John laughed and slipped on his shirt and breeches, now thoroughly dry. His sun-helmet, which had been fastened on by a strap, was rather pulpy, but Ferrier clapped it on his head, saying that it didn’t matter. In a few seconds he had limped to the gate, and stood at Ferrier’s side, smiling very amiably. The natives were struck dumb with astonishment. The Swahilis could not have been more confounded if they had seen a ghost. After gazing for a full minute at the msungu whom they imagined to be in safe custody fifteen miles away, they turned round and marched back in silence, only breaking into excited talk when they reached the shore. The two white men stood watching them until they rejoined the vast throng gathered at the edge of the wood. "They’ve got something to digest," said Ferrier, with a laugh. "Now we’ll go and get some dinner." CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIRST--A Combined Assault "Think they’ll give it up?" said Ferrier, as they sat over their dinner. "Not they! Those fellows haven’t come all the way from their village for nothing. They wouldn’t have come at all but for some strong inducement, for Juma isn’t an old friend of theirs, remember." "Well, there’s very little inducement so far as I can see. There’s next to no loot bar the rifles and ammunition, and Juma would bag those if he licked us. The others would have a very poor look-in." "You forget the sort of old curiosity shop collection that the men were so delighted with. The ’bad men’ would get those, of course." "It’s very little among so many; you said there were about four hundred of them." "Yes, but Juma wouldn’t be over particular as to what he promised. All he wanted was to get their help. If he were to lick us, he could safely defy the ’bad men,’ for with the rifles and practically unlimited ammunition he could do what he liked with ’em. He’s sure to attack us, maybe to-day, maybe to-morrow; and the best thing we can do is to strengthen our defences. We shall have all our work cut out to keep ’em off this time: we’re three rifles short; I suppose Coja and the others took theirs with them?" "Yes, unfortunately. But I’ve already begun to strengthen the defences--started when I got your message." "Good man! What did you do?" "First thing, I cut down some of the young trees at the further end of the island. I thought they might give cover to the enemy if they tried an attack in that quarter. Then it occurred to me that if we could raise a sort of bastion to jut over the wall by the gate yonder, we could fire at them without exposing ourselves, and--what do they call it?--enfilade them." "Capital! I wondered what that rummy erection meant. Didn’t like to say so, but it looks like a funeral pyre."