OUR MARCH WESTWARD ALONG THE SHORES OF THE LAKE--TOM AND THE CROCODILE--
CHARGE OF ELEPHANTS--A NARROW ESCAPE FOR CHARLEY--ANXIETY ON TOM'S
ACCOUNT--BESIEGED IN A TREE--WE HAVE RECOURSE TO STRATAGEM AND RECOVER
OUR RIFLES--ABOH'S DARING--RENEWED ATTACK--THE ENEMY REPULSED--SEARCH
FOR OUR COMPANION, WHOM WE FIND SEVERELY INJURED--WE CAMP--DANGER FROM
CROCODILES--COOKING THE ELEPHANT-MEAT--ABOH'S SKILL--STRANGE NOISES
HEARD AT NIGHT--WE ARE COMPELLED TO HALT--AN AFRICAN FOREST GIANT--TOM
RECOVERING FROM THE ACCIDENT SLOWLY--CHARLEY PROPOSES TO BUILD A CANOE.
According to Aboh's advice we proceeded eastward, with the lake on one
side and the vast trees of the forest rising up to an immense height on
our right. Frequently the indentations in the shores of the lake
compelled us to keep away from the water, when we trudged on completely
surrounded by trees. Even at mid-day it was dark and gloomy, not a ray
of the sun penetrating to the ground which we trod. Sometimes the
silence was profound, when suddenly it was broken by the shrill scream
of a parrot, or the chatter of a monkey as he caught sight of us from
his leafy covert.
We saw no other animals, though we discovered elephant tracks and other
marks on the ground. Aboh, on examining them, said that they were made
by leopards, those savage animals abounding in the forest through which
we were passing. On the shore of the lake, however, we caught sight of
numerous crocodiles, some poking their ugly snouts above the surface of
the water, others basking on sandbanks, or on the points projecting out
into the water.
Once, as we were keeping along the shore, the head of a huge monster
rose not ten feet from us. Aboh shouted, "Run, massa, run." His
warning came only just in time. Charley, who was farthest from the
water, instantly brought his rifle to his shoulder as he saw the
crocodile making a dash at Tom, who was nearest to him. Aboh shouted
and shrieked to scare the creature. Its jaws were within a foot of
Tom's legs, when Charley, knowing that our companion's life depended
upon the correctness of his aim pulled the trigger and the ball entered
the monster's head through the eye. Tom gave a desperate leap on one
side, the crocodile still moved on, and I fancied that Charley must have
missed. Harry and I, imitating Tom's example, sprang out of its way.
It had not run five yards on dry ground, however, before it stopped,
then rolling on its side, began to kick violently. Harry quickly had
his rifle ready, and firing down its throat, put an end to its
struggles. Aboh proposed cutting some slices out of its body for
dinner, but we declined joining him in the repast, as we hoped to catch
as many birds and monkeys as we might require. The narrow escape we had
had taught us that we must in future avoid marching close to the water,
and that it would be prudent to keep a bright look-out when near the
shores of the lake not to run the risk of being snapped up by a
crocodile.
We were disappointed in consequence of this at not being able to sleep
securely, as we had expected, close down to the water, so that we might
have only one side of our camp to defend. From the experience we had
obtained we now saw that we should run a greater chance of being carried
off by crocodiles than even by lions or leopards.
We had marched on for about an hour after the occurrence I have
described, when finding that we could cut off a point by proceeding
straight on, we had of necessity to leave the shore of the lake, the
water of which we had hitherto always had in sight. We had made good
some distance, often having to cut away the creepers which impeded our
path, and were expecting soon again to catch sight of the water, when
loud trumpeting sounds reached our ears.
We stopped to listen, and were soon convinced that the sounds we heard
were uttered by elephants, and, moreover, that they were for some cause
or other excited by rage. However, as the animals were, we judged,
still at some distance on our right hand, we agreed to continue our
course, hoping that they would not discover us. In case they should do
so, and we should have to defend ourselves, we put bullets into our
rifles. The evening was approaching, and it was necessary to look out
for a spot sufficiently open to enable us to light the fire, and at the
same time not in too dangerous proximity to the lake. That we might
have a better chance of finding the spot we were in search of, we
separated, Tubbs and Charley going on ahead, while Harry, Aboh, and I
searched round on either side of where we then were. We found that we
were at no great distance from the lake, the shining water of which we
saw between the trees.
"Here's a spot just suitable for us," cried Harry, "but we shall have to
cut down the grass that the fire may not spread, otherwise we may create
a blaze which would prove very inconvenient."
