m them; but
to my chagrin I found that while it was almost impossible for me to
remain awake, my captors or owners--I scarcely knew which to consider
them seemed restless, watchful, and all more or less upon the alert.
Finally, while waiting and watching for signs that they were succumbing
to the influence of the drowsy god, I lost all control of myself and
sank into a profound and delicious slumber.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

KING BANDA.

How long I remained steeped in that delightful and refreshing sleep I
did not then know; but when at length I awoke with a violent start the
embers of the fire were merely smouldering, while the snorts and snores
that were emitted by the recumbent figures grouped around it seemed to
indicate that the fateful moment had arrived when I might make a bid for
liberty with some prospect of success. It was now very much darker than
it had been when I sank into involuntary slumber, for the moon had swung
so far over toward the west that at least two-thirds of the small
clearing which we occupied were enveloped in deep shadow, but I observed
with some dismay that my path to the canoe lay directly across the patch
that was still bathed in the moon's rays. That, however, could not be
helped; I could not afford to delay until the moon had sunk low enough
to throw the entire clearing into shadow, for with the setting of the
moon would come dawn and sunrise. I therefore determined to start upon
my attempt forthwith, and, as a first step, rolled myself over, away
from the fire, as though stirring in my sleep.

I was now lying with my back to the fire, and could therefore not see my
companions or observe what effect, if any, my movement had had upon
them; but I resolved not to fail for want of caution, so I made no
further attempt to withdraw myself for the next ten minutes, but
confined myself simply to a few restless movements, as though--which was
actually the case--I was being worried by the swarms of minute creeping
and biting things with which the spot abounded. Then, at the end of
about ten minutes from my first movement, I ventured again to roll over
in the same direction as before, which once more brought me with my face
toward the fire. I now opened my eyes cautiously and carefully surveyed
my surroundings. Not one of the black figures about the fire appeared
to have altered his position in the slightest degree, so far as I could
perceive, while the snoring and snorting still proceede