He was seated not very far away from me, and was certainly one of the most ferocious and repulsive-looking creatures I have ever come across,--even among the blacks.

He was over six feet high, and of rather a lighter complexion than his fellows,--almost like a Malay.

The top of his head receded in a very curious manner, whilst the mouth and lower part of the face generally protruded like an alligator's, and gave him a truly diabolical appearance.

I confess a thrill of horror passed through me, as I realised that two doubtless tenderly reared English girls were in the clutches of this monster.

Once I thought I must have been dreaming, and that the memories of some old story-book I had read years ago were filling my mind with some fantastic delusion.