Gomaldo's body-guard, composed of fifty troops neatly dressed in white
uniforms, were drawn up to receive them, and the whole population
greeted them with joy. Gomaldo himself stood on the veranda of his
house, and, after saluting the expedition, invited the native officers
who were to betray him in to dinner. At this moment Keene whispered to
Sam and the latter signaled to the native officer, Gomaldo's
treacherous friend who was in charge of him, and this man gave an order
in a low voice, whereupon the whole expedition discharged their rifles,
and half-a-dozen of the body-guard fell to the ground. In the mean time
two of the native officers threw their arms round Gomaldo and took him
prisoner, and his partizans were seized with a panic. Sam took command
of his men, who outnumbered the loyal natives, and in a few minutes he
had unchallenged control of the post without losing a single man,
killed or wounded. Gomaldo was intensely excited and upbraided Sam
bitterly when taken before him, but upon being promised good treatment
he became more tractable. Sam gave orders that the villagers should
bury the dead, among whom he regretted to see the body of the native
lieutenant who had brought him food when they were starving; and then,
after a rest of several hours, the expedition set out on the return
journey, Gomaldo and his men accompanying it as prisoners.
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