ephant hunting,
under the belief that with our rifles we should obtain a far greater
number of tusks than could his own people.

"You will be well-fed, and as the sport is highly exciting, I don't
think you have any cause to complain," said the Captain.

"That may depend upon circumstances," observed Charley. "When are we to
set out?"

"To-morrow, or perhaps the next day; as soon as the hunters are ready.
They only returned from an expedition a few days ago and require time to
rest."

While the Captain was speaking, I saw him eyeing Harry and me in a far
more searching manner than he had done before. Suddenly he asked me my
name. I told him without hesitation,--indeed, I supposed all along that
he must have known it. He then turned to Harry, and I saw his
countenance change as Harry replied, "My name is Bracewell."

The Captain started as Harry spoke, and as he looked at him a frown
gathered on his brow.

"I might have known you before, but your dress and sunburnt countenances
deceived me. When I first saw you on board the `Arrow'--"

"Captain Roderick, let bygones be bygones!" exclaimed Charley, who had
heard from me all that had happened in England between Captain Roderick
and my friend--"Do not let us refer to the past. Here we are, five
Englishmen together among savages. If we quarrel our destruction is
certain. We can help you and you can help us."

The captain's features resumed their usual look, showing that he was
somewhat moved by this address.

"I have no quarrel with any of you, and have already shown you my
readiness to render you assistance. I have told you that I will exert
my influence with the king to procure your release, and I intend to keep
my promise."

Captain Roderick did not long remain with us; he went away, as he said,
to have a talk with the king.

"My idea is, that that fellow wants us to stop and hunt for him,"
observed Charley. "Depend upon it he would take possession of the tusks
of the elephants we killed. It may be wise in us, however, to do so for
the sake of procuring our liberty."

"He has got a hand over us at present, and as we cannot help ourselves,
we had better make the best of a bad job," observed Tom.

Accordingly, the next morning, when we saw a number of people collecting
in the square, armed for the chase, we agreed that, if invited, we would
accompany them without showing any objection. We had just taken our
breakfast, when we saw a young man app