Such is a good picture of the dwelling which Benson entered, we walking ahead according to his orders; and here he appeared to be perfectly at home.
I fancied that he was somewhat surprised because there was no one to greet him; but he made himself comfortable by lying stretched out on the divan at full length, while we two lads were ordered to make a resting-place of the stone floor.
My first glance fell upon the collection of weapons, and I must have been eying it eagerly, for the Britisher said threateningly:—
"Thinking that if you could get hold of them I might have the worst of it, eh? Well, don't you dare so much as move, else I'll knock in the whole top of your head!"
To this threat we made no reply, for it was useless to bandy words with the fellow, who held us securely in his power. We were so weary that even the smooth side of a stone seemed rest-inviting, and, despite our danger, enjoyed this being able to stretch out at full length on our backs.
At that moment, sore in both body and mind, I would have welcomed the assurance that we were to remain here undisturbed until another morning had come. But it seemed as if we had no more than settled ourselves down as well as the rope on our arms would permit, than the head of a native appeared from around the corner of the building; and after satisfying himself that there were no enemies to be feared, the owner of the head entered, followed by no less than ten men, all of whom appeared to have been having a rough-and-tumble fight.
Benson, without troubling himself to rise, said something to the leader in the party; and because he pointed at us from time to time, both Phil and I believed he was giving an account of our capture.
I was literally shaking with fear, fancying we would immediately be taken out and eaten; but, greatly to my surprise, all the men seemed to be angry with Benson.
He talked to them sharply for an instant, and was replied to in such fashion that I understood the villain was alarmed, for he arose with a certain degree of humility, and began making a long speech.