"The Domondoos ill-treated your father," said he, "and you, doubtless, are eager for revenge. Take two thousand of my prisoners and kill them without mercy; I give them to you."
We replied that white men never thought of revenge, but did good, even to their enemies. Munza was silent for a moment; in spite of all his efforts, he could not understand us.
"Then," he said, at last, addressing Delange, "you did not come to my assistance yesterday, and cure my wound, because I am your friend?"
"I came to you because you were in pain," replied the Doctor. "I try to cure all those who suffer."
The King was silent once more for an instant, and then he murmured a few words, which meant, "these white men are very strange!"
A species of slow, but progressive, revolution was taking place in the mind of this barbarian. He was still far from understanding or sharing in our ideas, but they attracted his attention, and he endeavoured to make a note of them, ponder over them, and compare them with his own. He was living with us in a new world, one which, he instinctively admired.
"And so," he resumed presently, "you do not want me to give you my prisoners?"
"On the contrary," said de Morin. "But if you do we shall set them at liberty."
"That is impossible;" replied Munza, as soon as the words were translated for him; "my soldiers would mutiny. Whatever we capture from the enemy, belongs to them equally with myself."
"Give us, then, your share of the booty," said I, boldly.