“Certainly not.”
“But suppose I see ’em hitting or prodding you, sir? Must do something then.”
“Nothing whatever, Ned; I’ll bear it patiently in the hope of getting a chance to escape later on.”
“All right, sir; but I’m getting very hungry for a bit of revenge.”
“Wait, Ned, and perhaps it will come.”
The difficulties of the descent detained them so that it was fast nearing sunset when the ravine began to widen out and pass beneath the branches of the huge forest monarchs which clothed the lower slopes of the mountain, and wearied out with the day’s exertion, Jack began to look out eagerly for the green, park-like expanse which followed the dense jungle, to be succeeded in turn by the sands that ran down into the lagoon.
The more open part appeared sooner than he expected, and with it the river widened into a good-sized pool of open water, where, to the prisoners’ surprise, they suddenly found themselves face to face with another party of blacks, who welcomed the new-comers with an eager jabbering as they closed round and examined their captives curiously.
“Our chance of escape cut shorter, Mr Jack,” said Ned.
“Yes, I’m afraid so, Ned. They must have been camping here; and I suppose we shall have to stop in this place for the night?”
“Dunno. P’r’aps,” said Ned. “See that, Mr Jack?”