party the prince had already
collected, and who were waiting at the outskirts of the village. It was
too dark, however, by the time we reached the part of the forest where
the elephants had been seen to go in search of them. We therefore
encamped, and lighted a fire to cook the provisions we had brought with
us. Soon after we had begun supper, two figures appeared from amidst
the brushwood surrounding the open spot we had selected for our camp.
The gleam of the fire fell upon them. We saw by their dress and faces
that they were white men. Their haggard countenances showed that they
were suffering from hunger. Tom Tubbs, who had started to his feet,
advanced a few paces towards them--

"Why, as I live," he exclaimed, "I think I know you fellows."

"Like enough you do, mate," answered one of the men, "like enough you
do, but before you have any palaver, just hand us out some of that grub,
and a drink of water or anything stronger if you've got it, for we are
well-nigh famished."

"So you look," said Tom; "sit down, the gentlemen here will be glad
enough to share their provisions with you, so will this nigger prince,
and after that we will hear what you have got to tell about yourselves."

The men without uttering another word sat down close to the fire, and
eagerly seizing the food we offered them, began munching away in a style
which fully confirmed the account they had given of their famished
state.

Looking at their countenances more narrowly, I at once recognised the
two seamen, Caspar Caper and Herman Jansen, who had escaped during the
massacre of the Frenchmen.

The two men exhibited a marked contrast, and it seemed surprising that
they should have associated together. Caspar seemed a good-natured,
honest fellow, and as soon as he had satisfied his hunger, he began to
laugh and joke with Tom, and to describe the adventures they had gone
through, while Jansen sat moody and silent, a frown on his brow, and his
looks averted from us. Even when Tom spoke to him he answered only in
monosyllables, or did not answer at all, holding out the gourd which had
been given him for a further supply of palm-wine.

"I shouldn't like to meet that fellow by myself were I unarmed in a dark
place, he looks as if he would attempt to kill a man merely for the
satisfaction of committing murder," whispered Charley to me; "I wonder
he has not before now shot his companion, and I suspect that only the
desire of self-preservati