bowls were brought for the prisoners , and their hands were untied to allow them to eat for themselves for once , their captors less wary with so large a company around them ; and in the celebratory bustle , mrs. erasmus was able to slip away from kefentse to join them once again : he had been given pride of place beside the dragon egg , and presented a large cow to eat ; and they seemed to hold the evening 's entertainment until he had finished .