Just as he spoke the trumpeting sounds we had before heard again reached
our ears, but very much nearer. Aboh stopped in an attitude of
listening. Presently there came a noise as of the crashing of branches
and the tramping of heavy feet on the ground. "Elephant come dis way,"
exclaimed Aboh; "run, massa, run;" and he set off in the direction of
the lake, pointing to a large tree at no great distance from us.
Harry and I followed his example, hoping that Charley and Tubbs would
hear the sounds in time to make their escape. The trumpeting and
crashing sounds drew nearer. Presently we caught sight of several huge
trunks lifted in the air, with gleaming tusks below them, and the huge
heads of the savage monsters among the leaves.
"Here, massa, here, get up!" exclaimed Aboh, reaching the foot of the
tree.
As he spoke, seizing a bough, he swung himself up with the agility of a
monkey onto a lower branch. I cast my eye behind me, when what was my
horror to see Charley coming along with three or four elephants dashing
at full speed not thirty yards behind him. It seemed scarcely possible
that he could reach a place of safety before he was overtaken. All my
thoughts were now turned on Charley, and I regretted that I had not
managed to hand my rifle to Aboh before climbing up myself. Charley had
dropped his, and came bounding along, the elephants, however, gaining on
him. He saw us, and made towards the tree. Aboh and I stooped down to
catch his hands and help him up. He was within twenty yards of us, when
his foot caught in one of the treacherous vines which crept in snakelike
coils over the ground and hung from numberless branches, and he fell.
He was instantly, however, again on his feet, and came rushing on as
before; but the delay had enabled the leading elephant to gain on him.
We shrieked and shouted to encourage him, or perhaps impelled to do so
by our fears. He reached the foot of the tree. In another instant the
elephant would have seized him with its trunk or trampled him under its
feet. Had he not possessed unusual activity his destruction would have
been certain. He grasped the bough nearest him. Aboh sprang down and
got him by one hand. I seized him by the other. The elephant's trunk
was already touching his leg, which would the next moment have been
encircled in its fatal embrace. We tugged and hauled; the animal caught
his shoe, which happily gave way, and Charley was out of its reach. We
now breathed more freely, for the tree was far too stout to enable the
elephants to tear it down. The beast which had so nearly caught Charley
stood trumpeting with rage beneath our feet, lifting up his trunk in a
vain attempt to reach us.
We, as may be supposed, climbed higher up, so as to be well out of his
way. In a few seconds the remainder of the herd came up, surrounding
the tree and all trumpeting together. It was a sound sufficient to make
our hearts quail. Had we possessed our rifles, we might have quickly
put an end to the animals, mighty as they seemed. Fortunately, in their
rage they did not discover them, as they were concealed in the tall
grass and leaves between the roots. We dreaded, however, every instant
that their feet would come down and crush them, when they, in all
probability, would have been rendered perfectly useless.
Our thoughts were now turned towards Tom. Charley said that he had lost
sight of him just before he saw the elephants, but that he trusted he
had sought safety in a tree as we had done. We shouted out, hoping that
he would hear us; but the trumpeting of the elephants drowned our
voices. However, although we did not get any answer, we still hoped
that he might have escaped.
"I wish that I had not lost my rifle," said Charley, "although I think I
should be able to find it again if the beasts did not trample upon it,
and I don't think they did, for I threw it as far from me as I could
into a thick bush."
"If you hadn't thrown it away, both you and it would have been crushed
to pieces," answered Harry. "I think it is fortunate that you had
presence of mind to get rid of it. But, I say, I wonder whether these
beasts are going to lay siege to us all night. I'm getting very hungry.
If they don't go away we shall be starved."
"Perhaps the best thing we can do is to climb up higher and hide
ourselves, and then, when they don't see us, their rage may abate, and
they will go away," I remarked. "They are not likely to remain here all
night, and will probably go to the lake to drink, and give us time, at
all events, to get down and recover our rifles."
"What does Aboh think about the matter?" asked Charley.
I inquired of the black, making the usual signs by means of which we
carried on a conversation with him, and using such simple words as he
was likely to understand. He evidently comprehended what I said, and
highly approved of our plan of hiding ourselves, setting the example by
climbing up and concealing himself from the elephants below. We three
did the same, though I managed still to watch them by peeping through
the leaves of the bough on which I had perched myself. The creatures in
a short time ceased their trumpeting, but still remained walking slowly
round and round the tree, looking up in a sagacious fashion to ascertain
what had become of us. At last they appeared either to forget us, or to
fancy that we were birds, and had flown away. The biggest elephant,
which had so nearly caught Charley, then led the way down to the lake,
the rest following him. It was with infinite satisfaction that we saw
them go.
