Part 16 (1/2)

We now entered into the reach I had expected to find. It was, however, as broad as the part we had lately pa.s.sed through. We took the centre of the stream rather than cut off the angle, lest our enemies might be concealed on the bank. And now, going along it for some distance, we rounded another point projecting from the west, and found ourselves in a still broader part. It was somewhat shallow, we judged by the numerous little islands and banks which rose above its surface.

”Hark!” said Natty, suddenly; ”don't you hear the roar of water?”

I listened, and felt convinced that some waterfall or rapid was near us.

I shouted to Stanley. We ceased paddling for an instant.

”It may be a cataract,” he answered; ”but I have hopes that it is simply the sound of rapids. If so, we may pa.s.s through them.”

”A dangerous experiment!” observed David.

”It depends upon their character,” answered his brother, from the other canoe.

”But, without a pilot, would it be possible?”

”We must land and survey them first,” shouted Stanley, ”We shall have no difficulty in doing that; and if we cannot pa.s.s them, we must try and drag the canoes over the land. That, at all events, can be done.”

We found as we proceeded that the roar of waters increased; and there could be no doubt, from the way the river ran, that a rapid was before us. We went on till the water was already beginning to bubble and hiss.

The bank on our right afforded tolerably easy landing; so, running the canoes to it, we secured them to some trees which grew close down to the water. Stanley sprang out, and called to Timbo to accompany him.

”We shall be able to judge whether we can safely pa.s.s through them,” he said. ”I will be back quickly. Yes, we will take our rifles; we may find them necessary.”

He said this as Senhor Silva handed them out of the canoe. They were soon out of sight among the thick underwood which grew near the banks.

It is very different, I should say, from the underwood in England; composed rather of huge leaves, reeds of enormous height, and other plants of the Tropics. The opposite side was also covered with wood, so that we were unable to ascertain whether the Pangwes were in the neighbourhood or not. We were, however, so much concealed by the foliage among which our canoes were moored, that an enemy might have pa.s.sed on the opposite bank without perceiving us. We waited anxiously for the return of Stanley and Timbo. At length they appeared.

”We can do it,” Stanley exclaimed. ”The water is rapid but clear, and we may easily steer our way clear of the huge boulders through which it pa.s.ses.”

Once more we shoved off. Each man screwed up his nerves for the trial; for no slight trial it would prove--of that I was certain.

”Stanley is so cool and calm,” observed Kate, ”I have no fear.”

His canoe led. In a few minutes we were in the strength of the current.

On we glided, like arrows from a bow. We had little else to do than to guide our canoes. Still we kept paddling, so that we might the more easily, if it were possible, turn aside from any danger ahead. Now a huge boulder rose up on one side; now we darted through a pa.s.sage which only afforded room for the canoes to pa.s.s. Now the water ran smoothly without a bubble; now it hissed and foamed as it pa.s.sed over a shallower bed. There was an excitement in the scene which made our spirits rise.

I felt almost inclined to shout at times as we dashed on. Yet an instant's carelessness might have proved our destruction. We appeared to be descending a steep hill of water at times; now wavelets rose on either side, and threatened to leap into the boat.

Our eyes were fixed on our leader's canoe, and his on the water ahead, through which he was to guide us. For one moment I cast my eyes on the eastern sh.o.r.e, and was sorry that I had done so, for there I saw a number of dark forms collected just below the rapids. What they were about I had not time to observe. I said nothing; it would be time enough when we had shot the rapids. On, on we went. We were in a sea of foam, the water roaring, bubbling, and hissing. I feared that Stanley's skill could scarcely carry the canoe through; but he had noted the point, and his experience told him that there was sufficient depth.

Now a wave washed aboard on one side, now on the other, now came hissing over our bows; but we dashed through them, and I saw before us a calm and lake-like expanse. In another instant we were free of the rapids, and floating calmly on the lower portion of the river.

Once more I cast my eyes to the spot where I had seen the blacks. They were our enemies; of that I had no doubt. I pointed them out to Stanley.

”What can they be about?” he asked.

Timbo looked at them. ”Building rafts,” he answered. ”Dey are shoving off even now. Dey knew we must come dis way, and hoped to cut us off.

But hurrah! hurrah! we got down sooner dan dey!”

Several rafts of reeds, such as I before described, were shoved off from the bank. We did not stop to examine them; but plying our paddles with might and main, we continued our course towards the point where we believed the river made its exit out of the lake.

CHAPTER TEN.