268 AFRICAN ADVENTURE STORIES 



The chief sat on a stool, with his feet on a 

 grass mat. A leopard skin was tied about his 

 loins, and from his right shoulder was draped 

 a blue silk sash that was tied at the waist on 

 the left side. His air was important and he 

 took full charge of the ceremony. 



Barrett was untied and his trial for such 

 it seemed to be began. What law or laws he 

 was charged with violating he could not make 

 out. The trial lasted two days; the men who 

 had seized him were the chief witnesses and 

 gave their testimony both by word and by 

 action, dramatically rehearsing the incidents of 

 his capture. 



He was well fed and given water whenever 

 by signs he indicated that he was thirsty. This 

 treatment puzzled him. Was he to receive a 

 mild sentence or were the savages preparing 

 him for some horrible end? 



During the first part of the trial Barrett paid 

 close attention, in the hope of gaining some idea 

 of the charge that was made against him, but, 

 failing in this, he began to think of some way to 

 escape. So far throughout his imprisonment 

 he had tried to maintain an air of unconcern, 

 in order to make his captors believe that he 



