In Search of an Unknown Race — page 241: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

VAN. 227 Van succeeded in fitting one of the keys to the simple old fashioned spring lock hand and ankle cuffs, and set him free, the black uttered a positive yell of joy, which was fortunately drowned by the louder tumult of the warring elements. Snatching the keys from his liberator’s hands, the Kroo worked his own way back to his companions with marvelous rapidity, followed as fast as possible by Van, who was rather dismayed at this unexpected occurrence. In vain Van tried to explain to the Kroo his proposed plan of action, which was simply that as soon as the hatches were taken off to give the prisoners food or water, they were to rush on deck and overpower and bind the crew before they could recover from their sur- prise. ‘“We black fellows make waddy dem fellow on deck,” was the only response, and the excited chattering of the natives showed that they were ripe for action. Once freed, however, the party did not immediately make any definite movement, but sat squatting round the Kroo in a circle as he addressed them volubly in _ their own language, paying no heed whatever to Van. As the hours passed on it became evident that the gale was abating, and the day dawn beginning to break. Thoroughly exhausted by all he had passed through, Van felt himself unableto keep his eyes open, and, re- gardless of his surroundings, stretched himself on the sails for a short nap. How long it continued, Van does not know. The first thing that awoke him was the noise of the hatches being taken off and thrown violently to the deck, while at the same moment a flood of sunlight, streaming on his upturned face, almost blinded him. GoOmMmichooks (E(o)