5wiab10

PUBLlSHERS'NOTE.
"FiveWeeksinaBalloon"is,inameasure,asatireon
modernbooksofAfricantravel.Sofarasthegeography,
theinhabitants,theanimals,andthefeaturesofthecountries
thetravellerspassoveraredescribed,itisentirely
accurate.ltgives,insomeparticulars,asurveyofnearly
thewholefieldofAfricandiscovery,andinthiswaywill
oftenservetorefreshthememoryofthereader.Themode
oflocomotionis,ofcourse,purelyimaginary,andtheincidents
andadventuresfictitious.Thelatterareabundantly
amusing,and,inviewofthewonderful"travellers'tales"
withwhichwehavebeenentertainedbyAfricanexplorers,
theycanscarcelybeconsideredextravagant;whiletheingenuity
andinventionoftheauthorwillbesuretoexcitethe
surpriseandtheadmirationofthereader,whowillfind
M.VERNEasmuchathomeinvoyagingthroughtheairasin
journeying"TwentyThousandLeaguesundertheSeas."
CONTENTS.
-----
CHAPTERFlRST.
TheEndofamuch-applaudedSpeech.--ThePresentationofDr.SamuelFerguson.
--Excelsior.--Full-lengthPortraitoftheDoctor.--AFatalistconvinced.
--ADinnerattheTravellers'Club.--SeveralToastsfortheOccasion
CHAPTERSECOND.
TheArticleintheDailyTelegraph.--WarbetweentheScientificJournals.--
Mr.PetermannbackshisFriendDr.Ferguson.--ReplyoftheSavantKoner.
--Betsmade.--SundryPropositionsofferedtotheDoctor
CHAPTERTHlRD.
TheDoctor'sFriend.--TheOriginoftheirFriendship.--DickKennedyatLondon.
--AnunexpectedbutnotveryconsolingProposal.--AProverbbyno
meanscheering.--AfewNamesfromtheAfricanMartyrology.--TheAdvantages
ofaBalloon.--Dr.Ferguson'sSecret
CHAPTERFOURTH.
AfricanExplorations.--Barth,Richardson,Overweg,Werne,Brun-Rollet,Penney,
Andrea,Debono,Miani,GuillaumeLejean,Brace,KrapfandRebmann,
Maizan,Roscher,BurtonandSpeke
CHAPTERFlFTH.
Kennedy'sDreams.--ArticlesandPronounsinthePlural.--Dick'slnsinuations.
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--APromenadeovertheMapofAfrica.--Whatiscontainedbetweentwo
PointsoftheCompass.--Expeditionsnowonfoot.--SpekeandGrant.--Krapf,
DeDecken,andDeHeuglin
CHAPTERSlXTH.
AServant--matchhim!--HecanseetheSatellitesofJupiter.--DickandJoe
hardatit.--DoubtandFaith.--TheWeighingCeremony.--JoeandWellington.
--HegetsaHalf-crown
CHAPTERSEVENTH.
GeometricalDetails.--CalculationoftheCapacityoftheBalloon.--TheDouble
Receptacle.--TheCovering.--TheCar.--TheMysteriousApparatus.--The
ProvisionsandStores.--TheFinalSummingup
CHAPTERElGHTH.
Joe'slmportance.--TheCommanderoftheResolute.--Kennedy'sArsenal.
--MutualAmenities.--TheFarewellDinner.--Departureonthe21stofFebruary.--
TheDoctor'sScientificSessions.--Duveyrier.--Livingstone.--Detailsofthe
AerialVoyage.--Kennedysilenced
CHAPTERNlNTH.
TheydoubletheCape.--TheForecastle.--ACourseofCosmographybyProfessor
Joe.--ConcerningtheMethodofguidingBalloons.--Howtoseekout
AtmosphericCurrents.--Eureka
CHAPTERTENTH.
FormerExperiments.--TheDoctor'sFiveReceptacles.--TheGasCylinder.--
TheCalorifere.--TheSystemofManoeuvring.--Successcertain
CHAPTERELEVENTH.
TheArrivalatZanzibar.--TheEnglishConsul.--lll-willofthelnhabitants.--The
lslandofKoumbeni.--TheRain-Makers.--lnflationoftheBalloon.--Departure
onthe18thofApril.--ThelastGood-by.--TheVictoria
CHAPTERTWELFTH.
CrossingtheStrait.--TheMrima.--Dick'sRemarkandJoe'sProposition.--A
RecipeforCoffee-making.--TheUzaramo.--TheUnfortunateMaizan.--
MountDuthumi.--TheDoctor'sCards.--NightunderaNopal
CHAPTERTHlRTEENTH.
