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or nothing more to hope for…from our friendly wind； we
stared。 For the first hour or so we managed to row the
boat； though with great labor； but after that the
weeds got too thick to allow of it； and we were；
obliged to resort to the primitive and most exhausting
resource of towing her。 For two hours we labored；
Mahomed； Job； and I； who was supposed to be strong
enough to pull against the two of them； on the bank；
while Leo sat in the bow of the boat； and brushed away
the weeds which collected round the cutwater with
Mahomed's sword。 At dark we halted for some hours to
rest and enjoy the mosquitoes； but about midnight we
went on again； taking advantage of the comparative
cool of the night。 At dawn we rested for three hours；
and then started once more； and labored on till about
ten o'clock； when a thunderstorm； accompanied by a
deluge of rain； overtook us； and we spent the next six
hours practically under water。
I do not know that there is any necessity for me to
describe the next four days of our voyage in detail；
further than to say that they were； on the whole； the
most miserable that I ever spent in my life； forming
one monotonous record of heavy labor； heat； misery；
and mosquitoes。 All the way we passed through a region
of almost endless swamp； and I can only attribute our
escape from fever and death to the constant doses of
quinine and purgatives which we took； and the
unceasing toil which we were forced to undergo。 On the
third day of our journey up the canal we had sighted a
round hill that loomed dimly through the vapors of the
marsh； and on the evening of the fourth night； when we
camped； this hill seemed to be within five…and…twenty
or thirty miles of us。 We were by now utterly
exhausted； and felt as though our blistered hands
could not pull the boat a yard farther； and that the
best thing that we could do would be to lie down and。
die in that dreadful wilderness of swamp。 It was an
awful position； and one in。 which I trust no other
white man will ever be placed； and as I threw myself
down in the boat to sleep the sleep of utter
exhaustion； I bitterly cursed my folly in ever having
been a party to such a mad undertaking； which could； I
saw； only end in our death in this ghastly land。 I
thought； I remember； as I slowly sank into a doze； of
what the appearance of the boat and her unhappy crew
would be in two or three months' time from that night。
There she would lie； with gaping seams and half filled
with fetid water； which； when the mist…laden wind
stirred her； would wash backward and forward through
our mouldering bones； and that would be the end of
her； and of those in her who would follow after myths
and seek out the secrets of nature。
Already I seemed to hear the water rippling against
the desiccated bones and rattling them together；
rolling my skull against Mahomed's； and his against
mine； till at last Mahomed's stood straight up upon
its vertebrae； and glared at me through its empty eye
holes； and cursed me with its grinning jaws； because
I； a dog of a Christian； disturbed the last sleep of a
true believer。 I opened my eyes； and shuddered at the
horrid dream； and then shuddered again at something
that was not a dream； for two great eyes were gleaming
down at me through the misty darkness。 I struggled up；
and in my terror and confosion shrieked； and shrieked
again； so that the others sprang up too； reeling； and
drunken with sleep and fear。 And then all of a sudden
there was a flash of cold steel； and a great spear was
held against my throat； and behind it other spears
gleamed cruelly。
〃Peace；〃 said a voice； speaking in Arabic； or rather
in some dialect into which Arabic entered very
largely； 〃who are ye who come hither swimming on the
water？ Speak or ye die；〃 and the steel pressed sharply
against my throat； sending a cold chili through me。
〃We are travellers； and have come hither by chance；〃 I
answered in my best Arabic； which appeared to be
understood； for the man turned his head and；
addressing a tall form that towered up in the
background； said； 〃Father； shall we slay？〃
〃What is the color of the men？〃 said a deep voice in
answer。
〃White is their color。〃
〃Slay not；〃 was the reply。 〃Four suns since was the
word brought to me from _i_ She…who…must…be…obeyed _i_
； 'White men come； if white men come； slay them not。
Let them be brought to the land of _i_ She…who…must…
be…obeyed _i_ 。' Bring forth the men； and let that
which they have with them be brought forth also。〃
〃Come；〃 said the man； half leading and half dragging
me from the boat； and as he did so I perceived other
men doing the same kind office to my companions。
On the bank were gathered a company of some fifty men。
In that light all I could make out was that they were
armed with huge spears were very tall； and strongly
built； comparatively light in color； and nude； save
for a leopard skin tied round the middle。
Presently Leo and Job were bundled out and placed
beside me。
〃What on earth is up？〃 said Leo； rubbing his eyes。
〃Oh； Lord！ sir； here's a rum go；〃 ejaculated Job； and
just at that moment a disturbance ensued； and Mahomed
came tumbling between us； followed by a shadowy form
with an up…lifted spear。
〃Allah！ Allah！〃 howled Mahomed； feeling that he had
little to hope from man； 〃protect me！ protect me！〃
〃Father； it is a black one；〃 said a voice。 〃What said
'She…who…must…be…obeyed' about the black one？〃
〃She said naught； but slay him not。 Come hither； my
son。〃
The man advanced； and the tail； shadowy form bent
forward and whispered something。
〃Yes； yes；〃 said the other； and chuckled in a rather
blood…curdling tone。
〃Are the three white men there？〃 asked the form。
〃Yes； they are there。〃
〃Then bring up that which is made ready for them； and
let the men take all that can be brought from the
thing which floats。〃
Hardly had he spoken when men came running up；
carrying on their shoulders neither more nor less than
palanquinsfour bearers and two spare men to a
palanquinand in these it was promptly indicated we
were expected to stow ourselves。
〃Well！〃 said Leo； 〃it is a blessing to find anybody to
carry us after having to carry ourselves so long。〃'
Leo always takes a cheerful view of things。
There being no help for it； after seeing the others
into theirs I tumbled into my own litter； and very
comfortable I found it。 It appeared to be manufactured
of cloth woven from grass fibre； which stretched and
yielded to every motion after the body； and； being
bound top and bottom to the bearing pole； gave a
grateful support to the head and neck。
Scarcely had I settled myself when； accompanying their
steps with a monotonous song； the bearers started at a
swinging trot。 For half an hour or so I lay still；
reflecting on the very remarkable experiences that we
were going through； and wondering if any of my
eminently respectable fossil friends down at Cambridge
would believe me if I were to be miraculously set at
the familiar dinner…table for the purpose of relating
them。 I don't want t