ly
emptied out and fresh substituted. With these explanations I shall now
return to our skipper and his royal guest.

It was plain that the former was in excellent humour. He had King Dingo
Bingo all to himself, and was promised a full cargo. His majesty seemed
not less pleased with the interview. He came forth out of the cabin
staggering with partial intoxication, clutching in one hand a half-empty
bottle of rum, while in the other he held various glittering trinkets
and pieces of gaudy wearing apparel, which he had just received as
presents from the captain. He swaggered about the deck, once or twice
tripping upon his long steel scabbard. He talked in loud praise of his
warlike achievements, boasting of the many villages he had sacked, of
the captives he had made, and ever reminding his host of the fine cargo
he had collected for him. There were five hundred of them, "young and
strong." They were shut up safely in the "barracoon,"--such was the
name of the large building--and to-morrow, that day, or whenever the
captain was ready, he would deliver them over. So promised the king.

Of course the captain was not quite ready. His majesty's "plunder" had
to be got out of the hold, and boated ashore; the water casks had to be
emptied--for it was sea-water they contained--and then refilled from the
river; and these things done the barque would then take on board her
five hundred "bultos."

After a good deal more swaggering and swearing--for this African royalty
could speak a little English, and knew most of its most blackguard
phrases--his sable majesty once more betook himself to his boat, and was
rowed back to the bank. The captain, taking his mate and some
half-dozen of the sailors along with him, followed soon after in the gig
to complete the debauch--for King Dingo Bingo had invited him to a royal
entertainment in his timber palace upon the shore.

I looked after with longing eyes--not that I had any desire to be, of
their company--far from it, indeed--but gazing upon the beautiful forms
of vegetation that adorned the banks of this savage river, listening to
the sweet music that came from a thousand bright-plumed songsters amid
the woods, I longed once more to set my feet upon the firm earth; I
longed to be alone, to wander alone and free, away under the shadow of
those majestic trees.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

It is very probable I should have longed in vain--very probable I should
not have been allowed