isoner; and I give you my word of honour that
upon the first attempt to escape which you may be ill-advised enough to
make, I will put you in irons and chain you to the deck. If, therefore,
you are wise, you will submit to your present predicament with a good
grace, rather than tempt a worse one. And now, tell me everything you
know with regard to the fate of the crews of the _Sapphire's_ boats."

"The _Sapphire's_ boats?" ejaculated the now thoroughly terrified
wretch. "I swear to Gad, sar, dat I had not'ing to do vid dat! I know
not'ing about dem; not'ing whatever! But I can tell you de name of de
man who had; ay, and I can put him into your power, if you like; he is a
villain, and it would be only doing a good action to betray him to
justice. I vill do it, too, if you vill release me at vonce; I vill
tell you all about him, vhere he is to be found vhen he visits de river,
de name of his cheep, and--and--all dat is necessairey for you to know."

"Yes; no doubt," I answered. "But you will have to purchase your
release in some other way, senor; unfortunately for you we know all
about Don Fernando de Mendouca, captain of the brigantine _Francesca_
and have every confidence in our ability to get hold of him without your
assistance. And I may tell you that, _up to the present_, no charge has
been made against you in connection with the disappearance of the
_Sapphire's_ boats; you have therefore nothing to fear from us just now
on that score. _Now_, will you tell us what you know about those
unfortunate missing men?"

"Yes; yes, I vill, gentlemen; I vill tell you all dat I know; but it is
not much," answered Lobo, with evident relief. "I only know dat de
scoundrel Mendouca managed to trap de two boats in some vay--how, I know
not--and dat he gave dem de choice of being massacred, dere and den, or
of surrendering and having dheir lives spared. And vhen dhey had
surrendered he exchanged dhem to Matadi for slaves--t'ree slaves for
every white man--so dat Matadi might have plenty of victims--white
victims dhey consider _very_ good--for de annual--de annual--what you
call it, eh? festa."

"Festival, I suppose you mean," said I, with an involuntary shudder.
"And, pray, Senor Lobo, do you happen to know the date of this
festival?"

"No, I cannot say dat I do; but I t'ink about one week from now," was
the answer.

"Then, thank God, we are still in time!" I ejaculated. "Now, Senor
Lobo, I presume you are acquaint