ChangeofWeather.--KennedyhastheFever.--TheDoctor'sMedicine.--Travels
onLand.--TheBasinoflmenge.--MountRubeho.--SixThousandFeet
Elevation.--AHaltintheDaytime
CHAPTERFOURTEENTH.
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TheForestofGum-Trees.--TheBlueAntelope.--TheRallying-Signal.--An
UnexpectedAttack.--TheKanyeme.--ANightintheOpenAir.--The
Mabunguru.--Jihoue-la-Mkoa.--ASupplyofWater.--ArrivalatKazeh
CHAPTERFlFTEENTH.
Kazeh.--TheNoisyMarket-place.--TheAppearanceoftheBalloon.--TheWangaga.
--TheSonsoftheMoon.--TheDoctor'sWalk.--ThePopulationofthe
Place.--TheRoyalTembe.--TheSultan'sWives.--ARoyalDrunken-Bout.--
JoeanObjectofWorship.--HowtheyDanceintheMoon.--AReaction.--
TwoMoonsinoneSky.--ThelnstabilityofDivineHonors
CHAPTERSlXTEENTH.
SymptomsofaStorm.--TheCountryoftheMoon.--TheFutureoftheAfrican
Continent.--TheLastMachineofall.--AViewoftheCountryatSunset.--
FloraandFauna.--TheTempest.--TheZoneofFire.--TheStarryHeavens.
CHAPTERSEVENTEENTH.
TheMountainsoftheMoon.--AnOceanofVenture.--TheycastAnchor.--The
TowingElephant.--ARunningFire.--DeathoftheMonster.--TheField
Oven.--AMealontheGrass.--ANightontheGround
CHAPTERElGHTEENTH.
TheKaragwah.--LakeUkereoue.--ANightonanlsland.--TheEquator.
--CrossingtheLake.--TheCascades.--AViewoftheCountry.--TheSources
oftheNile.--ThelslandofBenga.--TheSignatureofAndreaDebono.--The
FlagwiththeArmsofEngland
CHAPTERNlNETEENTH.
TheNile.--TheTremblingMountain.--ARemembranceoftheCountry.--The
NarrativesoftheArabs.--TheNyam-Nyams.--Joe'sShrewdCogitations.--
TheBalloonrunstheGantlet.--AerostaticAscensions.--MadameBlanchard.
CHAPTERTWENTlETH.
TheCelestialBottle.--TheFig-Palms.--TheMammothTrees.--TheTreeofWar.
--TheWingedTeam.--TwoNativeTribesinBattle.--AMassacre.--An
lnterventionfromabove
CHAPTERTWENTY-FlRST.
StrangeSounds.--ANightAttack.--KennedyandJoeintheTree.--TwoShots.
--"Help!help!"--ReplyinFrench.--TheMorning.--TheMissionary.--The
PlanofRescue
CHAPTERTWENTY-SECOND.
TheJetofLight.--TheMissionary.--TheRescueinaRayofElectricity.--A
LazaristPriest.--ButlittleHope.--TheDoctor'sCare.--ALifeofSelf-Denial.
--PassingaVolcano
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CHAPTERTWENTY-THlRD.
JoeinaFitofRage.--TheDeathofaGoodMan.--TheNightofwatchingbythe
Body.--BarrennessandDrought.--TheBurial.--TheQuartzRocks.--Joe's
Hallucinations.--APreciousBallast.--ASurveyoftheGold-bearingMountains.
--TheBeginningofJoe'sDespair
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOURTH.
TheWinddiesaway.--TheVicinityoftheDesert.--TheMistakeinthe
WaterSupply.--TheNightsoftheEquator.--Dr.Ferguson'sAnxieties.
--TheSituationflatlystated.--EnergeticRepliesofKennedyandJoe.
--OneNightmore
CHAPTERTWENTY-FlFTH.
ALittlePhilosophy.--ACloudontheHorizon.--lntheMidstofaFog.--The
StrangeBalloon.--AnExactViewoftheVictoria.--ThePalm-Trees.--Traces
ofaCaravan.--TheWellintheMidstoftheDesert
CHAPTERTWENTY-SlXTH.
OneHundredandThirteenDegrees.--TheDoctor'sReflections.--ADesperate
Search.--TheCylindergoesout.--OneHundredandTwenty-twoDegrees.--
ContemplationoftheDesert.--ANightWalk.--Solitude.--Debility.--Joe's
Prospects.--HegiveshimselfOneDaymore
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVENTH.
TerrificHeat.--Hallucinations.--TheLastDropsofWater.--NightsofDespair.
--AnAttemptatSuicide.--TheSimoom.--TheOasis.--TheLionandLioness.
CHAPTERTWENTY-ElGHTH.
