INTO THE HEART OF AFRICA.
After landing at Zanzibar, the labor of equipment began. Bales of cloth
and boxes of wire, innumerable colored beads and trinkets were shipped
to Bagamayo in charge of reliable Zanzibari, the most trustworthy of
African carriers.
Harry first looked up the reputation of Sedai, the Abyssinian, and
finding this to be good, he then went in search of the man himself. He
was found on the quay with a lot of natives, and upon Harry telling him
what he wanted, he followed him to the hotel. Sedai was a monstrous
fellow, standing fully six and a half feet high, and built like a
Hercules. His skin was of a bronze color, smooth and shiny; his eyes
were piercing black, his forehead high, and his face above the average
in intellect for one of his race.
“You remember Mr. Boyd, do you not?” asked Mr. Graham, when the hotel
had been reached.
“Perfectly well,” answered the Abyssinian.
“And you believe that the mysterious Land of On exists?”
“I do.”
“I wish to make that belief a certainty. Will you join us and get
together a proper number of carriers and natives to insure comparative
safety in making the journey?”
“Gladly,” said Sedai.
“You shall have something more than the usual amount paid for such
services, for the journey may entail more than the usual amount of work
and danger.”
“I shall expect nothing more than I have been accustomed to getting,”
answered the Abyssinian.
“We will decide on that later,” said Mr. Graham, “but tell us now of the
finding of the goat-skin.”
“I will do so,” said Sedai. “When on my last expedition, far up in the
country, I heard this story from the mouth of an old man. It may be
false, but I believe it to be true. Umsaga, that is the name of the old
man, said: “One day when I was quite a boy I was out hunting on the
mountain side, and among the undergrowth disclosed a flat stone, which
had at some remote period covered an opening about four feet square, in
the side of the mountain. Being curious to know whither the hole led, I
entered, but had gone only a short distance when I heard a groan. This
scared me but I determined to learn what it was that had made the noise.
I returned to the outside and procuring a torch, again entered the cave,
and followed in the direction from which the sound came, and had not
gone far when I almost stumbled over the prostrate body of a man. I felt
it and found it still warm, but upon close examination found that life
was extinct. He was of the white race, but exposure and starvation had
tanned and drawn the skin tight over the bones. By his side was a knife,
and clutched in his hand was a piece of goat-skin, on which he had cut
strange characters, which I could not decipher. I took the goat-skin and
never again entered the cave.”
“This was the old man’s story,” continued Sedai, “and offering him a
piece of cloth for the goat-skin, he eagerly accepted it and I left
him.”
“And you could read it?” asked Mr. Graham.
“I was for a time in the service of an Englishman in my own country and
knew some English. I have learned more since, but I could not make out
all of the letters. With Mr. Boyd’s help, however, all was made plain.
It is here,” and Sedai saying this, handed the parchment to Mr. Graham.
The party gathered around Mr. Graham and examined the goat-skin closely.
“And the old man never sought to solve the mystery?” said Harry.
“So he said,” answered Sedai.
“This parchment tells us how to leave this strange country, when once it
is entered,” said Mr. Graham, “but it does not tell how to find the
secret door which is to admit us.”
“The sailor found it,” said Enola, “and it seems to me that we ought
to.”
“Well, we will never know until we get to the point where we may expect
to find it,” said Mr. Graham. “How far is it, Sedai, to this mountain,
through which we will have to go to find the strange country?”
“About three hundred miles,” said Sedai, “through a country not
difficult to travel, and among natives not usually hostile.”
“Can you be ready to start to-morrow?” asked Mr. Graham of Sedai.
“I can,” said Sedai.
“Then be at Bagamayo to-morrow at daybreak, ready to start.”
“I will be there,” answered Sedai, and with this he left.
That day a Mr. Bruce called on Mr. Graham, making a request to accompany
the expedition, and Mr. Graham, having looked up his reference and found
that he was a Scotchman of first-class standing both socially and
financially, he consented to his accompanying them. Later in the day the
party crossed over to Bagamayo, so as to be there for an early start in
the morning.
