nd Peterkin and I now looked at each other, and whispered our
fears that the savages might clamber up the rocks to search for fresh
water, and so discover our place of concealment; but we were so much
interested in watching their movements that we agreed to remain where we
were--and indeed we could not easily have risen without exposing
ourselves to detection. One of the savages now went up to the woods and
soon returned with a bundle of firewood, and we were not a little
surprised to see him set fire to it by the very same means used by Jack
the time we made our first fire--namely, with the bow and drill. When
the fire was kindled, two of the party went again to the woods and
returned with one of the bound men. A dreadful feeling of horror crept
over my heart as the thought flashed upon me that they were going to
burn their enemies. As they bore him to the fire my feelings almost
overpowered me. I gasped for breath, and seizing my club, endeavoured
to spring to my feet; but Jack's powerful arm pinned me to the earth.
Next moment one of the savages raised his club and fractured the
wretched creature's skull. He must have died instantly; and, strange
though it may seem, I confess to a feeling of relief when the deed was
done, because I now knew that the poor savage could not be burned alive.
Scarcely had his limbs ceased to quiver when the monsters cut slices of
flesh from his body, and after roasting them slightly over the fire,
devoured them.

Suddenly there arose a cry from the woods, and in a few seconds the two
savages hastened towards the fire, dragging the three women and their
two infants along with them. One of these women was much younger than
her companions, and we were struck with the modesty of her demeanour and
the gentle expression of her face, which, although she had the flattish
nose and thick lips of the others, was of a light-brown colour, and we
conjectured that she must be of a different race. She and her
companions wore short petticoats, and a kind of tippet on their
shoulders. Their hair was jet black, but instead of being long, was
short and curly--though not woolly--somewhat like the hair of a young
boy. While we gazed with interest and some anxiety at these poor
creatures, the big chief advanced to one of the elder females and laid
his hand upon the child. But the mother shrank from him, and clasping
the little one to her bosom, uttered a wail of fear. With a savage
laugh, the chief