I had observed before starting, that the barque had got up her anchor
and was slowly gliding down stream. At intervals I turned a little out
of my way and came close to the edge of the water, to make sure that she
was not getting ahead of me; and then I would glide back into the path,
which ran parallel with the stream, but at several yards' distance from
the bank.
Guiding myself thus, I advanced at about the same rate as the vessel was
going, and every now and then had her under my eye through the openings
in the trees.
I had no difficulty in making her out, for, contrary to the wish of the
slave-captain, the night was a bright one, with a clear moon coursing
through a sky that was without a single cloud.
Slowly as sailed the barque, it was just as much as I could do to keep
up with her. Had the path been open there would have been no
difficulty--but there was in reality no path at all, only a track made
by wild animals, which here and there was closed up above with trailing
vines and creeping plants, that stretched from tree to tree and hindered
my rapid advance. Though beasts could go under these natural bridges
without impediment, a human being had to crouch under or climb over, and
all this required time. There were so many of these obstructions that I
was greatly delayed by them, and found it just as much as I could do to
keep square with the vessel constantly moving onward. I knew that I
must get a good way ahead of her, so as to choose a place for taking to
the water and swimming out to her as she passed down. As the river grew
wider near its mouth I was likely to have a long swim for it.
Several times I was terrified by the appearance of wild beasts, whose
forms I could just distinguish in the obscurity that reigned under the
shadows of the trees. I saw several kinds, and some of immense size
that went crashing through the underwood as I came suddenly upon them.
These must have been either rhinoceroses or the large hippopotamus--I
could not tell which under the shadows--but whichever they were, they
ran off at my approach. I might have feared them more than I did, had
it not been that a greater fear was upon me. I feared to hear the
voices of King Dingo Bingo and his black guards behind me. I feared
this more than anything; and at intervals I stopped upon the path and
listened.
But indeed they would need to have been near for me to have heard them.
The forest was filled with other sounds, and only a very loud noise
could have been heard above the general chorus. There was the shrill
chirrup of cicadas and tree-crickets, the hoarse croaking of toads and
frogs--some of these as loud as the routing of a bull--there was
screaming of cats, the barking of jackals, and the chattering and
howling of monkeys. A perfect chorus of discordant sounds produced by
the barque moving down the river, and no doubt partially by my own
passage through the underwood. One kind set the other a-going, and the
alarm and consequent noises proceeding from it spread to a far distance
through the forest.
I thought it less probable that I should be followed through the woods,
than down the stream itself. When missed, a canoe was most likely to be
brought into requisition--perhaps the royal galley itself, with his
majesty to guide the pursuit. They would remember that I had
disappeared just at the moment the barque weighed anchor, and would
suspect that I had gone aboard at once. It was far more likely,
therefore, the search would be made upon the water, and the pursuers
would paddle their craft directly for the barque. Under this belief I
gave uneasy glances up the river, whenever I could command a view of it.
As yet no pursuers appeared.
Another consideration troubled me. The Kroomen had gone to the river's
mouth to watch the movements of the cruiser and report whether she had
launched any boats. Now these fellows were entirely in the interest of
King Dingo. They might see me as I swam to the barque, and, taking me
into their boat, carry me back to the factory. They had been present
when the bargain was made, and knew all about it. I must, therefore,
look out for their boat and avoid it.
With such thoughts and resolves passing through my mind, I once more
marked the progress of the vessel and, diving into the underwood, kept
on.
At length I reached a point where there was a bend in the river. It was
not far from its mouth. Beyond this place the stream widened into a
sort of bay.
It would not do for me to go beyond. I should have too long a swim for
it; besides, the barque was about being got under sail--her canvas was
already loose; and once the sails were sheeted home, they would catch
the wind and carry her rapidly through the water--so rapidly that I
might not be able to get aboard.
I had gone far enough. I had reached the point where it was best for me
to take to the water; and, flinging off my shoes and most of my
clothing, I stepped down to the water's edge and plunged in.