"Perhaps he can save our lives." Our hero turned to the Irishman. "What will these natives do with us?"
"Sure an' I don't know. Maybe they'll be afther makin' princes av ye, me bould b'ys!"
"We would like our liberty."
Pat Stoodles shrugged his shoulders.
"Ye can gain yer liberty on but wan night av the month," he said. "That is whin th' moon is full an' they be afther havin' the feast av the skulls."
They did not know if he was in earnest, or if the talk was that of a crazy man.
Having spoken with them for some time, Pat Stoodles turned to the natives and began to jabber at them.
Evidently he had learned much of their language, for they listened attentively.
Then they brought the boys something to eat and to drink, and tried to make them otherwise comfortable.
But they would allow neither of them his liberty.