"Then that settles the question of our future proceedings. We must bid
adieu to the gorillas at once, and dog the steps of this marauding
party, so as to prevent our good friends Mbango and Jambai being
surprised and carried into slavery along with all their people. It
seems to me that our path is clear in this matter. Even if we were not
bound in honour to succour those who have treated us hospitably, we
ought to do our best to undo the evil we have done in telling their
enemies so much about them. Besides, we must save Okandaga, whatever
happens. What say you, comrades?"
"Of course we must," said Peterkin. I also heartily concurred.
"You's a good man," said Makarooroo, his eyes glistening with emotion.
"If I did not stand by you at such a time as this," replied Jack,
smiling, "I should certainly be a very bad man."
"But what are we to do about our goods?" inquired I, "We cannot hope to
keep up with these robbers if we carry our goods with us; and yet it
seems hard to leave them behind, for we should fare ill, I fear, in this
country if we travel as beggars."
"We shall easily manage as to that," replied Jack. "I have observed
that one of our niggers is a sensible, and, I am disposed to think, a
trustworthy fellow--"
"D'you mean the man with the blind eye and the thumping big nose?"
inquired Peterkin.
"The same. Well, I shall put him in charge, and tell him to follow us
to Mbango's village; then we four shall start off light, and hunt our
way south, travelling as fast as we can, and carrying as many strings of
beads, by way of small change, as we can stuff into our pockets and
fasten about our persons."
"The very thing," cried Peterkin. "So let's put it in practice at
once."
"Ay, this very night," said Jack, as we hurried back to the spot where
our goods had been left.
As we went along in silence I noticed that Peterkin sighed once or twice
very heavily, and I asked him if he was quite well.
"Well? Ay, well enough in body, Ralph, but ill at ease in mind. How
can it be otherwise when we are thus suddenly and unexpectedly about to
take leave of our dear friends the gorillas? I declare my heart is fit
to break."
"I sympathise with you, Peterkin," said I, "for I have not yet made
nearly as many notes in regard to these monster-monkeys as I could have
wished. However, I am thankful for what I have got, and perhaps we may
come back here again one of these days."
"What bloodthirsty fellows!" cried Jack, laughing. "If you talk so, I
fear that Mak and I shall have to cut your acquaintance; for, you see,
he and I have got a _little_ feeling left."
"Well, it's natural, I fancy," observed Peterkin, "that gorillas should
feel for their kindred. However, I console myself with the thought that
the country farther south is much better filled with other game,
although the great puggy is not there. And then we shall come among
lions again, which we can never find, I believe, in the gorilla country.
I wonder if the gorilla has really driven them out of this part of
Africa."
"Some think it probable," observed I, "but we cannot make sure of that
point."
"Well, we can at all events make sure of this point," cried Peterkin, as
we came in sight of our encampment, "that lions are thick enough in the
country whither we are bound; so let's have a good supper, and hurrah
for the south! It's a bright prospect before us. A fair lady to be
saved; possibly a fight with the niggers, and lion, elephant,
rhinoceros, alligator, hippopotamus, and buffalo shooting by way of
relaxation in the intervals of the war!"