AnEveningofDelight.--Joe'sCulinaryPerformances.--ADissertationonRaw
Meat.--TheNarrativeofJamesBruce.--Campingout.--Joe'sDreams.--The
Barometerbeginstofall.--TheBarometerrisesagain.--Preparationsfor
Departure.--TheTempest
CHAPTERTWENTY-NlNTH.
SignsofVegetation.--TheFantasticNotionofaFrenchAuthor.--AMagnificent
Country.--TheKingdomofAdamova.--TheExplorationsofSpekeandBurton
connectedwiththoseofDr.Barth.--TheAtlantikaMountains.--The
RiverBenoue.--TheCityofYola.--TheBagele.--MountMendif
CHAPTERTHlRTlETH.
Mosfeia.--TheSheik.--Denham,Clapperton,andOudney.--Vogel.--TheCapital
ofLoggoum.--Toole.--BecalmedaboveKernak.--TheGovernorandhisCourt.
--TheAttack.--ThelncendiaryPigeons
CHAPTERTHlRTY-FlRST.
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DepartureintheNight-time.--AllThree.--Kennedy'slnstincts.--Precautions.--
TheCourseoftheShariRiver.--LakeTchad.--TheWateroftheLake.--The
Hippopotamus.--OneBulletthrownaway
CHAPTERTHlRTY-SECOND.
TheCapitalofBornou.--ThelslandsoftheBiddiomahs.--TheCondors.--The
Doctor'sAnxieties.--HisPrecautions.--AnAttackinMid-air.--TheBalloon
Coveringtorn.--TheFall.--SublimeSelf-Sacrifice.--TheNorthernCoastof
theLake
CHAPTERTHlRTY-THlRD.
Conjectures.--ReestablishmentoftheVictoria'sEquilibrium.--Dr.
Ferguson'sNewCalculations.--Kennedy'sHunt.--ACompleteExploration
ofLakeTchad.--Tangalia.--TheReturn.--Lari
CHAPTERTHlRTY-FOURTH.
TheHurricane.--AForcedDeparture.--LossofanAnchor.--Melancholy
Reflections.--TheResolutionadopted.--TheSand-Storm.--TheBuriedCaravan.--
AContraryyetFavorableWind.--TheReturnsouthward.--KennedyathisPost
CHAPTERTHlRTY-FlFTH.
WhathappenedtoJoe.--ThelslandoftheBiddiomahs.--TheAdorationshown
him.--Thelslandthatsank.--TheShoresoftheLake.--TheTreeofthe
Serpents.--TheFoot-Tramp.--TerribleSuffering.--MosquitoesandAnts.--
Hunger.--TheVictoriaseen.--Shedisappears.--TheSwamp.--OneLast
DespairingCry
CHAPTERTHlRTY-SlXTH.
AThrongofPeopleontheHorizon.--ATroopofArabs.--ThePursuit.--ltis
He.--FallfromHorseback.--TheStrangledArab.--ABallfromKennedy.--
AdroitManoeuvres.--Caughtupflying.--Joesavedatlast
CHAPTERTHlRTY-SEVENTH.
TheWesternRoute.--Joewakesup.--HisObstinacy.--EndofJoe'sNarrative.
--Tagelei.--Kennedy'sAnxieties.--TheRoutetotheNorth.--ANightnear
Aghades
CHAPTERTHlRTY-ElGHTH.
ARapidPassage.--PrudentResolves.--CaravansinSight.--lncessantRains.--
Goa.--TheNiger.--Golberry,Geoffroy,andGray.--MungoPark.--Laing.--
ReneCaillie.--Clapperton.--JohnandRichardLander
CHAPTERTHlRTY-NlNTH.
TheCountryintheElbowoftheNiger.--AFantasticViewoftheHombori
Mountains.--Kabra.--Timbuctoo.--TheChartofDr.Barth.--ADecayingCity.--
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WhitherHeavenwills
CHAPTERFORTlETH.
Dr.Ferguson'sAnxieties.--PersistentMovementsouthward.--ACloudof
Grasshoppers.--AViewofJenne.--AViewofSego.--ChangeoftheWind.--
Joe'sRegrets
CHAPTERFORTY-FlRST.
TheApproachestoSenegal.--TheBalloonsinkslowerandlower.--They
keepthrowingout,throwingout.--TheMaraboutAl-Hadji.--Messrs.Pascal,
Vincent,andLambert.--ARivalofMohammed.--TheDifficultMountains.
--Kennedy'sWeapons.--OneofJoe'sManoeuvres.--AHaltoveraForest
CHAPTERFORTY-SECOND.
