Or, if they receive us well, they may offer hospitality and poison us, or cut our throats suddenly.

Our position might be better, still it is one that I believe they would find difficult to take.

So, in my opinion, we had better stop still and await developments." Stephen grumbled something about my being over-cautious, but I took no heed of him.

One thing I did do, however.

Sending for Hans, I told him to take one of the Mazitu--I dared not risk them both for they were our guides--and another of the natives whom we had borrowed from Hassan, a bold fellow who knew all the local languages, and creep down to the slavers' camp as soon as it was quite dark.