ace, and the
light of the flames when it fell dark, could scarcely have failed to
attract to the spot any savages who might have been in the
neighbourhood, when my plight would probably have been as bad as ever;
but at that moment my sorrow at the loss of my companion overcame every
other feeling, and, for the moment at least, I was quite indifferent as
to what befell me. As it happened, no one came near me, and I remained,
unmolested, watching the fire until it had burnt itself out, leaving no
trace of the body that had been consumed.

Meanwhile, since I was almost naked, and was hoping soon to find myself
once more among civilised people, it occurred to me that the skin of the
leopard which had wrought this dire tragedy might be of use to me as
material out of which to fashion some sort of a garment; and, therefore,
while the flames of the pyre were still blazing brilliantly I utilised
their light to enable me to strip the pelt off the great carcase. When
the fire had entirely died down, and I had satisfied myself that there
was nothing left of poor Ama to be desecrated by fang of beast or beak
of bird, I sorrowfully retired from the fatal spot, carrying the
leopard's skin with me, and making my way with some difficulty to the
place where the canoe lay concealed, sprang in and shoved off.

Four days later I arrived at the mouth of the river, without further
adventure, and was fortunate enough to find a fine slashing brigantine
flying French colours riding at anchor there. It did not need a second
look at her to tell me that she was a slaver; but beggars must not be
choosers. I could not afford to wait about for the arrival of a more
honest craft, at the risk of being again seized and carried off by the
natives, and therefore, putting a bold face upon it, I paddled alongside
and, with my leopard-skin wrapped round me petticoat-fashion, climbed up
the side and inquired for the skipper. It appeared that he was ashore
at the moment making arrangements for the shipment of a cargo of slaves
on the next day; but the chief mate was aboard, and upon representing
myself to him as a shipwrecked Englishman who had been carried away
captive into the interior, and had just effected my escape, he gave me
permission to remain, saying that he had no doubt Captain Duquesne would
receive me if I were willing to work my passage to Martinique. This was
not at all what I wanted; but even Martinique was better than King
Banda's town,