e palisade, shivering the principal entrance gate to
splinters, and (as was intended) frightening the guard clean out of
their senses. With one shrill, piercing scream of terror, as they
caught sight of the dazzling bow lights of the ship, the sable warriors
took to their heels and vanished in the darkness, whilst the _Flying
Fish_ was dexterously brought to earth close alongside the hut tenanted
by Mrs Scott and her nieces. That appalling yell effectually awakened
the entire occupants of the hut; and whilst they were sitting up on
their pallets, rubbing their eyes and wondering what the terrible sound
might portend, the portiere was pushed aside and the professor, bearing
a hand-lamp, unceremoniously made his appearance before them with an
earnest request that they would dress with all speed and join him on the
outside of the hut, where he would await them, the hour of their
deliverance having arrived.

A quarter of an hour later the bewildered ladies were conducted by von
Schalckenberg in through the trapdoor in the bottom of the _Flying Fish_
and up the cylindrical staircase to the saloon, where they were warmly
welcomed by the other three gentlemen, who, after a few congratulatory
remarks on their fortunate escape, retired to secure and convey on board
the boxes containing the remainder of their guests' wardrobes. This
done, Mrs Scott and her nieces were conducted to the cabins assigned
for their use, and the gentlemen then retreated to the pilot-house,
where, over a keenly enjoyed pipe, a hasty council was held as to what
should be done with M'Bongwele.

This question was settled just as the first faint streaks of approaching
dawn began to brighten the eastern horizon, when the ship was moved up
into the great square before the king's house, where the whole of the
king's body-guard were drawn up under arms, and, beyond them, the
remaining inhabitants of the village, a dense, surging, excited,
squabbling crowd.

On the approach of the _Flying Fish_ the latter flung themselves face
downwards, in abject terror, to the ground, and the armed and mounted
warriors betrayed a disposition to stampede which was only with the
utmost difficulty checked and restrained by Seketulo. Even this chief
found himself unable to wholly conceal the feeling of nervousness which
agitated him; but he in this trying moment enjoyed a consciousness,
unshared by any other man there present, of having done his best to make
the erstwhile p