The Natives, Who Were Kirree People, Stood Ready For Them, Armed With Swords, Daggers, And Guns; And The Savage Eboes Finding Themselves Foiled In The Attempt, Retreated To Their Canoes, Without Risking An Attack, Although The Landers Fully Expected To Have Been Spectators Of A Furious And Bloody Battle.

This after all, was a fortunate circumstance, inasmuch as the two brothers, having unconsciously jumped into the same canoe found themselves in each other's company, and were thus afforded, for a short time at least, the pleasure of conversing without interruption.

The palaver not having yet concluded, they had full leisure to contemplate the scene around them. They had moored a little way from the banks of the river; in front of them was the marketplace, which was crammed with market people, from all parts of the neighbouring country of different tribes: a great multitude of wild men, of ferocious aspect and savage uncouth manners. To these belonged the choice either of giving them life and liberty, or dooming them to slavery or death. In the latter determination, their minds might be swayed by suspicion or caprice, or influenced by hatred. In the former, they might be guided by the hopes of gain, or biassed by the fear of punishment; for many of them had come from the sea-coast; and such an adventure as theirs could not long remain concealed from the knowledge of their countrymen. There happened to be amongst the savages, a few well-dressed mahommedan priests, who had come late to the market from the northward.

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