A B R A V E FELLOW. 271
passion, when he came out of the hut, saying to me in
Portuguese:
“ If I am going to die, I want to be killed at once. I
do not want to stop inside! ”
“ There need be no fear,” I said. “ Sit down; we will
not leave you. Only do as you are told.”
Heedless of this advice, however, he shouted aloud :
“ If you think I have betrayed you, give me muave.
Muave will speak the tru th ! ”
He had hardly got out these words when another thrust
was made at him by a Mazinjiri with three arrows ; but the
attempt was parried by Bararika, who stood on the man’s
right side. The chief, who now seemed thoroughly roused
to action, then gave vent to some harsh words, emphasised
by still harsher looks. By main force the man was again
forced under the thatch, where Giraud and myself kept
watch and ward for the remainder of the day, never leaving
him alone, even for an instant.
Other troubles, which had been brewing, had now to be
tasted. Although my men belonging to the Leviathan were
all right, and said they would go on in the morning, the
men of the Tricolour said they would go no further, notwithstanding
that they had been paid.
Certain it was that we would have to be off betimes in the
morning, for we could not stop where we were any longer,
owing to provisions running rather short. Considering the
number of boys we had there was very little meal, and food
was not to be had at the villages on account of the war. Of
meat we still had enough for the boys, but could not use it
ourselves.
By the time the sun went down that night, it was beyond
doubt that the crew of the Tricolour would not go on.
Three, in fact, had already decamped; therefore nothing