He had some more whisky, and was then induced to go on deck, and walk forward, or rather totter, gibbering all the time like a blithering idiot. Here he lay down, and Fitzroy threw a tarpaulin over him.
Tootaker stood sentry over his king all night, and the savage emperor was a different man in the morning, and a sadder.
But in this strange way was friendship established between the white men and this terrible tribe of cannibals.
CHAPTER V.
A Bloodless Battle.—Life on the Island.
A HEARTY breakfast—and it was a hearty one too—put King Karoo into fine form again. He was quite friendly now.
“We don’t want to eat any more white men,” he said.
“If you try it,” said Stransom, “you may find that the bones will stick in your throat.”
“Now, Fitz,” he added, turning to the playwright and flute-maker, “I believe in striking the iron while it is still hot—I purpose going back with the king. The canoe is big enough to hold us all. But you and Johnnie had better stay here to guard the ship, not that there is any danger, but if I take Gourmand——”
“I’m on again,” said Gourmie.
“And Willie and Peggy, and give these savages a little entertainment and a few presents, I think we shall win a bloodless battle. What say you?”