Part 7 (1/2)

”Quinine,” he explained, although he called it ”queeneen”

”Pretty big dose, wasn't it?” asked Mr Wallace

”'Bout fifty grain,” replied the other calets ar!” he continued as they cauard over their valises ”That's your ton?

I've heard o' hineeficent cook”

”Better than that,” laughed Mr Wallace ”He'll take charge of your blacks and get real work out of 'e up the Aruwimi?”

”Aye” Montenay nodded ”We'll talk that over later Ye'll be wantin'

yer ique_

We'll sleep on board her to-night”

As they had stayed at the hotel the night before, the boys had not been troubled much by the insects They were much more worried by the quantities of quinine that Mr Wallace insisted on their taking When Burt had protested at taking ten grains all at once his uncle had laughed

”Nonsense! I' unusual for rains out here So put it down and shut up or I'll send you back hoique_ to be a small but comfortable little steamer manned by a crew of a dozen blacks and a Swiss pilot The _Benguela_ came up the river that afternoon and the se to Mr Wallace were slung right out to the deck of _La Belgique_ Here John was in charge of the blacks and under his heavy-handed rule the cases were rapidly stoay

Mr Wallace and the boys got out all their personal equipment at once

The heat was intense and the boys naturally suffered froh the two older men did not seem to mind it in the least

By the next afternoon their loading was coique_ headed upstreaot the boys inured to the heat so the tropical forest on either bank of the river and the strange craft that plied around theh there wereco thirty-foot canoes laden withposts The two explorers lay back in their canvas chairs and recounted their experiences in strange lands, while the boys listened eagerly as they watched their new surroundings

The water-maker, as John called it, was installed the first day out The boys found their cook to be all that Mr Wallace had stated and ly offered John exorbitant wages to desert the Aique_ made stops for wood only and after four days they arrived at the mile-wide mouth of the Aruwimi River

On the fifth day they arrived at Yareat cataracts which stopped further navigation Here the two experienced explorers unloaded the chop-boxes, tents and other supplies and proceeded tobearers This was accoovernment representative, as an Italian

Indeed, the boys found that not only were Belgians and French eh the country, but land to Swiss and Cubans

After a two days' delay at Yambuya the caravan was formed It consisted of one hundred Bantu porters under the directions of a head-chief who spoke French fairly well, as do many of the natives Besides the porters there were tent boys, skinners, gun-bearers and cooks to the number of thirty Captain Montenay spoke Bantu to soiven by him direct while the river trip was continued

The expedition started froout canoes paddled by the porters For the white men had been provided a small antiquated launch hich the canoes were easily able to keep up

”Well,” said Mr Wallace as they puffed away froun, boys! We'll arrive at Makupa to-morrow and then up to the Makua!”

”Makupa?” exclaimed Captain Montenay ”Why, that's only a hundred and fifty miles up! Well, we can talk it over later John, fill a canvas tub I feel the need o' havin' a bath”

And Captain McAllister Montenay's bath was the first indication that the boys received of the Blind Lion

CHAPTER VI

THE MARK OF PONGO

The folding tubs they all used were more like little canvas rooms, open at the top The crew of their launch consisted of two Bantus One of these helped John fill the tub by the si water on the head of the occupant of the tiny chamber after his clothes had been thrown out