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Going privately to those who had the management of the matter, he made use of those mysterious arguments with which princes manage to attain their ends, and afterwards told Mark the result, which was, according to Hockins, that, "Mamba's grog was to be well-watered!" As Mark could do nothing more for his friend he went with his companions to see the result.
Their appearance had become somewhat curious and brigand-like by that time, for their original garments having been worn-out were partially replaced by means of the scissors and needle of John Hockins at least in the trousers department.
They were struggling fiercely with one man, whom they tried to bind. But the man seemed to possess the power of Samson. "It's Voalavo," cried Hockins, and rushed to the rescue. "Das so," cried the negro, following suit with blazing eyes. Snatching the silver spear from the Secretary, Mark sprang forward like a wild-cat, and, sweeping it right and left, brought down two of the men.
Still there would have been no chance of ultimate escape if they had not come upon the footpath down the precipice which we have described as having been partly carried away by falling rocks, thus enabling Hockins and his companions to make a scramble for life which no one but a sailor, a monkey, or a hero, would have dared, and the impossibility of even attempting which never occurred to the pursuers, who concluded, as we have seen, that the white men had been dashed to pieces on the rocks far below.
When Hockins finished his tune the three friends were almost petrified with astonishment not unmingled with alarm as they beheld this man walk coolly into the cave, rest his gun on the side of it, and sit gravely down on the opposite side of the fire.
"Yes, Hockins speaks wisely," added Mark. "It is very kind of you to take so much trouble for us, but there is no need to run such great risk on our account."
Mark wore his pair stuffed into the legs of a pair of Wellington boots procured from a trader. Ebony preferred to cut his off short, just below the knee, thus exposing to view those black boots supplied to negroes by Nature, which have the advantage of never wearing out. Hockins himself stuck to his navy shirt, but the others found striped cotton shirts sufficient.
At first the Queen, like her people, had got a severe fright; but, seeing that no one seemed to be hurt, she controlled her feelings, under the impression, no doubt, that the explosion was part of the programme. "Have you got your whistle, Hockins?" asked Mark, quickly, as he ran forward. "Ay, sir always here, ready for action!" "Come, then, play up when I give the word something quieting.
I don't rightly remember how near them mattydoors let him come before they putt their helms hard down an' let him go by, but I think three futt'll do." This decision was barely reached when the bull was upon him with lowered head and erect tail. It was an awful rush, but Hockins stood like a rock with the cutlass pointed.
"Did you hear that, Hockins?" "Ay, I heard it sure enough. What is it, think 'ee, lad!" said the seaman to the negro. Ebony, who was gazing into the dark cavern with glaring eyeballs and distended nostrils, replied "My advice to you is, let's go back de way we come. Dis no place for 'spectable Christians."
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