<span style="font-size: 18px">Braxton felt relieved that the Amazon Queen had eventually given them leave to stand as normal men in her Royal Presence.  Indeed, he had wondered if their bowing might have been insufficient to the ruler and that perhaps they ought to have gotten down on their hands and knees, like a kowtowing Chinese.  Fortunately, the Queen seemed satisfied with the Englishmens' show of respect.  He stood silent, waiting for the Queen to give him leave to speak or answer a question.<br/>
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His fellows, while bowing, had kept their eyes on Braxton.  When the Queen spoke, they saw him stand straight and followed his example.<br/>
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The Queen did not introduce herself, or give permission for Braxton to introduce himself.  This left the man in the unenviable position of having to stand still whilst she scrutinized his appearance.  He was not comfortable, but he was an Englishman and he could endure a great deal of poking and prodding and still remain unnerved.  He clearly heard the Queen speak of the crewmen's stature in an unflattering way.  This puzzled him a bit as he and the crew seemed no smaller in height or frame than the men that were native to the island.<br/>
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Wendell also held his tongue.  The Queen's comments were likely going over Braxton's head and Wendell was glad, for Braxton's sake, that his friend had not developed a ribald sense of humor.  A more normal man of a more sexual nature might have been insulted at disparaging comments about the size of his manhood.  Wendell also did his best to suppress a smile, for while he did not know the particulars of the general size of the native males, he imagined that nearly every other man on God's green Earth would come up 'short' in comparison to his friend, 'Bull'.  Wendell hoped that if he was smiling that none of their captors would notice it.<br/>
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Braxton did his best not to fidget during this 'royal inspection'.  He silently prayed to God, and even some of the Greek gods, that the Englishmen would somehow earn this queen's acceptance and respect.  The British government had outlawed slavery in 1833, but Braxton found himself wondering if this might be how a dark African man might feel upon being inspected at the auction block.<br/>
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The Queen touched the clothing that Braxton wore, barely making any pressure upon the skin underneath.  It produced an uncomfortable and ticklish sensation in Braxton.  Still, the Englishman did his best to appear calm and collected.</span>