"Bravo!" he cried, when all was done. "Now we'll have some chop, Lepoko."
"Plenty hungry, massa," returned the man. "Men all want to know somefing, massa."
"Well, what is it?"
"Dey say: 'Lokolobolo make us do plenty fings. What for? We lib for do anyfing for Lokolobolo; no fit to know what for.' Dat am what dey say, sah."
Jack smiled.
"Well, Lepoko, I'll tell you in confidence, and I know it won't go any further. We're going to see an exhibition of swimming."
"Me no like big talk like dat," said Lepoko, looking puzzled.
"Here's little talk, then. Men no want to swim; we want to see them swim. Savvy?"
"Me know all 'bout dat, sah," cried Lepoko delighted, and he went off to tell the men, Jack smiling at their satisfaction with an explanation that explained so little.
The whole force had a meal, keeping almost perfect silence in obedience to an impressive order from Jack. They were concealed within the forest fringe. When the meal was finished a dozen men with rifles were sent across to hide themselves amid the vegetation on the island, and all waited with rifles ready.