orne by two men, were carried off in the rear of the
column of captive blacks, our captors taking up such positions along the
line on either side as effectually precluded all possibility of escape.

Passing across the open space, we presently plunged into the jungle,
traversing a bush-path just wide enough to allow of two men walking
abreast. I had not much opportunity, however, for noting any of the
incidents of our journey, for, owing to the clumsy way in which I was
being carried, my wounds burst open afresh, and I soon fainted from loss
of blood.

When next I recovered consciousness I found that we were afloat, no
doubt on the river, though I had no means of ascertaining this for
certain, as I was lying in the bottom of the canoe, and could see
nothing but blue sky beyond either of the gunwales. Smellie was lying
beside me, and, to my great joy, I found that he was not only alive but
a great deal better than I could have thought possible after witnessing
his former desperate condition. Of course we at once exchanged
congratulations each at the other's escape; and then began to compare
notes. My companion in misfortune had, it seemed, just started to go
forward when the explosion occurred on board the brig; the shock had
rendered him unconscious; and when he recovered he found himself on
board the canoe with me beside him. Poor fellow! he was in a sad
plight. He was severely wounded in no less than four different parts of
his body; his face and hands were badly scorched; his clothing--about
which he was always very particular--hung upon him in tatters; and
lastly, he was greatly distressed in mind at the disastrous failure of
the expedition, at the fearfully heavy casualties which we knew had
befallen the attacking party, and at the extreme probability that those
casualties had been very largely increased by the blowing up of the
brig. I said what I could to comfort him, but, alas! that was not much;
and it was a relief to us both to change the subject, even though we
naturally turned at once to the discussion of our own problematical
future.

The craft in which we found ourselves was a war-canoe, about sixty feet
long and five feet beam, manned by about forty of our captors, who sat
two abreast close to the gunwales, paddling vigorously; the negro
prisoners, as well as ourselves, being stowed along the middle of the
canoe, fore and aft. A fresh fair breeze was blowing, and full
advantage was being taken o