"Arachi," he said, "if you untie my hands, it shall go easy with you."
"If I untie your hands," said Arachi frankly, "I am both a fool and a dead man, and neither of these conditions is desirable."
"To every man," quoth Bosambo, "there is an easy kill somewhere,[#] and, if he misses this, all kills are difficult."
[#] The native equivalent for "opportunity knocks," etc.
Four big canoes composed the waterway caravan. Abdul was in the largest with his soldiers, and led the van.
They moved quickly down the tiny stream, which broadened as it neared the river.
Then Abdul's headman suddenly gasped.
"Look!" he whispered.
The slaver turned his head.
Behind them, paddling leisurely, came four canoes, and each was filled with armed men.