He obeyed and they crossed.

Each man with a bucket was followed by another who bore a wooden spoon, while a third behind them carried water in a large gourd.

Having come to the first of the open sheds, they began their rounds, the man with the wooden spoon ladling out portions of the stiff porridge and throwing it down upon the ground before each slave in turn as food is thrown to a dog.

Then the Arab with the gourd poured water into wooden bowls, that the captives might drink.
Presently there was a halt, and the officers gathered together to discuss something.
"A slave is sick," said Otter.
The knot separated, but a big white man with a hippopotamus-hide whip began to strike at a dark thing on the ground which did not seem to move.
The man ceased beating and called aloud.

Then two of the Arabs went to the little guard-house that was by the drawbridge and brought tools with which they loosed the fetters on the limbs of the poor creature--apparently a woman--thus freeing her from the long iron bar.
This done, some of the officers sauntering after them, they dragged the body to the high enclosure of earth and up a short ladder having a wooden platform at the top of it, that overhung the deep canal below.
"This is how the Yellow Devil buries his dead and cures his sick," said Otter.
"I have seen enough," answered Leonard, and began to descend the tree hastily, an example which Otter followed with more composure.
"Ah! Baas," he said when they reached the ground, "you are but a chicken.