Cast Among Robbers 
ashore. I lifted my wife from the canoe, we 
ascended the bank, took a seat on a log and 
awaited the issue. The countenance and manner 
of the sentinel were anything else than reassuring 
and nobody else had yet appeared. Presently 
the leader and some of his men came out of the 
bushes. I was greatly puzzled to observe that 
the former seemed to be much embarrassed. 
Then I recognized in him a former officer in the 
Ejahyay army. He expressed much pleasure 
that 1 had not attempted to pass without stop¬ 
ping, saying that if I had done so his men would 
have fired on us. He then told me that I must 
give his men something to satisfy them. This 
was very manifest, for they had begun to grumble 
and to scowl very ominously when they saw 
how friendly their leader was to me. I got my 
messenger to bring them a large quantity of 
sugar and this seemed to thoroughly sweeten 
their tempers. 
In the beginning of our coversation, the leader 
had shown a scar on his arm marking a place 
from which I had taken a bullet; and now to 
show his appreciation, he offered me some 
chickens and some rum. The latter, much to 
the dissatisfaction of the canoemen, was de¬ 
clined but I gladly accepted the poultry. He 
267 
