Our first canoe had been ready to launch for some days, and we were
eager to try it. We had, however, to cut a road through the brushwood
down to the river's bank before we could do so. This task accomplished,
placing it on rollers, the boys assisting, we easily dragged it down to
the water. "There, Master Leo, I told you she would not be lopsided,"
exclaimed Jack. "Not she; see! she sits on the water like a duck; and
them paddles will send her pretty briskly through it, depend on that."
We all jumped in, and eagerly paddled about, well pleased with the
success of our undertaking. Though capacious, however, it was evident
that she would not carry the whole of our party and luggage, and I was
glad therefore that our second canoe was nearly completed.
"We will have races!" cried Leo; "Natty shall steer one, and I the
other. Won't it be fun!"
The boys, taking the paddles, showed by the way they handled them that
they would soon be able to manage her. They wished, indeed, to start at
once down the river, but as it was already getting late, we were
compelled to return to the shore. We found a secure place where we
could conceal the canoe under some bushes, and having done so, returned
homewards. Senhor Silva was somewhat better, and the strange negro had
sufficiently recovered to speak. He told Chickango that he belonged, as
we supposed, to the village we had visited, that his name was Igubo, and
that he had the reputation of being one of the best hunters of the
tribe. "And so I am," he added; "but had it not been for my white
friend there, I should have been slain at last by my huge enemy, of
whose brothers I have killed so many." Though he could have had but a
glance at Stanley he recognised him at once, and begged Chickango to
thank him for saving his life.
The next day the boys were very eager to go out in the canoe. "No, no,
young gentlemen, time enough by-and-by," said Jack. "You come and help
Timbo and I to finish off the other, and we will get on with it while
the Captain and Mr Crawford take a cruise."
"But, I say, we have not settled what they are to be called," exclaimed
Leo, as we walked along.
"I have been thinking about that," said Natty. "What do you say to
calling one the _Panther_, and the other the _Leopard_? They are proper
names for this part of the world."
"And so would be the _Crocodile_ and _Hippopotamus_," said Leo; "and as
they are water animals, those names would be more suitable."
"But they are not pretty names," argued Natty. "Would not the _Giraffe_
and _Gazelle_ be better?"
"We ought to have got Kate and Bella down to name them," exclaimed Leo.
"Come, what do you say, Mr Crawford?" said Natty. "Do not you consider
the _Giraffe_ and _Gazelle_ are two pretty names?"
"They are prettier than the others," I replied, "though they are not
quite so appropriate perhaps; but as all sorts of names are given to
vessels, I do not know why our canoes should not have the prettiest
names we can find."
At last Leo came round to Natty's opinion, and it was agreed that our
two canoes should be called after the names he proposed, the first
launched being called the _Giraffe_. The boys, I saw, were very anxious
to accompany us, but still they went away with a good grace with Jack
and Timbo. We hoped to obtain a good supply of wild-fowl, and perhaps
to shoot some larger game from the banks. Though I had my gun with me,
I assisted Chickango in paddling the canoe, while Stanley sat with his
gun ready to shoot whatever might appear. We had knocked over a good
many wild-fowl, which made us wish that we had a dog with us to bring
them out, as we had a good deal of trouble in rowing after them. At
length Stanley shot a beautiful flamingo, which went away paddling down
the stream at a great rate. We pursued. We were not far from the
banks, when suddenly I felt so tremendous a shock, that I thought we
must have run on a rock, and immediately afterwards a huge head appeared
above the water and dashed towards us. The hippopotamus, for such it
was, and a very large one, seized the boat by the gunwale, and
threatened to overturn her. At the same moment several other monsters
rose with their snouts above the water. I felt that we should have a
poor chance of escaping if the canoe was upset, for I thought that the
monsters would immediately make at us and tear us to pieces, or swallow
us whole, for their mouths seemed large enough to take any one of us
down at a gulp. I seized my gun, as did my cousin, who sprang to his
feet, and levelled his piece at the monster's head. "Fire! massa, fire!
or he upset boat and kill all we," cried Chickango, leaping up to the
bow of the boat, and holding up his hands with a look of horror. I
heard the wood crunching under the creature's teeth. Stanley, who never
lost his presence of mind, balancing himself in the bow of the boat,
took aim, and at the moment I expected to find the boat dragged under,
and probably we ourselves attacked by the other monsters, he fired. The
bullet struck the creature in its most vital part, near the ear, and
penetrated the brain. It opened its huge jaws and sank back into the
water, beneath which it disappeared, while its companions, alarmed by
the report, swam off, leaving us unmolested.
