could guide him on the route. Being assured in the affirmative, he felt
satisfied, and the two, by the light of the moon, which was now creeping
up in the heavens, commenced their journey, intending, after passing a
few leagues, to make up their camp, light their fires to keep off the
wild animals, and sleep.

The resting-place was at last found, and after the usual arrangements
had been completed, and a circle of fire built around them, the two lay
down to sleep. Fatigue soon closed the eyes of our young adventurer, and
he slept soundly, how long he knew not; but after a while he was
awakened by the breaking of some decayed branches near him, and
partially opened his eyes, half asleep, half conscious, when to his
utter amazement he beheld, or fancied he beheld, a dozen pairs of
glistening eyes peering at him from out the jungle. He did not stir, but
feigning to be still asleep, he cautiously watched to see what all this
meant. They surely did not belong to wild animals--those eyes!

He partially turned without moving his body to ascertain if the guide
was still by him, but found that he was gone. There was treachery
somewhere--there was danger about him--this he seemed to feel
instinctively, but still, feigning sleep, he almost held his breath to
listen. He soon learned by his sense of clearing that there were some
half dozen or more of negroes near to him, and that he was the subject
of their conversation. He could even detect his guide's voice among the
rest, though the conversation was carried on scarcely above a whisper.
He had on a previous voyage taken much pains to familiarize himself with
the language spoken by the shore tribes in the south, and he now had
little difficulty in understanding a considerable portion of the remarks
which were making by the gang who were secreted in the jungle so near to
where he was lying, while he pretended sleep.