gag me for doing so."

After remaining perfectly quiet and apparently resigned to his fate,
raising his voice to the highest pitch, he shouted out, "Help! help!"
He had only time to utter these words, when a big negro standing near
him clapped his hand before his mouth, and effectually prevented him
from uttering another sound.

"Never fear, Desmond," said Adair; "I think they must have heard that
shout, and Gordon will to a certainty suspect what has happened to us."

While a number of negroes collected round their captives, regarding them
with savage looks, the chief and some of his principal men assembled to
hold a consultation as to what was to be done with them. An immense
amount of jabbering took place, and Desmond, who was closest to the
circle of councillors, looked anxiously at their countenances to
ascertain, if possible, what decision was likely to be arrived at. He
gazed in vain--nothing could he learn from the expression of the hideous
faces of those who might at any moment determine to shoot him and his
uncle.

"It's all owing to not having Hamed with us," sighed Adair; "or even had
we brought Pango on shore, he would probably have suspected the old
rascal of a chief, and warned us in time; but cheer up, Desmond, I don't
think the black villains will dare to kill us. I'll try and make them
understand that if they do, a terrible vengeance will be wreaked on
their heads."

"That won't help us out of the scrape, I'm afraid," said Desmond; "but
they are getting on their feet, and I suppose we shall soon know."

In a short time the chief and his advisers, having come to a resolution
what to do, approached their prisoners, and, with very little ceremony,
seizing them by their collars, two on each side of them, dragged them
along towards the beach till they reached a couple of trees, whence the
boat was clearly visible. The canoe had returned on board, and Adair
observed that the men had got out their arms and were pulling her in
towards the shore, while Jerry Bird, who acted as gunner, was standing
on the forecastle, busy apparently in loading the gun mounted on it; the
greater portion of which was, however, covered up with a piece of
tarpaulin, so that the natives might not discover what was there. The
rest of the crew not pulling had their muskets in their hands ready for
use. All this was seen at a glance.

Directly they arrived at the two trees, the savages without further
ceremony bound Adair