“Ahoy there! Where are you from?”
Now even the sounds of the oars ceased, and the little party were so engaged in trying to distinguish the craft amid the gloom, that they failed to hear the light patter of naked feet directly behind them.
“It must be——”
Mr. Jenkins did not finish the sentence, for at that instant he was seized from behind and dragged backward on the sand before he could make the slightest outcry.
Gil and Nelse were served in the same manner at the same time, and when either of the three realized what had happened, they were powerless to move or speak.
Two negroes held each of the prisoners as in bonds of iron, while a third covered the captive’s mouth with an enormous hand to prevent any outcry.
The mate attempted to show fight; but struggle as he might, it was impossible to do more than render his own position painful, and this he understood in a very short time.
The Day Dream’s boat, which had played such an important part in their capture, was now rowed to the shore, and from her leaped two other negroes, who, after assuring themselves that the white strangers had been secured, lifted the tender from the water, carrying her straight up from the beach.
When they had disappeared in the thicket, the prisoners were raised to their feet, and one of the captors, who appeared to be the leader of the party, spoke harshly in a tongue which neither the mate nor the boys understood.
From the tone, it was easy to guess that he was warning them of the consequences in case they should make any outcry; but this seemed superfluous, in view of the fact that the black hands were still held firmly over their mouths.