Word might reach the British government.

They're breaking no international law by holding us here and keeping tabs on us." Before many days I grew unable to leave the hard cork mattress on the camp-bed in Fred's tent.

They went again to the commandant, this time determined to force the issue.
"I will send some one," he told them, and they came away delighted that strong language should succeed where politeness formerly had failed.
But all the commandant did send was an askari twice a day, to lean on his rifle in the tent door, leer at me, and march away again.
"He comes to see if I'm dead," said I.

"It would be inconvenient to have me die in jail; there might be inquiries afterward from British East.

After I'm dead and buried they'll jail you two healthy ones, and keep you until you 'blab'!" "Why don't we straight out tell 'em we don't know a thing about the ivory ?" wondered Will.
"Because they wouldn't believe us!" Fred answered.
Seven days after the sentry's first call the doctor took to coming in person to look at me.