Early on the following morning the caravan was drawn up and carefully
inspected by Mr. Bruce, Mr. Graham, Harry and Enola. Twenty donkeys and
one hundred carriers, with one cart, were to transport the goods of
barter. A double relay of six carriers was detailed to carry each of the
sedan chairs of Mrs. Graham and Nellie, after having learned that the
country through which they would pass would be open, and the tribes not
hostile had decided to accompany the caravan. They were desirous of
seeing the strange land and people. Mr. Graham, Mr. Bruce and Harry had
procured horses from an Arab in Bagamayo, and when the caravan was drawn
up it made an imposing sight, and one well calculated to inspire hostile
tribes with a wholesome fear.
At six o’clock, with the sun shining brightly, and amid the shouts of
many Arabs and natives who had assembled to see them depart, the caravan
moved slowly out of Bagamayo. The American flag was unfurled, and
floated merrily in the breeze at the head of the column. Out through a
narrow lane they passed, the sun speeding to the west, beckoning them
on. Loveliness glowed around them, the fertile fields, rich vegetation,
strange trees bordering their path, the jubilant sounds of many insects,
the cry of cricket and pewit, all seemed to tell them that they had
started.
The first camp was only five miles distant, and the next few days were
spent in completing the preparations for their long land journey. After
all was in readiness the caravan again started. From here on the roads
were mere footpaths, leading through fields in which naked women were at
work, who looked up and giggled as they passed. Passing on they entered
an open forest. Reaching the Kingimi, they passed over a bridge of
felled trees, made by some previous party.
Harry came to the side of Enola’s chair and laughingly said:
“One would think from the half-sad expression in your eyes, that you
were already regretting having taken this trip.”
“You are mistaken, Harry; I was simply lost in admiration of the
beautiful scene about us.”
“Yes, it is beautiful,” said Harry, “but it is so different from what I
have been used to, that I often find myself thinking, or wondering if it
is not all a dream, and if I will not wake up some morning in my room at
home, and find that I have only visited these lands in my dreams.”
“Yes, it is decidedly out of the ordinary,” laughed Enola, as she saw
the serious look in Harry’s face; “but if you were as well read in
African history and lore of the people as I am, you would accept all
this as genuine at once. Listen. For centuries Africa has been known as
the Dark Continent. The edges of this immense tract have been known as
far back as history goes. Egypt, on the North, is the oldest government
on earth; while the nations bordering on the Mediterranean and Red seas,
were actors in the earliest recorded histories. Still, Africa to-day is
an unknown land. That Africa was a rich country, was proven by the
treasures brought from the interior by the rivers Nile, Niger and Congo.
That it was populous, was demonstrated by the millions of slaves
furnished by the native tribes to the outside world. For curiosity
alone, explorations were made in the early part of the century; but it
remained with Livingstone to first open up the Dark Continent, and with
Stanley, to pierce its very heart. Africa is to-day, however, a mystery
which, it seems, will never be penetrated. Strange stories come to us of
people never seen by white men, of customs foreign to all history, of
abandoned cities, of desolated countries. Africa is synonymous with
mystery and darkness, and nothing seems strange to me which is connected
with it.”
“Such words should be convincing,” said Harry, “but my education in life
has been too practical to realize that there is so much mystery left in
the world in this, the nineteenth century.”
“It will all be real enough before we get back to civilization, I have
an idea,” said Enola.
“Well, it looks real enough now,” said Harry. “This moving caravan,
those hippopotami in the river, and the antelope in the forest, all
scout the idea of there being anything uncanny about our present
surroundings.”
And so days passed, some amid pleasant surroundings, and others in a
part of the country not so agreeable.
One day they passed through a continuous jungle. The path was only a
foot wide, each side being bordered with thorny plants and creepers, the
spiky twigs of which were as sharp as needles. The entire party was
badly scratched with these irritating twigs, and the caravan was in a
sad plight when it reached Msuwa that night. The chief of this tribe was
very kind to the tired and wounded party, however, and they remained in
this camp two days. After leaving here, the country was open and
beautiful, presenting a natural park, and the roads were good.
They reached the Ungerangeri River on the evening of the twenty-fourth
day, where they encamped, and on the following morning crossed the river
and entered the Wakami territory. Five days later they reached the
Wassagahha district. Here several of the party were stricken with fever,
and several days were lost, but all getting better at last, the caravan
again moved on. Away off to the North and West, could be seen a long
range of mountains, in which, Sedai informed them, was situated the
hidden country of “On.”
