They had been away, as usual, searching for food in the plantations and fields when the robber band arrived and, on their return home at dusk, had found everything changed.

A boy at once caught and killed two of these, plucked them and brought them to Meinik who, getting some embers from the fires, cut the fowls in two and put them on to roast.

A few minutes sufficed to cook them.
As soon as they were ready, Meinik took them to Stanley.
"You must eat, master," he said.

"You have had nothing since we started, this morning; and sorrow, alone, makes a poor supper.

You will want to do something, I know; and will need all your strength." "You are right, Meinik.