d
somewhat, and in the morning we went to the village to seek for food,
being so famished with hunger that we lost all feeling of danger and all
wish to escape in our desire to satisfy the cravings of nature. But no
sooner had we obtained food than we began to wish that we had rather
endeavoured to make our escape into the mountains. This we attempted to
do soon afterwards, but the natives were now able to look after us, and
on our showing a disposition to avoid observation and make towards the
mountains, we were seized by three warriors, who once more bound our
wrists and thrust us into our former prison.

It is true Jack made a vigorous resistance, and knocked down the first
savage who seized him, with a well-directed blow of his fist, but he was
speedily overpowered by others. Thus we were again prisoners, with the
prospect of torture and a violent death before us.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Imprisonment--Sinking hopes--Unexpected freedom to more than one, and in
more senses than one.

For a long long month we remained in our dark and dreary prison, during
which dismal time we did not see the face of a human being, except that
of the silent savage who brought us our daily food.

There have been one or two seasons in my life during which I have felt as
if the darkness of sorrow and desolation that crushed my inmost heart
could never pass away, until death should make me cease to feel the
present was such a season.

During the first part of our confinement we felt a cold chill at our
hearts every time we heard a foot-fall near the cave--dreading lest it
should prove to be that of our executioner. But as time dragged heavily
on, we ceased to feel this alarm, and began to experience such a deep,
irrepressible longing for freedom, that we chafed and fretted in our
confinement like tigers. Then a feeling of despair came over us, and we
actually longed for the time when the savages would take us forth to die!
But these changes took place very gradually, and were mingled sometimes
with brighter thoughts; for there were times when we sat in that dark
cavern on our ledge of rock and conversed almost pleasantly about the
past, until we well-nigh forgot the dreary present. But we seldom
ventured to touch upon the future.

A few decayed leaves and boughs formed our bed; and a scanty supply of
yams and taro, brought to us once a-day, constituted our food.

"Well, Ralph, how have you slept?" said Jack, in a listless to