They drew quite near to us, to within about forty yards, and halted there in a dead circle, staring at us with their great round eyes.

It was like a scene in a dream; I shall never forget it.
Everything about us appeared to astonish them, our indifference, the colour of Stephen and myself (as a matter of fact at that date Brother John was the only white man they had ever seen), our tent and our two remaining donkeys.

Indeed, when one of these beasts broke into a bray, they showed signs of fright, looking at each other and even retreating a few paces.
At length the position got upon my nerves, especially as I saw that some of them were beginning to fiddle with their bows, and that their General, a tall, one-eyed old fellow, was making up his mind to do something.

I called to one of the two Mazitus, whom I forgot to say we had named Tom and Jerry, and gave him a pannikin of coffee.
"Take that to the captain there with my good wishes, Jerry, and ask him if he will drink with us," I said.
Jerry, who was a plucky fellow, obeyed.

Advancing with the steaming coffee, he held it under the Captain's nose.