"Now, quick, quick! let us get our rifles, at all events, before they
come back," whispered Charley.
Aboh, seeing me about to descend, made a sign that he would go himself,
and, with wonderful agility, he slipped down the tree, while Charley
descended to the lowest bough to reach the rifles as he handed them up.
I followed, keeping a little above my brother, that I might pass them on
to Harry. I felt very thankful when Aboh handed up my rifle to Charley,
who giving it to me, I passed it on to Harry. Aboh then, again slipping
down, handed up Harry's. To our infinite relief neither of them were
injured, though the feet of the elephants must have trampled the ground
on either side.
"Him go get massa officer's rifle," said Aboh, who was delighted to make
use of some of the words with which he was best acquainted; and without
waiting to obtain our sanction, he darted off in the direction from
which Charley came.
"See if you can find Tom anywhere," I shouted.
Aboh turned and made a sign to us to be silent, pointing at the same
time towards the lake, where the elephants were drinking. I regretted
having cried out, lest my voice should have attracted the creatures'
attention, and might cause them to return and look for us. Although
Aboh probably thought that Tom was concealed somewhere in the
neighbourhood, yet, knowing the importance of silence, he did not cry
out to ascertain his position.
We watched him anxiously, for we feared that at any moment the elephants
might come back before he could discover the rifle, which might take
some time to find. We saw him hunting about, but Charley said that he
thought the spot where he had thrown it away was much farther off. At
length he was altogether hidden from our sight by the thick foliage.
"Harry, do you climb up and keep a look-out for the elephants, and Dick
and I will stand by to help up Aboh when he comes back. If you see the
beasts coming, send a shot into the head of the leader; if you don't
kill him, it will probably bring him to a standstill or turn him aside,
and give the black more time to climb up the tree," said Charley.
"Ay, ay!" answered Harry, taking his rifle; "I'll do my best to stop the
brutes coming this way, at all events."
Charley and I waited on the lower branches, my brother being beneath me,
watching for the return of Aboh. At last we saw him coming along with
Charley's rifle in his hand. At the same instant Harry shouted out--
"Here come the elephants with their trunks turned up, but they are
walking leisurely along, as if they had forgotten all about us."
"Don't fire, then, unless they come close to the tree," answered
Charley, while he made signs to Aboh to hasten his steps, pointing as he
did so towards the lake. Aboh sprang forward, but the quick ears and
quick sight of the elephants had detected him, and sticking out their
trunks, they begun trumpeting and moving rapidly forward. I scarcely
thought it possible that Aboh could escape them. Just then we heard the
report of Harry's rifle over our heads. A shriek of rage escaped the
leading elephant, and he had, we concluded, been hit. At the same
moment Aboh stopped, and levelling his rifle, fired. The ball struck
the animal, which, however, still came on, although at a slower pace
than before, and Aboh, grasping the rifle, darted up the tree holding it
above his head, so that Charley could stoop down and seize it by the
barrel. Handing it to me, he was able to assist Aboh, who nimbly
scrambled up.
We all then retreated to our former resting-places, out of the reach of
the elephants' trunks. The whole herd came on, the leader bleeding but
still trumpeting furiously. We, however, had him in our power, and felt
pretty sure that his trumpetings would soon be over. My weapon was
still loaded, Charley asked me to let him have it, as he was in a better
position for firing than I was. I handed it to him, and as the
elephants came near he took aim at the leader, waiting until in his
circuit round the tree his head presented a fair mark. He fired, the
huge monster immediately sank down, and almost without a struggle was
dead. We could not resist joining Aboh in the loud shout of triumph he
raised as we saw our enemy destroyed. On the fall of their leader, the
other elephants became alarmed, and uttering a few trumpetings, more of
fear than anger, rushed off together into the forest, crushing down the
shrubs and young trees as they went, making a good pathway towards the
southward, which would have saved us much trouble to have followed had
we wished to go in that direction. We now, feeling sure that they would
not return, descended. Our first care on reaching the ground was to
reload our rifles.
"I wish that we could carry off the tusks," said Harry. "I'm sure they
would be worth no small number of dollars if they were safe on board."
"It is very certain that we cannot get them down to the sea at present,
and probably before we can return to fetch them some other hunters will
have carried them off," observed Charley.
