It was late next day, when he was dragged from his prison, and made to sit down, not far from a bigger fire than he had yet seen. And the great grid was being got ready.
This was all so horrible, that Kep felt going out of his mind. He could only close his eyes and pray.
Pray for death; delivery, he believed, was out of the question. If they would kill him first; but he had received the news, very unceremoniously given, that he was to be stripped, and tied alive to the gridiron, which would then be lowered over the fire, when the latter was fierce enough.
He had been too deep in thought, and too distrait--he felt that he was going mad--to notice a great cloud that was rising slowly up in the east.
But now the day suddenly grew as dark as night, and the rain came down in torrents, while thunder pealed nearer and nearer, the savages looking like demons in the lightning's glare.
Then Kep remembered no more. He had fainted away.
When he came to himself again, the darkness all around was intense.
CHAPTER XXIII
FIERCE FIGHTING WITH THE CANNIBALS
Impenetrable darkness! Nothing to be seen.