Part 14 (1/2)
A FLIGHT FOR LIFE.
”When are we to see the _Giraffe_ and _Gazelle_ launched, and to have our promised excursion on the river?” asked Kate, the evening after Igubo had left us.
”Oh do, Stanley!” cried Bella. ”It is cruel to keep us so long shut up like captive princesses in your Castle, and as the natives are friendly and you can avoid the hippopotami, there can be no danger.”
”The _Gazelle_ is not yet launched,” answered Stanley; ”but as soon as she is in the water you can come and see her.”
”Oh, but we should like to see her at once, and help you to launch her,”
said Kate. ”If you will start to-morrow morning as soon as it is daylight and the air is still cool, we will accompany you.”
The young ladies gained their object, and we were all on foot even before the sun had risen, ready to set out. They would not wait for breakfast, but insisted on carrying provisions and a kettle to boil our tea. David wished to remain to look after his patients, and Senhor Silva was not yet sufficiently strong to bear us company.
”Remember we are to paddle your canoe, girls,” cried Leo; ”and Andrew will steer for us; and if Timbo will come with a musket or spear, to do battle with any hippopotami or other river monsters, we will allow him to go also.”
As we had the rollers with which we had launched the other canoe, and the road had already been cut, the labour of dragging the _Gazelle_ to the water was much less than it had been in the former case. We all cheered as she was launched into the water.
”May you bound over the waters of the river as your namesake does over the prairie,” exclaimed Bella; ”and carry us safely to the south, there to end your existence in a respected old age!”
”Bravo, Bella!” cried Leo, clapping his hands. ”You have uttered my speech to perfection, and now you shall have the pleasure of the first paddle our new craft has made. Come, Andrew, come, Timbo, we will lose no time; we can get back for breakfast.”
The _Gazelle_ floated even more gracefully than her sister canoe. The boys jumped in with their paddles, and Timbo and I holding her to the bank while the ladies stepped in, we followed them, the black taking his place in the bow with another paddle, and I sitting in the stern and steering with a fourth. Chickango and Jack were in the other canoe, and were soon after us.
”Come, let us have a race; we will beat you!” cried Leo, flouris.h.i.+ng his paddle; and Natty seconded him, though he saw very well that Timbo and I were really doing most of the work.
We pulled rapidly down the stream, startling numerous birds, some with beautiful plumage, greatly to the delight of Bella. We had not gone far, when a huge head appeared near the bank.
”Oh, what a monster!” exclaimed Bella, shrieking with alarm. ”That must be one of those dreadful river-horses which so nearly ate you all up the other day.”
”Oh no; he only nearly bit the boat in two,” said Natty; ”and we will not let him come near you now.”
”We will keep out of his way, at all events,” I observed, turning the canoe round.
Stanley just then fired at a water-fowl, and immediately several dark heads rose above the water to see what was the matter, and a huge monster, not hitherto perceived, came rolling off the bank; but he, as well as his companions, quickly disappeared beneath the surface.
Remembering what had before occurred, I could not help dreading that one of them might rise up and strike the bottom of our canoe.
”Don't you think we had better go on sh.o.r.e?” said Bella, looking back on the spot where the river-horses had appeared. ”Kate, you will want to be there some time before Stanley, to get the breakfast ready.”
Little Bella's courage had evidently oozed away. However, as I knew it was possible that one of the hippopotami might strike us, we paddled up the stream as fast as we could go. Soon afterwards I caught sight of another creature resting on a sandbank, with a hideous long snout and a scaly tail and short thick legs. It was a monstrous crocodile.
”Oh do, Andrew, make haste and get on sh.o.r.e!” exclaimed Bella. ”What a horrible creature! I did not expect to meet with such monsters.”
I tried to comfort her by a.s.suring her that the crocodile would not attack us, and would more likely swim away than follow us. On landing, we hauled up the canoe, and then commenced collecting sticks for a fire.
Kate's kettle was soon hissing merrily, suspended by a high tripod over the fire, and by the time the provisions were spread, Stanley and his companions had arrived. While we were so engaged, we saw, approaching among the trees, a black man, with a s.h.i.+eld on one arm and a spear held in the other hand. His arms and part of his body were tattooed in curious lines. Round his neck he wore a necklace of alligator's teeth, while his hair was so dressed as to form a long tail behind, and his beard was twisted into two curious horns, which stuck out from his chin.
Round his loins was the skin of a wild beast, and at his side a broad short sword in a sheath; a sort of cross-bow hung at his back, with a quiver full of small arrows. Altogether, with the s.h.i.+eld and spear I have mentioned, he looked a formidable warrior to those who were not possessed of firearms. The s.h.i.+eld, though capable of turning the darts and spears of his equally savage foes, would have availed him little against a modern rifle ball.
Bella eyed the warrior with a glance of terror.
”Do not be afraid,” said Natty, placing himself before her. ”Leo and I will fight for you.”