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"Hide behind the trees, or climb up the nearest you can reach," said Senhor Silva. Stanley seemed in no way disposed to follow this advice, but rushed to his gun. "Come, boys! come with me," cried Jack, "and we will be up a tree." Timbo followed Jack and the two boys. Jack sprang up to a low bough of a tree, and then, stooping down, with Timbo's aid helped up the boys.
Dey t'ink we one slaver; and if we fired a gun, dey no come off at all." This information was cheering, as we thought we could rely on Timbo's knowledge. "Would you consent to go on shore and gain their friendship?" I asked. "If they know that we are not their enemies, they may possibly be disposed to help us; for as to getting off the brig, I fear greatly it is not to be done." He hesitated.
"Dat is de best t'ing." I agreed with him. Having washed Stanley's wounds, and bound them up as well as I was able, with Timbo's assistance, we placed him in the litter; while Natty mounted my horse, I agreeing to walk by his side. The blacks having caught the horses, Timbo set off, leading Stanley's steed, in order that David might ride back on it to his brother's assistance.
The blacks are not likely to come off to attack us, and if they do, we could very soon drive them back again." "If we are properly prepared we may," said my cousin; and we all continued the work we had in hand. Besides the firearms we had a few ship's cutlasses; and at Timbo's suggestion we fastened all the knives and axes we could find to some long spars, to use them as boarding-pikes.
"Dey come!" he whispered. "Dey no see me, dough. Dey t'ink dey find us all asleep. I go call de captain and de rest, and de black fellows; and we all get ready, and lie down and snore loud; and den, when de enemy come, we jump up wid loud shout, and dey run away." Timbo's plan of action was simple, and I hoped might prove effective; so I begged him to carry it out.
The night at length came to an end; and when the dawn once more broke, we found the same mist as on the two previous mornings hanging over the ocean. The young ladies and the boy were still sleeping. We looked round, but could nowhere discover our companions. That was, however, what might be expected, as the mist greatly circumscribed our view. I was standing by Timbo's side.
"What do you think about it all?" said Stanley to Timbo, who had been interpreting Chickango's account. "Dog dat bark not always bite, massa," answered the black. "Me t'ink dat dey see our rifles and run away." "I am of Timbo's opinion," I could not help observing.
I was very thankful when, towards the end of the next day, I caught sight of two objects moving over the plain towards us. Gradually, as they approached, I made out two horsemen, and in a little time David and Timbo galloped up to our camp. Timbo's anxiety about his master had probably made him describe the wound as worse than it was, and David was in a state of great agitation when he arrived.
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