While we were discussing the subject, Aboh had got out his knife and was
working away at one of the animal's feet, which he succeeded in cleverly
amputating.
"Him good eat," said the black pointing to the foot he had just cut off.
Although we certainly could not agree with him, we did not contradict
his assertion. He then cut some slices out of the back, which had not a
more attractive appearance than the foot. The black, however, seemed to
think that we had now an ample supply of food. We should have camped on
the spot, as the shades of evening were already coming on, had we not
been anxious to discover Tom.
"We must find him before nightfall," I observed; "for even although the
creatures may not have killed him, he may be injured and unable to
rejoin us."
"Certainly, unless he has got to a considerable distance, he must have
heard our shouts," remarked Harry.
Charley agreed with us, and we accordingly proceeded in the direction of
the spot where Charley had left our companion. As we went on we shouted
out his name, while we looked carefully on either side, dreading at any
moment to discover his mangled remains. Aboh hunted about with great
care, but for some distance the ground was so trampled by the elephants'
feet, and the trees and shrubs so torn, that any footsteps of a human
being must effectually have been obliterated. Presently, however, we
crossed the path formed by the herd as they had made their way towards
us, and all traces of them ceased. A short time afterwards we saw Aboh
examining the ground, then he pointed ahead and went on at a rapid rate,
we following his footsteps. Again he stopped, and stooping down picked
up a rifle. We recognised it as Tom's. What had become of its owner?
Still Aboh went on.
By this time the forest was so shrouded in the gloom of approaching
night that we could with difficulty see anything before us. Again Aboh
stopped and cried out, "Him here! him here!" We hurried forward. There
was our poor friend stretched on the ground, his leg caught in a vine
below a tall tree with branches coming close to the ground. The
dreadful thought seized me that he was dead.
"Tom, Mr Tubbs, speak to me," I cried out I heard a groan. At all
events, he was alive. Stooping down, I rested his head on my knee.
Charley and Harry quickly came up. We soon released poor Tom's foot.
On examining it, we feared that it was dislocated, or at all events
severely sprained, and that probably he had fainted from the pain.
Having water in our flasks, we poured some down his throat. By wetting
his hands and chafing his arms we in a short time brought him to. He
looked round him, evidently very much astonished.
"Where am I, mates? What has happened?" he asked at length. "I was
dreaming that a shark or a tiger or some beast or other had bitten off
my foot."
"Not so bad as that," said Charley, "although you have hurt it
considerably, I fear."
"Ah, now I recollect all about it. I was afraid, Mr Westerton, that
you were caught by the elephants, and I was expecting to share the same
fate. As I could not help you, I thought the wisest thing I could do
was to run for my life. I confess it, I never was in such a fright
before. I somehow dropped my gun, and then, just as I was about to
climb up into that tree overhead, I found myself caught with a round
turn about my leg, and down I came. The honest truth is, I don't
remember anything more of what happened after that."
It would have been unjust to blame poor Tom for the very natural panic
which had seized him on finding himself alone in the forest, and, as he
supposed, with his companions killed. He had acted as most people would
have done under similar circumstances, and endeavoured to save his life.
We fortunately found not far off just such an open space as we were
searching for. Our first business was to light a fire in the centre of
it, after having cut away the surrounding grass.
"We must keep up a good blare, or we may have some unwelcome visits from
wild beasts," said Charley. "It will be necessary to keep an eye
towards the lake, or one of those horrid crocodiles may be crawling up
in search of some supper when the odour of the roasted elephant-meat
reaches his nose."
While Charley and I attended to poor Tom, Harry and Aboh made up the
fire as proposed. We had brought an iron saucepan, with which Aboh
intimated that he would go down to the lake to get some water, making a
sign to Harry to accompany him with his gun.
"If big ting come out of de water, fire at him head," he said, showing
that he was fully alive to the danger of approaching the lake,
especially of an evening, when the crocodiles are more active than at
other times during the day.
We kept the fire blazing up brightly, so that it might scare any wild
beasts prowling round about us. However, not trusting to that alone,
Charley and I kept our rifles by our sides and our eyes about us, lest a
lion or leopard might spring upon us unawares. Having got off Tom's
boot and sock, we examined his ankle. It looked blue and swollen, and
when we touched it he complained that it pained him much. Still, as far
as we could judge, no bone was broken.
"The only thing I can think of is to bind it up in a wet handkerchief,"
observed Charley; "the inflammation may thus be allayed."
While we were speaking we heard a shot from Harry's gun, showing that we
must not expect to obtain even a saucepan of water without trouble.
