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His old companions in misfortune could not remain tranquil spectators of his grief. They promised he should be free. Each of the middies had wealthy friends at home on whom he could draw for money; and they were in hopes that some English merchant in Mogador would advance the amount. They were not disappointed. The very next day the Krooman's difficulty was settled to his satisfaction.
The leader had reached the door and Billy was frantically imploring old Sikaso to let him shoot when an appalling shriek rent the air. The old Krooman's axe flashed once in the moonlight and the leader of the attacking party lay dead at the tent door, severed almost to the chest. There was not a second's time, however, to take in what had happened.
"I tell you again," said Terence, who overheard the Krooman's remark, "we shall have to go with Golah to Timbuctoo. We belong to him. These Arabs are only keeping us a few days, but they will be killed yet, and we shall have to follow the black sheik in the opposite direction." Harry made no reply to this prophetic speech. Certainly there was a prospect of its proving true.
As soon as the caravan had fallen into the possession of the robbers, the Krooman's hands were unbound by his companion, and he hastened to the relief of the white slaves. "Golah no our massa now," said he, while untying Harry's wrists, "our massa is Arab dat take us norf. We get free. Dat why dis Arab no buy us he know us he hab for nothing."
I was informed they will also attack a shark in the water without hesitation, and they are very expert in catching almost every description of fish. The Kroomen stand no chance with them on the water, and when they happen to encounter each other in their canoes, the first thing the Fishmen try to do is to upset the Krooman's canoe, after which they are quite at their mercy.
The Krooman's first attempt at satisfying his curiosity was to state that the Arabs had acted after a manner peculiar to themselves, in other words, that it was "a way they had." The old sailor was not satisfied with this answer; and pressed for a further explanation.
Colin, who seemed to notice everything except the fate threatening himself, observed the Krooman's excitement, and inquired its cause. "She asked him to be kind to her little boy," said the man, in a voice trembling with emotion. Are tears unmanly? No.
"Yus, sa a lilly bit," answered the Krooman, without seeming to notice the unpleasant manner in which the question had been put. "And what are you listening for?" "To hear what you tell um. I like go in Ingleesh ship. You talk good for me. I go 'long with you." With some difficulty the sailor and his companions could comprehend the Krooman's gibberish.
The Kroo Country Religion of the Kroo and Fish men Emigration of the Natives Sketch of their habits and customs Purchase of wives The Krooman's ne plus ultra Migratory propensities Rogueries exposed Adoption of English Names Cape Palmas Dexterity of the Fishmen Fish towns The Fetish Arrival at Cape Coast Land with the Governor Captain Hutchison Cape Coast mode of taking an airing Ashantee Chiefs Diurnal occupations School for Native Girls Domestication of Females Colonel Lumley Captain Ricketts Neglect of Portuguese fortresses A native Doctor
A long burnoose of white, worn after the Arab style, hung from his head and framed his dark features, which were just then overspread by a frown as black as thunder. Outside the circle of firelight lay the bodies of the victims of the Krooman's axe and the boys' bullets.
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