Mywifewasdreadfullytired，andsometimesthepacewastoosevereforher。Atlengthshewassofatiguedthatshedeclaredshemustrest，ifonlyforafewminutes。Itwasimpossibletohaltinthethickjungleandgrass；therefore，asIhadobservedalargegroveofplantainsonthecrestofthehillbeforeus，Igavehermyhandtoassistintheascent，andweshortlyenteredthedarkforestofbananas，whichwas，asusual，clearandfreefromgrass。
Allthewomenweregladtorest，asthepoorthingswerecarryingheavyloads。Wehaltedinthemidstoftheplantains，andeveryonesatdown，exceptthenumeroussentrieswhomIplacedinconcealmentinvariouspositions。Ifullyexpectedthatnativesmightbefollowingus，inthehopesofpickinguptheloadofsomewoundedmanthathadbeenleftbehind。
Notawordwasspoken，orevenwhispered。
Mymenwereverybloodthirsty。Theyhadbeenatrociouslytreatedbythenatives，andhadsufferedmuch。Theylongedtogettheirenemiesfairlybeforethem，andthe”FortyThieves”werenowkeenlylookingoutfortheapproachofthewilyUnyoros。
Wehearddistantvoices；theywerecomingnearer。Asharpclickingoflocksmightbeheard，asthemengotready。