r satisfaction, we discovered a quantity of
plantains, some roast venison, and yams, and also a couple of large
gourds, the one containing goat's milk, the other water.

"We are much obliged to you for bringing these," said Harry. "And who
may I ask, sent them."

"A friend," answered one of the girls. "But we were forbidden to tell
you who she is. Eat and be satisfied." On this, the girls evidently
acting as they had been directed, left the hut, and the door was
immediately closed.

"I thought, when I saw the baskets, some young woman must have sent the
food," observed Tom. "They're alike all the world over, to my mind, the
same sort of heart beats inside a black skin as a white one. Things
don't look so bad after all."

We had provisions enough to last us--if they would keep good--for
several days. We agreed to husband them, not knowing when more might be
brought us. To prevent any creatures getting into them, we hung them up
to the rafters of the roof. Next day we were left entirely alone. We
were, as may be supposed, getting impatient, and had good reason to
dread what might next happen. Observing the light coming through under
the roof, we concluded that we might get a look through the opening, to
see what was going forward outside. Towards the back, and one of the
sides, the walls of other houses prevented us obtaining any view, but on
the other we found that we could look right down the street.

I must pass over several days, during which we were kept in confinement.
Only once in three days was any food brought us, our benefactor, or
benefactress, who sent it, probably not having opportunities for doing
so oftener. We could gain no information from the slaves who brought
the baskets, nor could we learn anything from the people who were,
occasionally sent in to clean out our hut. We were now growing very
anxious--moreover, our health was suffering. All sort of dreadful ideas
occurred to us, and we fancied that the king was reserving us for some
great festival, when he might, as Tom had suggested--sacrifice us to his
fetish gods. At last we agreed that, to save ourselves from a worse
fate, we would run the risk of breaking out, and fighting our way down
to the river.

We had been imprisoned for nearly a month, and had settled one evening,
that the very next night we would make the attempt. The following day
we expected to receive our usual supply of provisions, which we intended
to carry with