Shortly afterwards Aboh returned with the water. Charley asked for some
of it, and saturating a handkerchief, which he fortunately had in his
pocket, he bound up Tom's ankle. Harry told us that scarcely had Aboh
dipped the saucepan into the water, than a crocodile poked its ugly head
above the surface and made a dash at him.
"I was too quick, however, and firing, hit the creature in the throat,
when it slid off again into deep water," he added, "whether killed or
not I cannot say, as it sank immediately."
"You have done so well that we must get you to make another trip as soon
as we have eaten our soup, which, I suppose, Aboh intends to make out of
the elephant-meat, for I doubt if it will be palatable cooked in any
other way," said Charley.
We found that the black had brought several stones from the shores of
the lake. He now, having placed them in the fire, dug a hole near at
hand, into which he scraped some of the ashes, and then put in the
stones with the elephant's foot on the top of them. Above this having
placed some thick leaves, he quickly filled up the hole.
"Him soon good eat," he said.
Harry had in the meantime cut up some pieces of elephant-meat, which he
put into the saucepan. Having placed it on the fire, he stuck some
other slices on forked sticks as close as they could be placed to the
flames.
"We shall have the opportunity of trying the comparative excellencies of
three styles of cooking," he observed, laughing.
"I have no great faith in Aboh's mode of proceeding," remarked Charley.
"Nor have I, except to produce any especially excellent soup," said
Harry.
Our patience was to be severely exercised. We were all so hungry that
Charley consented to serve out a small piece of biscuit to each of us,
just to stay our appetites; but that produced a very transient effect.
At first I saw him tightening his waist-belt; then I had to tighten
mine, as Harry did his. Poor Tom was suffering too much pain to care
about eating, and Aboh was well accustomed to endure long hours of
fasting.
"When is that mess of yours likely to be ready?" Charley and I kept
crying out to Harry.
"I think that it is done to a turn now," said Harry, and he produced
five pieces of black-looking stuff.
"A very long turn," said Charley as he took his share. "Why, it's as
hard and dry as shoe-leather, and quite as tough, I suspect."
"Chew it, man, chew it," answered Charley, laughing; "it's better than
that in the soup."
We all cut off little bits, hunger making us in no way particular; but
it was a difficult business to get down a mouthful. At last I took to
scraping it with my knife, by which means I was able to swallow more
than I otherwise could have done.
We next tried the soup. The warm liquid could at all events be
swallowed, and it appeared to do good to poor Tom, to whom we gave
several cupfuls. The meat, however, was scarcely an improvement upon
the steaks. Aboh had been watching us all the time while he munched his
share without showing a sign of dissatisfaction.
"As we shall want some more water for poor Tom's foot, I wish you would
go down, Harry, to the lake and fill the saucepan," said Charley.
"I will go with Aboh willingly enough, provided he carries a torch, for
otherwise the chances are that we shall not get off as easily as we did
before," answered Harry.
Aboh understood what was proposed, and taking a brand from the fire in
one hand, and the saucepan in the other, he set off, Harry accompanying
him with his rifle ready for instant use. Charley and I, in the
meantime, got up and examined the forest around us. Strange noises were
issuing from it; but our ears being unaccustomed to the sounds of an
African wilderness, we could not distinguish either the animals or birds
which produced them. Here and there we picked up sticks, which we
carried to the heap prepared for keeping up the fire during the night.
I was stooping down, expecting to take up a thin stick, when I saw it
glide away. I had nearly caught hold of a snake by the body. It might
have been harmless, but if venomous, I should have probably been fatally
bitten. I sprang back, as may be supposed, and was very cautious after
this to feel with the pole I carried in my hand before I picked up any
other sticks. In a short time Harry and Aboh came back with the
saucepan of water, from which we filled our mugs, for the tough
elephant-meat made us thirsty. We were all suffering from hunger, and
as we expected to find Aboh's dish as unpalatable as ours, we had made
up our minds to lie down, if not exactly supperless, as hungry almost as
before.
"Now, massa, him 'tink foot ready," said Aboh, and without more ado, he
opened the hole and produced the foot hot and steaming. Just taking off
the top, as if it had been a piece of piecrust, what was our surprise
and very great satisfaction to find the interior full of a rich
glutinous substance. We eagerly hooked it out with our knives, and it
was pronounced excellent jelly, although somewhat strong tasted. The
single foot contained more than we altogether could eat, although Aboh
got through twice as much as either of the rest of us. We regretted
that we had not brought along more of the elephant's feet.
