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Updated: May 29, 2025
During the progress of supper, which consisted of cold dried meat and rice, the quartette seated on the ferns in the corner of the cave were unusually silent. Mark Breezy and Ravonino continued to eat for some time without speaking a word.
Next day, as they were about to resume their journey, Ravonino told them that about noon they would come to a large river, on the other side of which there was a village where they could spend the night, for the people and their chief were friendly. "Are they Christians?" asked Mark.
"However, I have not left things altogether to chance. Although I did not see Ravonino lately, I saw him not very long ago, and gave him to understand that when some unusual festivities were going on in this garden he was to be ready at the old spot for whatever might happen! Now, here is my little plan.
"You need not count on me to help you," said Ravonino, quietly, in the native tongue; "why should we slaughter men uselessly? If we had a chance of making a dash I would fight. But we can get out of this hole only one by one, and no doubt a hundred men await us!" "Is we a-goin' to fight, massa?" asked the negro, hopefully. "Of coorse we are," said Hockins.
"Sit down, my brother," said Ravonino to the youth, in tones of unusual tenderness, "and let me know what brings you here so unexpectedly." "I come to offer my service," replied the youth, with a modest air. "You have told me that you go to Antananarivo to rescue Rafaravavy. Your face is known to every one in the town. If you enter it, your death will be certain."
"Ravonino," at length said the last, looking up, and using his grass pocket-handkerchief, "it seems to me, bein' a plain straight-for'ard sort o' seaman, that there's somethin' not exactly fair an' above-board in all them proceedin's.
The prisoners were now conducted into a large room, where they found Prince Rakota standing, surrounded by a crowd of people male and female. Beside the Prince was his cousin, Ramonja. Ravonino and Laihova observed with a gush of feeling which may be understood but not described that Rafaravavy and Ra-Ruth were among the ladies.
Just then the covering of their hiding-place was thrown off, and several bayonet-points appeared. "Come out, one at a time, quietly, else we will shoot you where you stand!" exclaimed a stern voice. The Secretary translated this. At the same time Ravonino clambered out of the rice-hole, and was instantly seized and bound.
So said Laihova on entering the cave and seating himself, weary, worn, and dispirited, on a ledge of rock beside his friend, to whom he related all that had befallen. "Give not way to despondency," said Ravonino, though he could not smooth the lines of anxiety from his own brow. "Does not the Lord reign? Let the earth rejoice!
Dawn was still struggling to assert itself in the far east and the depths of the forest were still shrouded in almost midnight gloom, when the strange band of outlaws emerged from their cave, and, led by Ravonino, went forth to search for a safer dwelling-place in the still more inaccessible fastnesses of the wilderness.
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