his childhood, he appeared wholly
insensible to human feelings, and derided the agonies of the wretches
who daily fell by his hands. One day he amused himself by shooting
small bird-arrows at a man who was bound to a post before the tent,
which was placed there for the punishment of those who were his victims.
He continued for hours fixing the arrows in different parts of his
body, mimicking and deriding his cries. At last, contrary to his
intentions, one of the arrows hit the man in the throat, and his head
drooped. As the old savage saw that the poor man was dying, he drew
another arrow and sent it through his heart, very much annoyed at his
disappointment in not prolonging the poor creature's sufferings. I was
witness to this scene with silent horror, and many more of a similar
nature. I hardly need say, that I felt what my punishment would be if I
had by any means roused the jealousy of this monster; and I knew that,
without giving him real cause, a moment of bare suspicion would be
sufficient to sacrifice my mistress as well as me.

CHAPTER SEVEN.

I ATTEND THE KING ON A HUNTING EXPEDITION--CHASE OF WILD ANIMALS--WHYNA
AND I IN GREAT DANGER FROM A TIGER--BARBARITY OF THE KING TO MY YOUNG
MISTRESS--I TRY TO SOOTHE HER--I AND MY COMPANIONS ARE RANSOMED--SAD
PARTING WITH WHYNA--AFTER AN ENCOUNTER WITH A HOSTILE PEOPLE, WE REACH
SENEGAL--RETURN TO ENGLAND.

I had been about three months in captivity, when the old king, with his
four wives and a large party of Negroes, left the town, and went into
the woods to hunt. My companions were left in the town, but I was
ordered to attend my mistress, and I went with the hopes of being able
by some means to make my escape, for my fear of the old monarch was much
greater than my regard for my mistress. As I had not become a
proficient with the bows and arrows, or in hurling the javelin, I was
equipped with a strong spear. My mistress was skilful to admiration
with the arrow and javelin; she never missed her aim that I knew, and
she certainly never appeared to such advantage as she did at this
hunting-party. Her activity, her symmetry of limb, and her courage, her
skill with her weapons, all won the heart of the old king; and I believe
that his strong attachment to her arose more from her possession of the
above qualities than from any other cause. Certain it is, that the old
savage doted on her--she was the only being who could bend his stubborn
will. As his age