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Updated: June 22, 2025
Among them was a group in which the reader is perhaps interested. It consisted of Mark Breezy, John Hockins, Ebony Ginger, Samuel Ravoninohitriniony, Laihova, and Voalavo.
From the height of land on which they stood a wide, well-watered plain was seen to extend far below them. It was hemmed in on either side by wooded hills and backed by the interior highlands. Far down the hill-side their companions could be seen wending their way through the tangled shrubbery, just in rear of the native hunters, led by their energetic chief Voalavo.
Voalavo himself was too intent upon his work to think of anything else, or to care who was near him. Gradually he approached close enough to an animal to thrust his spear deep into its side. It sprang from the ground and made a noise as if hurt by the horn of a comrade, but this is so common an event that the rest of the cattle were in no way disturbed by it.
"Voalavo, your chief, is my friend," said the guide, calmly, without putting himself in an attitude of defence, or showing the slightest symptom of alarm. "Is Voalavo with you?" "Voalavo comes," they replied, at once lowering their weapons and pointing in the direction of the river, whence proceeded sounds as of the lowing of cattle.
With something like a groan, Hockins turned a glance on his comrades and pointed to the men. They required no second glance to enlighten them, for there they plainly saw Ravonino heavily ironed by the neck to Laihova, and Razafil, the poet, chained to the chief, Voalavo. Many others whom they did not know were also there.
Fortunately Prince Rakota retained his influence over his mother, and his power to do good a circumstance for which our three adventurers had ultimately reason to thank God, though, for a considerable time after that, they remained in prison, in company with their friends Ravonino, Voalavo, Laihova, and others.
The natives, in canoes and on both sides of the lake, shouted furiously and beat the water with branches of trees, so that the poor crocodiles were scared away. See there is something of the same sort going to be performed just now." Previous to this process, however, the chief Voalavo went through a singular ceremony to propitiate the crocodiles.
Evidently Voalavo did not take things so quietly. His lips were firmly compressed, his face was deeply flushed, and his brows were sternly contracted, as they led him out. But for his chains the chief would certainly have given his jailors some trouble. The whole thing passed so quickly that it seemed to those left behind like a dream when they found themselves alone.
"That was a curious speech that Voalavo made to the crocodile, Ravonino," said Mark. "Do you really think he believed it did any good?" "Yes, truly, he believed it. This is a land of charms and superstition. Voalavo is of too honest and straightforward a nature to practise what he does not believe in." "Does you b'lieve in charms an' soopistition?" asked Ebony, with expectant eyes.
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.
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