Instead of going supperless to bed, we thus had a more ample meal than
we had eaten since we landed. As it was important that Tom should have
a night's rest, Charley, Harry, and I agreed to keep watch in turns. We
did not ask Aboh, though he would, we felt sure, have proved
trustworthy. I had the middle watch. As I walked round and round the
camp, my ears were saluted by distant mutterings and the occasional roar
of lions, the trumpetings of elephants, or the shrill agonised cry of
some hapless deer on which a stealthy leopard had pounced, the shrieks
of night birds, the chirp of insects, and the croaking of frogs. Every
moment I expected to see some monster shove its nose out amid the dark
foliage; but if any came near, the fire prevented them from springing on
us. I occasionally stooped down and wetted Tom's bandage, so that his
leg was kept cool all the night. Charging Harry to do the same, I at
length lay down, and in a moment was fast asleep. Next morning we found
Tom better, but utterly unable to proceed. We, therefore, had to make
up our minds to camp for another day at least, unless we could manage to
find a canoe in which to cross the lake. Harry and I, as soon as we
were on foot, took our guns, accompanied by Aboh, in search of game for
breakfast. We soon came upon a number of ducks, and were fortunate in
killing half a dozen in three shots, two being brought to the ground
each time we fired. We did not forget the crocodiles, nor did Aboh, who
was very wary when picking up the birds. As we made our way through the
forest, I was especially struck by the variety and luxuriance of the
trees and shrubs, the number of vines which hung from the branches in
wreaths and festoons, the length of the leaves, some rising from the
ground, others forming crowns on the summits of tall trees, surmounted
by flowers of bright red or yellow or blue.
"Dere, massa, what you 'tink dat?" said Aboh, throwing himself on the
ground as if to contemplate at his ease the magnificent tree before
which we stood. "Him 'board ship worth many tusks."
"What tree is it?" I asked.
It was certainly one of the finest and most graceful trees we had yet
met with in the African forest. Its leaves were long, sharp-pointed,
and dark green, hanging in large clusters. Its bark was also a dark
green and very smooth. The trunk rose straight and clean to the height
of sixty feet or more, from whence large leafy branches projected to a
considerable distance. Aboh pointed to his own skin and then laughed.
"He means that it's an ebony tree, and so I'm sure it is," said Harry.
"It is one of those articles we were to have procured."
On examining the tree we found that it was hollow, and Aboh made us
understand that the branches also were hollow. On cutting through the
bark we came to some white wood, which at first puzzled us. We expected
to have found it black, but Aboh made signs that we were to cut deeper
into it, and we thus ascertained that the white wood was simply sap
wood, and that farther in the wood was perfectly black. We found
several others of the same description growing around; and we agreed
that if we could fall in with some friendly natives, we would advise
them to cut the trees down, and should any navigable river exist running
out of the lake, to convey them to its mouth, where they could be
embarked. We, however, had to hurry back to cook our ducks for
breakfast. We continued keeping our poor companion's ankle constantly
wetted, but, to our disappointment, even the next day he was unable to
do more than stand up. The moment he attempted to walk, the pain
returned, and we had to make up our minds for a longer stay. Charley
proposed that we should cut down a tree and scoop out a canoe in which
to cross the lake. When he explained his intentions, however, to Aboh,
the black replied that it would take us several weeks, if not months, to
construct a canoe, and that we should get round the lake much faster by
land.
"That may be the case," said Charley; "but suppose Tom's ankle is
broken, or so injured that he is unable to walk, we shall have no
alternative. We cannot leave him behind us in this wild forest, and we
must try to find a village of friendly natives, where he can remain
until he is recovered."
"I'm sorry to keep you back, gentlemen, and if it was a matter of life
or death, I'd say go on and leave me behind, but it would be a terrible
thing if that were necessary; so I would rather say, let us build a
canoe, or, if we cannot, a raft on which we can cross the lake. I don't
think it would take as long as Aboh supposes, if we could find a soft
tree. He doesn't know what our sharp axes can do; besides, we can clear
out the inside with fire. Even if I hadn't sprained my ankle, I again
say, provided that we can find the right tree, let us build a canoe."
Charley agreed with Tubbs, and Harry and I had no strong opinion the
other way. We told Aboh we wished he would hunt about to find a big
tree of soft wood.
Aboh agreed to do as we wished, at the same time he shook his head,
saying, "Too long, too long."
"No, no," answered Tom; "we will build a handsome short craft with
plenty of beam, so that we may turn her about in any of the narrow
streams through which we may have to make our way."