Then Adams stepped out and addressed the captain. 804
“No harm will be done to you and yonr men, but you must remain our prisoners for awhile. Then your arms will be returned to you, and you can go back to your ship. Your boat-keepers are secured.”
“What in God's name does this mean?” cried the unfortunate officer.
“Silence, if you value yonr life,” cried the same stern voice that had called upon them to surrender.
The captain turned and sought to discern the speaker, but the muzzle of a pistol was placed menacingly against his chest, and he was again ordered to be silent.
Then at a sign from Adams all the crews' and officers' arms were carried off to the boats by two natives, and the wondering seamen were bidden by Adams to lift the coffins and follow him.
“Do not attempt to escape,” he said, speaking to the whole party generally; “if you do you will be shot down without mercy.”
As he spoke Ford, with five armed natives, silently joined the rest of the captors. Follerton, the captain, and the surgeon all looked at him curiously.
“March, gentlemen,” he said, pointing with his drawn cutlass to the bearers of the coffins, who were now, guided by Adams, pushing their way through the timber, surrounded by their native guards with muskets cocked.
In ten minutes the belt of timber had been passed through, and captors and captured emerged upon a grassy sward.