CHAPTER XI.
After the meal was concluded, the captain said to the chief: "Now, Hassan, we want to know how it was that you arrived at the nick of time to save my officers' lives." "I had been watching for some days," the chief said quietly.

"When I heard that many chiefs had joined Sehi Pandash, I said 'I must go and help my white brothers,' but I dared not take many men away from here, and as I had to hide, the fewer there were with me the better; so I came down into the forest near Sehi's town, and found the wood full of men.
We had come down in sampans, so that I could send off messengers as might be required.

One of these I sent down to you, to warn you to be prepared for an attack.

Other messengers I had sent before from here; but they must have been caught and killed, for I had been watched closely when they found that I would not join against you.
"When my last messenger returned, I was glad; I knew that you would be on your guard, and would not be caught treacherously.

Two of my men were in the town when they began to fire on the ship, and I saw the town destroyed, and followed Sehi to the place where the six prahus were lying, and crossed the creek, and lay down in the woods near the village on the other side; for I thought that something might happen.