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"It is here that he ought to die!" added Alvez. "Where you please, Alvez," replied Moini Loungga; "but a drop of fire-water for a drop of blood!" "Yes," replied the trader, "fire-water, and you will see that it well merits that name! We shall make it blaze, this water! Jose-Antonio Alvez will offer a punch to the King Moini Loungga." The drunkard shook his friend Alvez's hands.
Unfortunately for the unhappy savant, this part of Alvez's establishment, which was situated at the northern extremity of the town, bordered on a vast forest, which covered the territory of Kazounde for a space of several square miles.
Weldon and Negoro, an agreement which included Cousin Benedict in the number of the prisoners whom the trader would conduct to Mossamedes, to be placed in James W. Weldon's hands for a ransom? If Mrs. Weldon had been a witness of Alvez's anger, when the latter learned of the prisoner's disappearance, she would have understood that this disappearance was indeed made against his will.
Now, the box was there in the hut, intact, containing all that the savant had been able to collect since his arrival on the continent. To suppose that he was voluntarily separated from his entomological treasures, was inadmissible. Nevertheless, Cousin Benedict was no longer in Jose-Antonio Alvez's establishment. During all that day Mrs. Weldon looked for him persistently.
The trader Alvez's old agent, the escaped prisoner from the Loanda penitentiary, reappeared the same as Harris had always known him, that is, ready to do anything. But what plan Negoro intended to take in regard to the shipwrecked from the "Pilgrim," Harris did not yet know. He asked his accomplice about it. "And now," said he, "what are you going to do with those people?"
One moment after he was outside his hut, under the midday sun, and a few minutes later at the foot of the palisade that shut in Alvez's establishment. At this place was the manticore going to clear the enclosure with a bound, and put a wall between its adorer and itself? No, that was not in its nature, and Cousin Benedict knew it well.
From early morning all was intense animation on the vast "tchitoka" of Kazounde, and it is difficult to give a proper idea of the scene. It was a concourse of four or five thousand persons, including Alvez's slaves, among whom were Tom and his companions. These four men, for the reason that they belonged to a different race, are all the more valuable to the brokers in human flesh.
Weldon was shut up, with her child and Cousin Benedict, in Alvez's establishment. Little Jack was much better. On leaving the marshy country, where he had taken the fever, he gradually became better, and now he was doing well.
Put a white man to death!" repeated Moini Loungga, whose ferocious instincts were aroused by the Portuguese's proposition. "One of Alvez's agents has been killed by this white man," returned Negoro. "Yes, my agent, Harris," replied the trader, "and his death must be avenged!" "Send that white man to King Massongo, on the Upper Zaire, among the Assonas. They will cut him in pieces.
Two years, comrade, in our chance existence, is a long time. One fine day, after having taken charge of a caravan of slaves on old Alvez's account whose very humble agents we are you left Cassange, and have not been heard of since! I have thought that you had some disagreement with the English cruiser, and that you were hung!" "I came very near it, Harris." "That will come, Negoro." "Thank you!"
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