canoe. They might prove friendly, but should they,
as was possible, attempt to molest us, it might be advisable to leave
their neighbourhood, when we should certainly have a better chance of
escaping by water than by land.

"Then we had better have another craft built without delay," observed
Jack, who heard Stanley make a remark to this effect. "And now that we
know how to set about it, we should get another built much quicker than
the last."

On reaching the Castle we found the young ladies greatly alarmed at our
absence. Senhor Silva, it appeared, had rushed back and called out
David, telling him to come without delay to our assistance. Some of us
were up trees, besieged by an elephant, and he could not tell what had
become of the captain and the rest of us. Stanley had, it appeared,
lost his bag of bullets, and had made off to where we were working at
the canoe to find them. This had prevented him from firing at the
elephant; and not being able to find his ammunition, he also had gone
back to the Castle, from which he found David issuing with a rifle and
some bullets. Soon afterwards they were met by Timbo and Chickango, who
also had observed the approach of the hunters, and had advised them not
to show themselves till the elephant was killed and they were in good
humour after their victory. Jack and the boys had in the meantime
remained up the tree, and, like me, had been watching all that was
taking place. When they saw that I was made prisoner, they had slipped
down, and, unperceived, had hastened to the Castle for assistance.
Kate, on hearing the account given of the savages, strongly urged us to
commence our journey without delay to the south.

"But you see, miss," observed Jack, "it will take us some time to build
another boat, and it may be that we shall become good friends with these
people before then. Timbo says that if we know how to manage them, we
shall be able to get on very well, and maybe we shall do them a good
turn, and they will help us."

Our first canoe was now completed, and we lost no time in commencing a
second.

"It would be as well, I think," said Senhor Silva, "after we have cut
down another tree, to take the bull by the horns, and visit these people
at once. If we show confidence in them they are less likely to injure
us, and, at all events, we can be on our guard against any treachery
they may meditate. I know these native tribes well. If we show that we
do not fear th