in the village below me. The people at length began to
come out of their huts, but I saw only women, or old men and boys,
showing that the fighting part of the population had not returned. In
vain I watched for Dick, or one of the other white men. Disappointed at
not seeing them, I descended from my perch, afraid that some of the
people might come into the wood and discover me. Hurrying on, I had got
to no great distance, when I heard voices from among the trees behind
me, showing that, had I not escaped when I did, I should have been found
out.

I could by this time speak the native language quite well enough to make
myself understood, and I resolved, should I meet any one, to go up and
speak with confidence, as if I had full right to be at liberty.

In a short time I reached another village. Here I watched as before,
but though several natives were moving about, none of my shipmates were
to be seen, and the dreadful idea occurred to me that they had all been
murdered. My heart sank, still I determined to continue my search.

The direct path from village to village was very much shorter than the
road I was compelled to take, as I had to make wide circuits to avoid
observation. I was now at a considerable distance from Motakee's
village, and I hoped, even should I be seen by any of the natives, there
was not much risk of being sent back. This made me less cautious than
before. Feeling thirsty, I had gone to a bright spring which gushed out
of a rock, to drink, when, on looking up, I saw a young girl with
several gourds, which she had brought to fill with water. She cast an
astonished glance at me, and inquired where I had come from. I told her
at once that I knew from her looks she was kind, and could only wish to
do me good; that I had belonged to the ship which had been taken by her
people, and that I was in search of my guardian. "I have not mistaken
you," I added; "you will help me, if you can?"

She looked pleased, and replied that she could feel for me, away from my
country and friends, and that she certainly would not betray me. She
added that she had heard that there was an Englishman living in the next
village, kept a prisoner by an old chief who ruled there, who was very
stern and cruel, and made him work very hard, and that he had become
very ill.

"The chief himself has gone away to fight, and you will have less
difficulty in seeing your countryman than would have been the case had
he been