Part 14 (1/2)
”They all know it,” he said ”The whites couldn't draw it out o' theo is, or think they do It's hty superstitious”
”Well, we ain't goin' to leave that white pig, are we?” asked Burt Captain Mac glanced at his uncle
”Not if I can help it,” he sinal proposition, Wallace? Now that ye know the yarn, will ye wait here for mies?”
”Why, yes,” returned Mr Wallace slowly ”But frankly, Mac, I think you would be foolish We are on the edge of their country, but you'd have to get through the black fellows first They wouldn't know you, and in any event would probably have forgotten all about you By the way, in which direction is this place of Mbopo's?”
”Northeast from here,” returned Montenay, ”as near as I know I'ars et to Mbopo with a few bearers, we'll bring off the ivory”
”If they'll let you,” supplemented Mr Wallace ”You're too cocksure about it, Mac While I'd be perfectly willing to go along if I was alone,venture, nothing win,” laughed Captain Mac gayly ”Man, but I' would ye be willin' to wait here?”
”That depends on how long you'll be,” answered Mr Wallace, Yankee-like
”If you meet with opposition I suppose you'll come back?”
”That I will,” responded Montenay ”Suppose ye wait here teeks for me If I don't show up by then, work up towards the Makua If I get the stuff I'll hit the headwaters o' the Makua, get soht to ive you teeks, then If we hear nothing from you by that time we'll h to learn whether or not you have passed downstreaive That will ood,” announced Montenay with a nod of satisfaction ”Now about the boys I'll take twenty, if that suits you Soht come in handy, too”
These rockets were some that Mr Wallace had obtained at Boun or revolver They were intended for signaling at night, but had not been used so far
”Half the caravan is yours,” laughed the Auns here, I suppose?”
”All but ht”
”When will you start?” asked Burt
”To- for John When that worthy appeared he was instructed to ements and select a score of the best Bantus as porters A bustle of excitement soon rose froements In half an hour John reappeared and informed them that all was ready for the start
Before daybreak the boys were up and at breakfast With the first streak of gray in the east Captain Montenay called his ether, and all left the camp Mr Wallace and the boys had decided to accompany him for a mile or two in order to see him off safely
The party started toward the northeast, in which direction the forest extended and dipped down into heavier jungle and lower ground After two miles they came to a small stream, and here the farewells were said
Montenay shook hands all around, with no display of eain,” he said to Mr Wallace, while the porters were fording the streaht?”
”I will,” answered Mr Wallace soberly ”And what's more, I'll shi+p the boys ho Good luck to ye,” and Montenay was caught up between two of his men and carried across the shallow streaave him a hearty cheer, and with his little band he was lost in the heavy foliage
CHAPTER XI
MVITA SAVES BURT'S LIFE