Shortly after leaving here they entered a very wild tract. Numberless
antelope, spring-bok, zebra and giraffes were seen, but upon their
approach they would scamper away. Here was a hunter’s paradise. What
nobleman’s reserve in civilization could compare with this vast expanse
of field and forest? How small and insignificant would they seem in
comparison! The first herd of elephant was also seen here, but they
passed them by without disturbing them. That evening they entered the
Usugara district, and although the mountains were a considerable number
of miles nearer, they still looked just as far away. The atmosphere in
this country is so clear it makes distances very deceiving. It was a
mountain world which they looked upon, for peak beyond peak, cone beyond
cone, fold above fold, they rolled away like so many waves.
“We shall soon descend into the valley and across this to those distant
mountains directly west of us, at the base of which we shall find the
village in which lives the old man of whom I obtained the parchment. We
will reach there in four marches,” said Sedai.
“And you say there are lions and tigers in the valley?” said Mr. Bruce.
“Yes,” answered Sedai, “and this part of the journey will be very
dangerous.”
And this proved to be true, for two evenings later, when the supper had
been eaten and all had been made snug for the night, Harry and Enola
came very near falling victims to one of these ferocious beasts. They
had wandered a little distance from the camp, and had sat down on a
mossy bank for a few moments’ talk before going to bed. They had been
here only a short time when they heard a rustle in the bushes, and
turning they saw, standing not ten yards away, with his yellow eyes
glowing through the semi-darkness, and his long tail swaying from side
to side, an immense lion. Harry had not brought his rifle, and they were
at the mercy of the beast. The lion seemed to realize this, for he
quietly settled down on his haunches and watched them intently.
“Listen,” said Harry, and his lips hardly moved, “he will make a leap
for us, and when he does, stoop low and run toward him. We will try to
pass under him while he is in the air, and before he alights and turns
we may be able to reach camp.”
“I understand,” said Enola.
The lion again rose to his feet, and then settling on his haunches
prepared to spring.
“Be ready,” said Harry. “Now,” and he darted forward, but stopped again
as soon as he could, for Enola’s hand had left his and she had fallen.
There she lay with the lion’s paw resting across her breast. Harry could
see that she had neither lost consciousness nor presence of mind, for
she was gazing steadfastly into the eyes of the huge beast.
It was a terrible moment. Harry was afraid to move or cry for help, for
fear of the lion seizing Enola and making for the bush.
All this time the lion was watching Harry intently, seeming to know that
interference would come from that quarter. But he was as powerless to
help Enola as if he had been bound hand and foot. He could see that she
was becoming weak from terror and loss of blood, and that she could
scarcely breathe owing to the weight of that fearful paw on her breast.
Her eyes closed several times, and Harry could see that she would soon
be unconscious. Something must be done. Would the lion, if he made a
rush for him, turn his attention from Enola long enough for her to get
out of reach? It mattered little what became of himself if he could but
save Enola.
Harry seized a short piece of wood lying near him and made a rush for
the lion. The lion raised on his haunches as Harry struck him a powerful
blow between the eyes.
“Roll out of the way,” said Harry.
Enola rolled over once and then staggered to her feet, but sank down
again too weak to move farther. The lion was dazed for an instant by the
blow, but only for an instant, and with a lightning stroke of the paw,
struck Harry on the shoulder, knocking him senseless and bleeding on the
ground.
“Help,” cried Enola, but the sound was so faint that she despaired of
its reaching the camp. Nevertheless it was heard, and the commotion
caused the lion to turn to see what was happening. That look was his
death warrant, for a bullet struck him squarely in the eye, and he
rolled over with scarcely a groan, dead. One paw was lying across
Harry’s neck, as though defying them even in death to take his prey from
him.
Mr. Bruce rushed up gun in hand, and with several of the carriers bore
Enola and Harry to the camp. Restoratives were administered and Enola
soon regained consciousness, but Harry lay in a stupor for hours. Both
were badly torn by the claws of the lion, and it was several days before
the caravan could move on.
The journey from here on, was through an open forest, watered by
numerous streams which sprung from the mountains. Their progress was
somewhat impeded by these streams, but two evenings later they camped
near the village in which dwelt the old man, who was going to show them
the entrance to the cave. Was he still alive and would they find him?