to go at liberty.

As we could not sleep, owing to the hideous noise going on in the
village, so we sat up to a late hour, discussing our plans for the
future.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

WE ARE EXPECTED TO GO OUT HUNTING AGAIN--WE COMPLAIN TO THE KING AND
DEMAND OUR FREEDOM--REMIND HIM OF OUR GOOD SERVICES--HIS INGRATITUDE--
NEITHER BRIBERY OR THREATS AFFECT HIM--OUR CONDITION BECOMES WORSE--TOM
FEIGNS ILLNESS--HIS HOWLS AROUSE THE VILLAGE--HE FRIGHTENS THE KING--THE
KING FALLS ILL--WE DETERMINE TO ESCAPE WITH THE OTHER BLACK PRISONERS--
THE MEDICINE MAN THE ONLY WEASEL IN THE VILLAGE--WE ARE PURSUED--ONE OF
OUR MEN HIT--WE FIRE--TOM HIT--WE CHECK THE NATIVES--WE MAKE FOR A
DEFENSIVE POSITION--THE ENEMY AGAIN COME UP WITH US--THE MORNING IS
BREAKING--TWO VOLLEYS DISPERSE OUR PURSUERS--WE REST--SEE A VILLAGE--
SIGHT A RIVER--OUR PLANS FOR DESCENDING IT--MEET A HUNTING PARTY--THEY
SEIZE US--CARRIED BEFORE THE KING--OUR CAPTOR TELLS "ONE BIG LIE"--WE
RECOVER OUR GUNS--SLEEP IN A DIRTY HUT--EAT THE FOOD IN OUR KNAPSACKS--
THE KING SURPRISED AT OUR ENDURANCE--A WELCOME PRESENT FROM AN UNKNOWN
FRIEND--OUR CONFINEMENT AFFECTS OUR HEALTH, AND WE PREPARE TO FIGHT FOR
LIBERTY--A STARTLING RECOGNITION--CAPTAIN RODERICK UNDERTAKES TO OBTAIN
OUR RELEASE--AN AGREEABLE CHANGE OF QUARTERS--THE GENERAL'S POWERFUL
FETISH--CAPTAIN RODERICK'S DETERMINATION NEVER TO RETURN TO ENGLAND--
PATIENCE IN CAPTIVITY.

The bride and bridegroom had taken their departure northwards. We tried
to ascertain the exact position of their village in order that we might
avoid it, rather than pay the young couple a visit. As soon as the game
we had taken was exhausted, the king wanted us once more to start on a
hunting expedition, but we had come to the resolution of going as seldom
as possible, that we might avoid the expenditure of our ammunition. It
was necessary to husband that, as we should certainly require it on our
journey. Although we were apparently allowed our liberty, we were
conscious that we were narrowly watched, and that, therefore, we should
find great difficulty in making our escape by stealth. Tom Tubbs having
completely recovered his strength, and we three being in good condition,
we determined to go to the king and boldly request guides and an escort
to the northward as far as his jurisdiction extended, at the same time,
to demand the release of Aboh and Shimbo, who were willing to accompany
us instead of returning to their own villag