f, in readiness to meet the attack,
which he at the same time did nothing, by look or gesture, to provoke.
His calm intrepidity, while it seemed temporarily to restrain our
enemies, served also to reassure and steady Barton and myself; and
endeavouring to emulate his self-possession, we stood ready to act as
circumstances should indicate, looking to him for the example."

Here Arthur paused, as if about to suspend his narrative. Johnny, who
was now broad awake, and listening eagerly, waited patiently a few
moments, expecting him to recommence. Finding, however, that he did not
do so, he at length asked him to "go on."

"It is getting quite late," answered Arthur; "see, those three bright
stars which were high in the heavens when we first sat down here, are
now on the very edge of the horizon, about to sink behind the ocean. As
we expect to be up, and on our way to Castle-hill before sunrise
to-morrow. I think we should now go to rest."

"If we do," replied Johnny, "I am sure I shall not be able to sleep; I
shall be thinking of that terrible old priest, and trying to guess how
you escaped at last."

"I judge," said Browne, "that you are pretty nearly at the end of your
adventures in Angatan, so pray let us have the remainder now."

"Do so," added Morton, "and set Johnny's mind at rest, or he will be
dreaming of cannibals and cannibal-priests all night, and disturbing us
by crying out in his sleep."

"I think it's quite likely," said Johnny, shaking his head in a
threatening manner; "I feel just now very much as if I should."

"Since that is the case," said Arthur, "I suppose I must `go on,' in
self-defence; and as I believe that twenty minutes will suffice for what
remains, I will finish it."

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

THE FLIGHT.

TE VEA--THE VICTIM FOR SACRIFICE--THE ESCAPE AND PURSUIT--THE PRIEST'S
AMBUSH.

"For life, for life, their flight they ply,
And shriek, and shout, and battle-cry,
And weapons waving to the sky,
Are maddening in their rear."

"While the party hostile to us, thus stood hesitating, but to all
appearance rapidly approaching a point where all hesitation would cease,
Olla, with tears streaming down her cheeks, besought us to fly to her
husband's house, where, she seemed to imagine, we should necessarily be
safe from violence. But though no one yet laid hands on us, we were
surrounded on all sides, and could not with any certainty distinguish
friends from foes; and the