There we were, floating calmly on the stream, and I could scarcely
believe that an instant before we were engaged in a fearful encounter.
The canoe, however, gave evidence of the power of the creature's teeth,
for part of the gunwale, though it was of considerable thickness, was
literally crunched up. Several holes were made in the bottom, through
which the water was running. We soon had out our knives and set to work
to plug the latter, which we quickly did, before much water had rushed
in, and that was soon bailed out with our hats. Our canoe had received
too much damage to allow us to continue our voyage, and we therefore
paddled back, hoping that we might never again be engaged in a similar
adventure.
"You see, young gentlemen, it's just as well you did not go in the
canoe," observed Jack, when he saw what had happened. "Why, that
creature would have bitten you in two if he had caught you in his jaws
just as easily as you would crack a nut. It will take us a pretty time
to repair this damage. However, it is as well matters are no worse.
Take my advice, in future we will go cruising in company, and if a beast
like that munches up one canoe, we shall at all events have the other to
get home in."
As most of the next day was spent in repairing the canoe, we did not go
off in her. The young ladies I found had become very anxious for a
change. Bella complained much of not being allowed to run about outside
the Castle by herself.
"Could not you find me some pretty animal to ride upon?" she said. "I
have seen many passing along in the distance, and if you could catch a
couple you could soon tame them, and then Kate and I could ride about
with you wherever you go."
"What were the animals like?" asked Stanley.
"Something like horses, or perhaps large donkeys, but they galloped
along so fast that I could not very well distinguish them," she
answered.
"They must have been zebras or quaggas," said David; "though, if Bella
has seen them, I do not know how we could have missed them."
"Because we have been up on the height and can look over the country,
while you have been either busy inside or down in the valley," answered
Bella. "Is not that a good reason?"
"I am afraid, however, that even if we were to catch a quagga for you,
we should have a hard task to tame it," said David; "but we will try
what we can do; perhaps, however, we shall find some other animal which
will answer the purpose. What do you think of an ox? They are used
more to the south, and make very good steeds, though a little difficult
to guide perhaps."
"I will tell you what!" exclaimed Leo. "If the rest will not go to the
south, what do you say to starting off with Natty and I, and we will
have an independent expedition, and take Chico with us. Natty and I
will paddle and you shall steer, and Chico can sit in the bows and keep
a look-out ahead. What do you say to that, old fellow?"
The ape had at that moment entered the room, and walked up to Leo, whom
he looked upon as his especial playmate, though he seemed to consider
Jack his chief protector.
I was glad to find that Senhor Silva was improving. Our negro guest was
also much better, and seemed anxious to return to his people. His wives
and children would be looking for him, and he thought he could very well
make his way through the forest to his home. David, however, persuaded
him to stay a few days longer, till his arm and ribs were properly set.
Two weeks passed away without any unusual occurrence. The other canoe
was now finished and ready for launching, but the heat of the weather
prevented us from willingly making any exertion, and had it not been for
the necessity of procuring food, on many days we should not have left
the house. We discovered at a little distance the remains of a deserted
village, and outside it grew a number of plantains, as well as pumpkins,
and other fruit, which, although not so good as those carefully
cultivated, were very valuable. We also found many wild fruits growing
in the forest; pine-apples, especially, were very fine, and there were
nuts of various sorts. Chickango discovered a quantity of ground or
pea-nuts, which, though bitter, and somewhat unpalatable, were very
nutritious, and he and Timbo ate them readily.
At length our guest was well enough to take his departure. His two
countrymen accompanied him for some distance, and Senhor Silva had
generously given him several articles which he valued highly--a few
yards of cotton, a knife, and some tobacco were among them. He begged
Timbo and Chickango to express his gratitude, and I really believe, from
the expression of his countenance, that he felt it.
Two days after this, early in the morning, we were surprised to see him
approaching the Castle. I went out to meet him. He took my hands, and
looked into my face with an imploring glance, which showed that he was
much distressed, and then accompanied me into the Castle. The moment he
saw David he ran up to him, and then pointed in the direction of his own
home. Then he ran to Leo and Natty, and stroked their heads, as if he
was weeping over them. Timbo, who had been in the cook-house, now came
out, and having exchanged a few words, Timbo said, "Igubo got home,
found children bery ill; want doctor come cure them."
