“Never fear, Desmond,” said Adair; “I think they must have heard that shout, and Gordon will to a certainty suspect what has happened to us.”
While a number of negroes collected round their captives, regarding them with savage looks, the chief and some of his principal men assembled to hold a consultation as to what was to be done with them. An immense amount of jabbering took place, and Desmond, who was closest to the circle of councillors, looked anxiously at their countenances to ascertain, if possible, what decision was likely to be arrived at. He gazed in vain—nothing could he learn from the expression of the hideous faces of those who might at any moment determine to shoot him and his uncle.
“It’s all owing to not having Hamed with us,” sighed Adair; “or even had we brought Pango on shore, he would probably have suspected the old rascal of a chief, and warned us in time; but cheer up, Desmond, I don’t think the black villains will dare to kill us. I’ll try and make them understand that if they do, a terrible vengeance will be wreaked on their heads.”
“That won’t help us out of the scrape, I’m afraid,” said Desmond; “but they are getting on their feet, and I suppose we shall soon know.”
In a short time the chief and his advisers, having come to a resolution what to do, approached their prisoners, and, with very little ceremony, seizing them by their collars, two on each side of them, dragged them along towards the beach till they reached a couple of trees, whence the boat was clearly visible. The canoe had returned on board, and Adair observed that the men had got out their arms and were pulling her in towards the shore, while Jerry Bird, who acted as gunner, was standing on the forecastle, busy apparently in loading the gun mounted on it; the greater portion of which was, however, covered up with a piece of tarpaulin, so that the natives might not discover what was there. The rest of the crew not pulling had their muskets in their hands ready for use. All this was seen at a glance.
Directly they arrived at the two trees, the savages without further ceremony bound Adair to one, and Desmond to the other, facing the boat; while the chief and several of his followers, who were armed with muskets, levelled them at their heads.
“By my faith, we’re in an unpleasant position,” exclaimed Desmond. “Sure the fellows can’t be after blowing our brains out.”
“They most certainly will, if Archie ventures to open fire on them; but I don’t think he’ll do that while we’re alive,” answered Adair. “Had Hamed been with us, we could have learned what they want. As it is, I’m afraid that there is as little hope of our understanding them as there is of their making out what we say. However, I’ll try.” Though Adair was lashed to the tree, his arms were left at liberty, and beckoning to the chief, he tried to make him signify what it was he wanted. At length he seemed to understand Adair’s question, and, going through the action of rolling a cask down the beach, he put on an angry look, and then, holding his musket and a piece of cloth in his hand, he showed that he wanted those articles in payment for the water carried off.
“The rascal!” exclaimed Adair; “however, it’s better to pay them than run the risk of being shot,” and, shouting to Archie, he directed him to send two of his men on shore with the articles demanded, there fortunately being still a supply of cloth on board, which had been brought for bartering with the natives.
“Let the small-armed men cover the men while they are landing,” he again shouted, “and let them leave the things on the beach, and take good care that the natives don’t seize them.”