While we were being thus paraded about the village, the women were engaged in preparing a feast, of which we were invited to partake; and I know that, however excited had been my feelings, I had not lost my appetite. "Captain," said I, holding the leg of a roasted monkey in my fist, while he was munching away at a stewed snake, or lizard, or some creeping thing or other, "this is pleasanter than feeding the crows down below there. I want, sir, to beg the chief's pardon for pinching his legs so tight. I hope that he was not offended." I spoke in a very different tone to that in which I had ever before addressed my captain. The truth was, I felt and acted almost as if I were tipsy. The captain looked at me somewhat sternly. "Be more serious, Jack," he answered; "we should be thankful to Heaven that we are not as those unhappy men are. We have both been mercifully preserved. Restrain your feelings, lad; you'll have much to go through before you are out of the fire." I do not remember much more about the feast. The negroes ate, and drank, and laughed, and then got up and danced and sang as merrily as if they had not just been the principal actors in a terrific tragedy. Before the feast was over, our old acquaintance the tall negro came up to the captain, and sat himself down by his side. "Prepare to leave this at a moment's notice," said he in a low tone of voice. "These people's tempers may change again as rapidly against you as they have lately turned in your favour. They believed what I told them of your generosity; but as there is no one here to corroborate the account, they might as easily be taught to discredit it." "Thanks, my friend," answered the captain, grasping the negro's hand. "Thanks, Michael; you have indeed repaid any debt you might have thought you owed me. I'll follow your advice, and shall be ready to start whenever you give the sign." "Directly it is dark, then, we must away, you and your young follower there," answered the tall negro, whom the captain addressed as Michael. "I have another reason for wishing to be off. This work they have been about will certainly bring the military up here; and though they might hold the place against an army if they knew how, none of them can be depended on. Now, if you remain here, our friends would expect you to fight for them; and if you were captured by the white men, you would to a certainty be treated as a rebel." "Your arguments are quite strong enough, Michael, to make me wish to be off," answered the captain, laughing. I did not hear the remainder of the conversation.