was much to be admired; but this is a trait more common
in Pagandom than in Christendom.
“Why have you brought this man into my town?”
demanded Bararika. “ He is a traitor. He has betrayed
the villages to the Portuguese. Yesterday it was he who
told my messenger that I should fatten my people for the
time they should come.”
“ Tell him, Fred, that I brought this man to show my
boys that the Portuguese would not harm them, and for no
other reason. I alone am responsible; not the man. To
touch him is to touch me, Ms owner. The chief must assist
in protecting the man. I have nothing more to say, except
that we will go to a hut, which will be paid for.”
The situation was becoming graver every moment. We
rose, and telling the man to follow close to me, M. Giraud
and Miller looking out that he should not be attacked
behind, we moved towards the huts.
Behind, before, and around us the crowd could only be
likened to a porcupine armed with spikes of steel. The
people had lashed themselves into a state of fury, and
ever and anon some of them would make lunges at our
black captive, or attempt to snatch away the gun he carried.
We three, however, kept close order for his protection;
although, just as we were about to reach the hut, a rush was
made from behind, one of the savage demons seizing the
man’s gun, while another plunged a barbed assegai at him,
which M. Giraud, with the quickness of lightning, happily
warded oif.
In another moment we had the unlucky hostage stowed
in the hut. He had stuck firmly to his gun.
I was truly a great deal more anxious about the safety of
this fellow than he was himself, for only half an hour had
elapsed, the people being still in a condition of feverish
PROTECTING A HOSTAGK