Part 14 (2/2)

”Yes, even though there were an hundred such fellows,” said Leo. ”He looks very different from our friend Igubo. I wonder what he has come for.”

Chickango advancing, a conversation ensued which lasted some minutes.

The countenance of the warrior fell. We saw him glancing now over one shoulder, now over the other. Then suddenly he turned, and without uttering another word, ran off as fast as his legs could carry him through the forest. Chickango, who had his rifle in his hand, raised it. Stanley shouted to him not to fire, and while he hesitated, the stranger had darted behind the trees. The black returned, uttering words which, though incomprehensible to us, showed that he was very angry. At length, when somewhat calmed, Timbo, who had been unable himself to understand what was said, learned from him that the stranger was one of a band of Pangwes who were advancing towards the territory of the Bakeles. He had come, apparently unaware that there were inhabitants so near. He had first begun to threaten us with the vengeance of his people should we oppose their progress; but on Chickango telling him that a large number of Bakeles were in the neighbourhood, and that, should his people venture to come that way, they would speedily be driven back and destroyed, he had become alarmed, and so, in spite of his boasting, afraid of being captured, had taken to flight. Still the account which Chickango gave of these Pangwes made us very anxious. The people of his tribe, he said, had for long been at war with them, and had frequently been defeated. They had come from a long way off in the interior, and year after year had been advancing towards the coast. They were not only fierce and cruel warriors, but cannibals, and capable of committing every atrocity.

”What do you think about it all?” said Stanley to Timbo, who had been interpreting Chickango's account.

”Dog dat bark not always bite, ma.s.sa,” answered the black. ”Me t'ink dat dey see our rifles and run away.”

”I am of Timbo's opinion,” I could not help observing. ”However, we must send and let our friends at the village know of the approach of their enemies; but unless we are attacked, we must on every account avoid fighting. The sooner we can embark and proceed on our voyage the better.”

”I believe you are right, Andrew,” observed Stanley; ”but still I do not like the thought of running away; besides, we cannot leave those two black boys to the mercy of the savages, though if we carry them with us, their father will not know what has become of them.”

”I tell you what I do, ma.s.sa,” answered Timbo; ”I go and tell Igubo that he come and fetch dem, and den we send out scout to know what de Pangwes are doing.”

Our further boating for the day was, of course, put an end to; and having concealed the canoes in the thick brushwood which grew down to the river's bank, we proceeded homewards, with the exception of Timbo, who hastened off to the Bakeles village.

Senhor Silva looked very grave when he heard what had occurred. ”Those Pangwes are fierce fellows,” he said, ”from what I know of them; and though they may not venture to come within range of our firearms, yet they may surround us and starve us out. We shall act wisely if we at once prepare for our voyage, and commence it as soon as Timbo returns.”

”But about these two boys, what shall we do with them?” asked David.

”I am afraid their fate must be a sad one,” was the answer, ”whether their father comes for them or not. If he takes them away, they will probably fall into the hands of their enemies; or if they are left here, they are too likely to perish from hunger.”

”Oh, then let us take them with us,” said Kate, and little Bella echoed her words. ”Surely the canoes are large enough to carry them, and it would be terrible to leave them to die.”

”They shall have part of my share of food,” said Bella.

”And mine and mine,” added Leo and Natty.

”I would rather leave Chico behind,” said Leo, ”though I am afraid those dreadful savages would eat him.”

”Oh, we must carry him too,” said Natty; ”for I am sure when we stop at night he will be able to forage for himself; he will find out roots and fruit when very often we are not able to discover them.”

We did not spend much more time in talking. It was arranged that we should start immediately on the return of Timbo. We therefore at once set to work to pack up our goods and to collect all the provisions we had in store to carry with us. As we could not tell into what regions the river might carry us it was important to kill some game and to collect as many plantains as we could carry off from the deserted village. Chickango and the two boys undertook to set off for the latter object, while Stanley and I went out with our guns into the woods. We were unusually successful, and in an hour had bagged as many pigeons and other birds as we could carry. We found, as we neared the Castle, Natty and Leo staggering on under a load of plantains.

”We shall have no fear of starving now, at all events!” cried Leo, ”for Chickango has got as many more. As we came along, however, he started off to the top of the hill, where we understood him to say he could get a sight of the Bakeles village, and I suppose that he will be soon with us.”

We were disappointed on our arrival at finding that Timbo had not returned.

”I am afraid that some accident has happened to the poor fellow,” said Stanley; ”or he may have been incautious, and fallen into the hands of the savages.”

David and Jack had been so well employed, that, with the a.s.sistance of the young ladies, everything was prepared for a start.

”I wish that we could be off,” said David; ”but we must not leave our faithful Timbo behind.”

”Well, if you will all go down to the boats, I will remain here and bring him up as soon as he comes,” said Natty. ”We shall thus gain time.”

”No, no; I cannot let you do that,” I said. ”I will remain, and you must go.”

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