34 THE OUT-STATION; OR, 



CHAPTER IV. 



A MIDNIGHT MELEE WITH THE UNCLEAN. 



HAVING (between us) avenged the demolition of 

 the " hope of the family," and of the tortoise-shell 

 comb, by the slaughter of the female victimiser, the 

 least we can do in common charity is to adopt her 

 orphan progeny. Consequently, tying a handkerchief 

 round the neck of each of the three half-smothered 

 juvenile bruins, we march them off in durance vile 

 to enjoy a state of civilisation for the remainder of 

 their ursine existence. 



The sun beginning to get unpleasantly warm, 

 we adjourn to the jungle habitation of our host, 

 which the fair sex of the family (query, does a black 

 woman constitute one of the fair sex ?) during our 

 absence have put into a " company-expecting" state 

 for us, by festooning the walls with snow-white dra- 

 pery, and laying out a respectable spread of milk, 

 plantains, honey, and rice-cakes on the table (female, 

 unsophisticated, little niggers !) 



