t the hand of
Providence averted the blow, for just as the chief was about to pull
the fatal cord, a man that was nearest him rushed forward and stayed
his arm. At that instant the Landers stood before him, and
immediately held forth their hands; all of them trembling like aspen
leaves; the chief looked up full in their faces, kneeling on the
ground; light seemed to flash from his dark rolling eyes; his body
was convulsed all over, as though he was enduring the utmost torture,
and with a timorous, yet indefinable expression of countenance, in
which all the passions of human nature were strangely blended, he
drooped his head, eagerly grasped their proffered hands, and burst
into tears. This was a sign of friendship, harmony followed, and war
and bloodshed were thought of no more. Peace and friendship now
reigned amongst them, and the first thing that they did was, to lift
the old chief from the ground, and convey him to their encampment.

The behaviour of their men afforded them no little amusement, now
that the danger was past. Pascoe was firm to his post, and stood
still with his musket pointed at the chief's breast during the whole
of the time. He was a brave fellow, and he said to his masters, as
they passed him to their encampment with the old man, "If the _black_
rascals had fired at either of you, I would have brought the old
chief down like a guinea fowl." As for their two _brave_ fellows,
Sam and Antonio, they took to their heels, and scampered off as fast
as they could, directly they saw the natives approaching them over
the long grass, nor did they make their appearance again, until the
chief and all his people were sitting round them.

All the armed villagers had now gathered round their leader, and
anxiously watched his looks and gestures. The result of the meeting
delighted them, every eye sparkled with pleasure; they uttered a
shout of joy; they thrust their bloodless arrows into their quivers;
they ran about as though they were possessed of evil spirits; they
twanged their bowstrings, fired off their muskets; shook their
spears; clattered their quivers; danced, put their bodies into all
manner of ridiculous positions; laughed, cried, and sung in rapid
succession; they were like a troop of maniacs. Never was a spectacle
more wild and terrific. When this sally of passion to which they had
worked themselves, had subsided into calmer and more reasonable
behaviour, the Landers presented each of the war-men w