.

The man who had unloosed me said something to his companions, one of
whom bent down, lifted my right hand, and let it fall again. The second
man followed suit with my left, and I saw before they dropped them again
that they were dark and swollen, while as to use, that seemed to be
totally gone.

The man who had remained with me took hold of the gourd and held it to
my lips in a quick angry fashion, holding it while I drank with avidity
every drop, the draught seeming to be more delicious than anything I had
ever before tasted.

Setting it aside he looked down at me grimly, and then in a laughing
contemptuous way one of the others picked up and roughly peeled a
plantain, holding it out to me to eat.

It was not sumptuous fare, cold water and bananas, but it was a most
delicious and refreshing repast; while to make my position a little more
bearable one of the men now undid the grass cord that was about my
ankles, setting them free.

The act probably was meant kindly, but when, soon after, they left the
cabin, after setting me up and letting me fall again, my wrists and
ankles began to throb and ache in the most unbearable way, somewhat
after the fashion of one's fingers when chilled by the cold and the
circulation is coming back.

As I sat making feeble efforts to chafe the swollen flesh I became aware
that though unbound I was not to be trusted, for fear of escape, and
that to prevent this a broad-shouldered black with his hair frizzed into
two great globes, one on either side of his head, had been stationed at
the hut door.

When he came up, spear in hand, I saw that he was tattooed with curious
lines across his chest and back, similar lines marking his arms and
wrists, something after the fashion of bracelets.

He looked in at me attentively twice, and then seated himself just
outside the entrance, where he took his waddy from where it was stuck
through his lingouti or waistband, drew a sharp piece of flint from a
pouch, and began to cut lines upon his waddy handle in the most patient
manner.

He had been busily at work for some time, when there was a great sound
of shouting and yelling, which seemed greatly to excite the people of
the village, for dozens came running out armed with clubs and spears, to
meet a batch of about a dozen others, who came into the opening fronting
my prison, driving before them another black, who was struggling with
them fiercely, but compelled by blows and pricks of spears