old chap."

The tone in which this was uttered was so stern that the terrier drooped
its ears, lowered its tail, and looked up with an expression that was
equivalent to "Don't kick me, _please_ don't!"

Jarwin smiled a grim yet a pitiful smile as he looked at the dog.

"Yes, it's all up with us," he continued; "we shall live and die in
slavery; wot a fool I was not to cut and run when I had the chance!"

The remembrance of "honour bright" flashed upon him here, but he was
still savage, and therefore doggedly shut his eyes to it.

At this point a message was brought to him from Big Chief requesting his
attendance in the royal hut. Jarwin turned angrily on the messenger and
bid him begone in a voice of thunder, at the same time intimating, by a
motion of his foot, that if he did not obey smartly, he would quicken
his motions for him. The messenger vanished, and Jarwin sat down beside
Cuffy--who looked excessively humble--and vented his feelings thus--

"I can't stand it no longer Cuff. I _won't_ stand it! I'm goin' to
bust up, I am; so look out for squalls."

A feeling of uncertainty as to the best method of "busting up" induced
him to clutch his hair with both hands, and snort. It must not be
supposed that our hero gave way to such rebellious feelings with
impunity. On the contrary, his conscience pricked him to such an extent
that it felt like an internal pin-cushion or hedgehog. While he was
still holding fast to his locks in meditative uncertainty, three natives
appeared at the entrance of his hut, and announced that they had been
sent by Big Chief to take him to the royal hut by force, in case he
should refuse to go peaceably.

Uttering a shout of defiance, the exasperated man sprang up and rushed
at the natives, who, much too wise to await the onset, fled in three
different directions. Instead of pursuing any of them, Jarwin went
straight to his master's hut, where he found him seated on a couch of
native cloth. Striding up to him he clenched his fist, and holding it
up in a threatening manner, exclaimed--