This was plain enough. "Tell him I will go gladly," said David; "but
either you or Chickango must accompany me to interpret."
"I will bear you company also," I said. "I feel sure we can trust to
him, but his people may not be so well disposed, and if we all three go
armed we may make them respect us."
Directly breakfast was over we set out, greatly to Igubo's satisfaction.
He hurried along, leading us through elephant tracks, till we reached a
path formed by the natives which led to the village. Igubo conducted us
immediately to his house, round which a number of people were collected,
and inside was a man with his face painted and his hair dressed out with
strange ornaments, performing all sorts of antics.
"Dat de fetish man," said Timbo. "He do no good. He t'ink he enchant
de sick children. He one 'postor."
"Little doubt about that," I observed; "but we must take care not to
offend him. But you tell them that white man's doctor has come, and
that if he will go and carry on his incantations outside we will go
inside and try ours, and there can be no doubt that the two working
together will produce more effect than one alone."
"You no t'ink dat, Massa Andrew," said Timbo, looking up in my face.
"No, I only tell dem he go out, we go in. White man know how to cure
children better dan de black."
We found two fine boys about twelve and fourteen years old, both in a
raging fever. David, I should have said, had come provided with a few
medicines, which he thought most likely to be of use, and he now sent
all the people out of the house except the mother of the boys and our
friend. "Tell him," he said to Timbo, "that he must get me some pure
water." This was easily procured from a stream which came rushing down
the side of the mountain at no great distance. David gave each of the
boys a cooling draught, and made their parents understand that they were
to take no food except such as he ordered. He watched by the children
till they at length fell into a profound sleep, charging Igubo not to
allow anybody to enter the house. David then proposed that we should
take a turn through the village, of which we had not seen much on our
previous visit. I need not again describe the village. We had not got
far when we met several slaves bringing us a number of fowls, some
bunches of plantains, and baskets of cassava. These they placed at our
feet with a message from the chief to say that we were welcome, for he
had heard of our brave deeds. We of course received them, and they were
carried to a sort of verandah in front of Igubo's house, while through
Timbo we returned our thanks to the chief. He himself soon afterwards
made his appearance, followed by several attendants. Unless by his
anklets and necklace, and the rich tattooing on his breast, he was not
to be distinguished from the rest of the people. His only clothing was
a piece of fine matting, worn round the waist in the form of a kilt.
David was unwilling to leave the boys, and we therefore consented to
remain till the following day. They were then somewhat better, but when
we proposed going their father entreated that we would remain. David
explained that he was wanted at home, that one of our party was sick,
and that if Igubo would follow his directions the boys would probably
recover.
"Dat's de bery t'ing dey will not do," said Timbo. "He say, if you go,
de boys go too. We make carriage and take dem."
"The best thing, probably, that can be done," said David; and we
accordingly agreed to let the boys be brought with us.
The litters were soon constructed, and were by David's advice covered
over thickly with branches of trees, so as completely to shade them from
the heat of the sun. Eight stout fellows undertook to carry them, and
all things being ready, we bade farewell to the chief, who, however,
seemed rather angry at our departure.
"He no good man," said Timbo, as we came away. "Better go dan stay. I
find out he take elephant's tusks and de meat de oder day, but he no
tell us, lest we ask to have dem again."
We considered it wise not to say anything about the elephant's tusks,
and, glad to get out of the village, we proceeded homewards.
"Whom have you brought?" exclaimed Leo, when he saw us arrive.
When we told him, he and Natty expressed themselves well pleased at
having some companions. "We will look after them," said Leo.
"And I will teach them to read," exclaimed Natty. "I hope they will not
want to be going away, though. We must nurse them in the meantime, and
try and get them well."
"Poor little fellows," said the ever kind Kate, when she saw them. "We
will do all we can for them, though they look very ill."
The eyes and cheeks of the young negroes were sadly sunk, for fever
makes the same ravages in their frames as it does in those of white
people. The father, though he saw his boys in safe keeping, still
seemed unwilling to leave them. He had done what was quite contrary to
the customs of his people, and he told Timbo he was afraid, if he was
long absent, that the rest of his family might be ill-treated. He
accordingly, after looking affectionately at them, and expressing his
thanks to us all, but to David especially, took his departure. I should
have said that we brought away the presents made to us, which proved a
welcome addition to our bill of fare.