burst of their rage was over,
and they found themselves on the threshold of that haunted cavern, the
fear of which had been an element in their training from infancy, they
felt, no doubt, overawed by superstitious dread, and hesitated to enter,
although most of them must have been convinced that the fugitives were
there. Their fears increased as their anger abated, and they crowded
round King Jambai, who seemed loath to take upon himself the honour of
leader.

"They must have sought shelter here," said the king, pointing to the
cavern and looking round with an assumption of boldness which he was
evidently far from feeling. "Who among my warriors will follow me?"

"Perhaps the evil spirits have carried them away," suggested one of the
sable crew.

"That is the word of a coward," cried the king, who, although somewhat
timorous about spirits, was in reality a bold, brave man, and felt
nettled that any of his warriors should show the white feather. "If
evil spirits are there, our fetishman will drive them away. Let the
doctor stand forth."

At that moment the doctor, worthy knave, must have wished in his inmost
soul that he had remained quietly at home and left to warriors the task
of capturing the fugitives, but there was no resisting the mandate of
the king; besides, his honour and credit as a fetishman was at stake;
moreover, no doubt he felt somewhat emboldened by the presence of such a
large number of men--there were certainly several hundreds on the
ground--so, all things considered, he thought it best to accept the post
of leader with a good grace. Stepping quickly forward, he cried, "Let
torches be brought, and I will lead the way."

A murmur of approbation ran through the crowd of blacks, who, like a
flock of sheep, felt bold enough to follow a leader blindly.

While the consultation was going on outside, we were making hasty
preparation for defending ourselves to the last extremity. Peterkin, in
particular, was extremely active, and, to say truth, his actions
surprised us not a little. I once or twice fancied that excitement had
turned his brain. He first dressed up his head in a species of wild
turban made of dried grass and tall sedgy leaves; then he put several
patches of red and white earth on his black face, as well as on his body
in various places, and fastened a number of loose pieces of rag, torn
from a handkerchief, and bits of tattered leaves to his arms and legs in
such a manner as to giv