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searched for some sign of the spot where Victory had landed。
We found nothing until we had reached a point a few miles above the
spot where I had first seen the launch drifting down toward us； and there I
discovered the remnants of a recent camp fire。
That Victory carried flint and steel I was aware； and that it was she
who built the fire I was positive。 But which way had she gone since she
stopped here？
Would she go on down the river； that she might thus bring herself
nearer her own Grabritin； or would she have sought to search for us
upstream； where she had seen us last？
I had hailed Taylor； and sent him across the river to take in Delcarte；
that the two might join me and discuss my discovery and our future plans。
While waiting for them； I stood looking out over the river； my back
toward the woods that stretched away to the east behind me。 Delcarte
was just stepping into the launch upon the opposite side of the stream；
when； without the least warning； I was violently seized by both arms and
about the waistthree or four men were upon me at once； my rifle was
snatched from my hands and my revolver from my belt。
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I struggled for an instant； but finding my efforts of no avail； I ceased
them； and turned my head to have a look at my assailants。 At the same
time several others of them walked around in front of me； and； to my
astonishment； I found myself looking upon uniformed soldiery； armed
with rifles； revolvers； and sabers； but with faces as black as coal。
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8
Delcorte and Taylor were now in mis…stream； coming toward us； and
I called to them to keep aloof until I knew whether the intentions of my
captors were friendly or otherwise。 My good men wanted to come on
and annihilate the blacks。 But there were upward of a hundred of the
latter； all well armed； and so I commanded Delcarte to keep out of harm's
way； and stay where he was till I needed him。
A young officer called and beckoned to them。 But they refused to
come； and so he gave orders that resulted in my hands being secured at my
back； after which the company marched away； straight toward the east。
I noticed that the men wore spurs； which seemed strange to me。 But
when； late in the afternoon； we arrived at their encampment； I discovered
that my captors were cavalrymen。
In the center of a plain stood a log fort； with a block… house at each of
its four corners。 As we approached； I saw a herd of cavalry horses
grazing under guard outside the walls of the post。 They were small；
stocky horses； but the telltale saddle galls proclaimed their calling。 The
flag flying from a tall staff inside the palisade was one which I had never
before seen nor heard of。
We marched directly into the compound； where the company was
dismissed； with the exception of a guard of four privates； who escorted me
in the wake of the young officer。 The latter led us across a small parade
ground； where a battery of light field guns was parked； and toward a log
building； in front of which rose the flagstaff。
I was escorted within the building into the presence of an old negro； a
fine looking man； with a dignified and military bearing。 He was a
colonel； I was to learn later； and to him I owe the very humane treatment
that was accorded me while I remained his prisoner。
He listened to the report of his junior； and then turned to question me；
but with no better results than the former had accomplished。 Then he
summoned an orderly； and gave some instructions。 The soldier saluted；
and left the room； returning in about five minutes with a hairy old white
man just such a savage； primeval…looking fellow as I had discovered in
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the woods the day that Snider had disappeared with the launch。
The colonel evidently expected to use the fellow as interpreter； but
when the savage addressed me it was in a language as foreign to me as
was that of the blacks。 At last the old officer gave it up； and； shaking his
head； gave instructions for my removal。
From his office I was led to a guardhouse； in which I found about fifty
half…naked whites； clad in the skins of wild beasts。 I tried to converse
with them； but not one of them could understand Pan…American； nor could
I make head or tail of their jargon。
For over a month I remained a prisoner there； working from morning
until night at odd jobs about the headquarters building of the commanding
officer。 The other prisoners worked harder than I did； and I owe my
better treatment solely to the kindliness and discrimination of the old
colonel。
What had become of Victory； of Delcarte； of Taylor I could not know；
nor did it seem likely that I should ever learn。 I was most depressed。 But
I whiled away my time in performing the duties given me to the best of
my ability and attempting to learn the language of my captors。
Who they were or where they came from was a mystery to me。 That
they were the outpost of some pow…erful black nation seemed likely； yet
where the seat of that nation lay I could not guess。
They looked upon the whites as their inferiors； and treated us
accordingly。 They had a literature of their own； and many of the men；
even the common soldiers； were omnivorous readers。 Every two weeks a
dust…covered trooper would trot his jaded mount into the post and deliver a
bulging sack of mail at headquarters。 The next day he would be away
again upon a fresh horse toward the south； carrying the soldiers' letters to
friends in the far off land of mystery from whence they all had come。
Troops； sometimes mounted and sometimes afoot； left the post daily
for what I assumed to be patrol duty。 I judged the little force of a
thousand men were detailed here to maintain the authority of a distant