He heard them repeat the word "billabong," and then there was silence.
"How many are you?" said the voice again.
"Only two, damn it," said Mandy, and then he heard a bit of harsh laughter.
"Then stay where you are till we come," said the voice. And Mandy sat down, with his face to the river.
But in five minutes someone leapt on him from behind, and had him pinned as in a vice. He could not move, and would not have been able to help himself if he had had his full strength.
"Hallo, what's this?" he said, as he heard the heavy breathing of the man who held him. Then he saw another figure in front holding a spear. "If it's whites the other side, it's blacks this," said Mandy; and he called aloud to Smith, "Good-bye, old man, they've got me."
And Smith, who had recovered from his faint, came staggering to his doom like a drunken man. He, too, was made a prisoner in a moment by yet another man whom the Baker had not seen.
Then their captors spoke in English. "Is that all?"
Mandy made a struggle.
"Why, are you English? Holy Moses! I thought you was black-fellows."