By pointing to his lips he indicated that he was hungry and thirsty.
Water was brought to him, and cakes made from pounded yams pressed
and baked. Having eaten and drank he closed his eyes and lay
back, and the natives, who had before been all noisily chattering
together, now became suddenly silent, and stealing away left the
strange white visitor to sleep.
When Frank woke he could see by the light that it was early
morning. A woman with a child in her lap, whom Frank recognized as
the negress who had picked up the baby, was sitting on a low stool
by his side. On seeing him open his eyes she came to the bed, took
his hand and put it to her lips, and then raised the baby triumphantly
and turned it round and round to show that it had escaped without
damage. Then when Frank pointed again to his lips she brought him
a pineapple, roughly cut off the skin, and sliced it. Frank ate
the juicy fruit, and felt immensely refreshed, for the West Coast
pineapple is even more delicious than that found in the West Indies.
Then the woman removed the bandages and applied fresh poultices to
his wounds, talking in low soft tones, and, as Frank had no doubt,
expressing sorrow at their cause.
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