The stranger turned his eyes on Grinson for a moment, then went on:
'It is a long way--a journey of eight or ten days. I show you. Dere is needed great care. De niggers--cannibals--you see dem. Always must we watch, and wid luck--I say wid luck--we do not fall into deir hands. Dey have villages along de coast--de coast is very dangerous, and we must go drough de forest.'
'Aren't there villages in the forest?' asked Trentham.
'In de mountains, yes,' said the Dutchman, waving an arm towards the interior. 'De coast and de mountains, dey must we avoid equally.'
'And the niggers on the beach there--where is their village?'
'On de coast somewhere, I know not where. Dey carry me far from de place where I was wrecked--five days.'
'I 'm glad of that. I mean I 'm glad we aren't near their place; it gives us a better chance. Ah! here 's the fourth of our party.'
Hoole had just reappeared at the edge of forest. 'My name is Trentham, by the way; my friend yonder is Mr. Hoole; these friends of ours, men of your own calling, are Mr. Grinson and Mr. Meek.'
'Yes. My name is Haan--H-a-a-n.'
Wondering why he had spelled the name, Trentham turned to Hoole, who had just come up.