Part 21 (1/2)
Six large bags had been loaded on the camels Two of these held jerked beef, probably buffalo or deer meat, one contained rice, another a peculiar kind of hard cakeswere filled to the top with dates and figs
”We are assured of food for some time to come,” said Guy; ”that is one consolation I wish I could feel as certain of light We have two la flasks of pal journey When that is gone, I don't knoe shall do”
”When we stop for rest we shall have to do without light,” suggested Melton ”If we find any places to stop,” he added
”It's beastly chilly in here,” observed Sir Arthur, with a shi+ver ”Two days in a hole like this will give us all rheumatism”
”Ah,” said Melton, ”but I have provided for that See, here are the trappings fro for you” And he held up one by one half a dozen richly eed to the leaders of the Abyssinians
This pleasing discovery put them all in better spirits, and it was presently supplemented by another, which went far to remove the most formidable obstacle to their journey, for while the canoes were being exareat pile of torches, hly resinous wood These had evidently belonged to the natives who formerly dwelt here, and were used by them instead of lamps on their journeys to the coast They were fifty or sixty in number
”This is a fortunate discovery,” said Guy ”With these and the laht to last out our trip”
”Yes; that removes the last obstacle,” rejoined Forbes; ”and now I propose that we take so for nearly two days”
This was true The excitehts, but Melton's words roused their dor down beside the canoes, they made a hearty meal and washed it doater from the river, which was quite fresh and cold
”Well,” said Guy, when they had all finished and the provisions were tied up and put aside, ”it will do us no good to reer
The river, as you all know, is our only salvation, and the sooner we start on our cruise the better The natives who once dwelt here are reported to have made journeys down this stream in boats Is it not so, Canaris?”
”Yes,” replied the Greek ”I have heard froo down to the coast in large rafts or boats with trading goods, and then return by land”
”But where does this underground river empty?” asked the colonel ”Does anyone know?”
”It is supposed to reach the Juba,” replied Guy, ”but whether near the mouth of that river or not I cannot say”
”Ah! but that is a very i,” said the colonel ”I possess soraphy of this part of Africa Are you aware that the river Juba is nearly eight hundred th? Its source, which as yet remains undiscovered, lies only a hundred miles or more to our west, and it flows to the southeast This stream before us appears to head in a southwesterly direction as near as I can judge It is possible then that it joins the river Juba at a distance less than two hundred miles from here In that event our journey does not appear so formidable”
”Pardon me, sir,” said Canaris quickly, ”but from what I have been able to learn this river reaches the Juba at a point, I have heard stated, midway between Bardera and the coast”
”Bardera!” cried the colonel sharply ”Why, Bardera is only two hundredto that, we have a journey before us of nearly eight hundred round and on unknoaters
Who can tell what dangers lie before us?”
”We will never get out alive,” groaned Sir Arthur ”Never in the world, Carrington What a blawsted idiot I was to let the government send me to that beastly hole!”
”And is it i this interruption
”You forget that we have destroyed our only communication with the outer world,” ventured Forbes ”The river is our sole hope”
”Yes, I had forgotten it, it is true,” replied the colonel