AStruggleofGenerosity.--TheLastSacrifice.--TheDilatingApparatus.--Joe's
Adroitness.--Midnight.--TheDoctor'sWatch.--Kennedy'sWatch.--TheLatter
fallsasleepathisPost.--TheFire.--TheHowlingsoftheNatives.--Out
ofRange
CHAPTERFORTY-THlRD.
TheTalabas.--ThePursuit.--ADevastatedCountry.--TheWindbeginsto
fall.--TheVictoriasinks.--ThelastoftheProvisions.--TheLeapsof
theBalloon.--ADefencewithFire-arms.--TheWindfreshens.--TheSenegal
River.--TheCataractsofGouina.--TheHotAir.--ThePassageoftheRiver
CHAPTERFORTY-FOURTH.
Conclusion.--TheCertificate.--TheFrenchSettlements.--ThePostofMedina.--
TheBattle.--SaintLouis.--TheEnglishFrigate.--TheReturntoLondon.
FlVEWEEKSlNABALLOON.
------
CHAPTERFlRST.
TheEndofamuch-applaudedSpeech.--ThePresentationofDr.Samuel
Ferguson.--Excelsior.--Full-lengthPortraitoftheDoctor.--AFatalist
convinced.--ADinnerattheTravellers'Club.--SeveralToastsforthe
Occasion.
Therewasalargeaudienceassembledonthe14thof
January,1862,atthesessionoftheRoyalGeographical
Society,No.3WaterlooPlace,London.Thepresident,
SirFrancisM----,madeanimportantcommunicationto
hiscolleagues,inanaddressthatwasfrequently
interruptedbyapplause.
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Thisrarespecimenofeloquenceterminatedwiththe
followingsonorousphrasesbubblingoverwithpatriotism:
"Englandhasalwaysmarchedattheheadofnations"
(for,thereaderwillobserve,thenationsalwaysmarch
attheheadofeachother),"bytheintrepidityofher
explorersinthelineofgeographicaldiscovery."(General
assent)."Dr.SamuelFerguson,oneofhermostglorious
sons,willnotreflectdiscreditonhisorigin."("No,
indeed!"fromallpartsofthehall.)
"Thisattempt,shoulditsucceed"("ltwillsucceed!"),
"willcompleteandlinktogetherthenotions,asyet
disjointed,whichtheworldentertainsofAfricancartology"
(vehementapplause);"and,shoulditfail,itwill,
atleast,remainonrecordasoneofthemostdaring
conceptionsofhumangenius!"(Tremendouscheering.)
"Huzza!huzza!"shoutedtheimmenseaudience,
completelyelectrifiedbytheseinspiringwords.
"HuzzafortheintrepidFerguson!"criedoneofthe
mostexcitableoftheenthusiasticcrowd.
Thewildestcheeringresoundedonallsides;thename
ofFergusonwasineverymouth,andwemaysafelybelieve
thatitlostnothinginpassingthroughEnglish
throats.lndeed,thehallfairlyshookwithit.
Andtherewerepresent,also,thosefearlesstravellers
andexplorerswhoseenergetictemperamentshadborne
themthrougheveryquarteroftheglobe,manyofthem
grownoldandwornoutintheserviceofscience.All
had,insomedegree,physicallyormorally,undergonethe
soresttrials.Theyhadescapedshipwreck;conflagration;
lndiantomahawksandwar-clubs;thefagotandthe
stake;nay,eventhecannibalmawsoftheSouthSea
lslanders.ButstilltheirheartsbeathighduringSir
FrancisM----'saddress,whichcertainlywasthefinest
oratoricalsuccessthattheRoyalGeographicalSocietyof
Londonhadyetachieved.
But,inEngland,enthusiasmdoesnotstopshortwith
merewords.ltstrikesoffmoneyfasterthanthediesof
theRoyalMintitself.SoasubscriptiontoencourageDr.
Fergusonwasvotedthereandthen,anditatonceattained
thehandsomeamountoftwothousandfivehundred
pounds.Thesumwasmadecommensuratewiththe
importanceoftheenterprise.
AmemberoftheSocietytheninquiredofthepresident
whetherDr.Fergusonwasnottobeofficiallyintroduced.
"Thedoctorisatthedispositionofthemeeting,"
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repliedSirFrancis.
"Lethimcomein,then!Bringhimin!"shoutedthe
audience."We'dliketoseeamanofsuchextraordinary
daring,facetoface!"
"Perhapsthisincrediblepropositionofhisisonly
intendedtomystifyus,"growledanapoplecticold
admiral.
"Supposethatthereshouldturnouttobenosuch
personasDr.Ferguson?"exclaimedanothervoice,with
amalicioustwang.
"Why,then,we'dhavetoinventone!"replieda
facetiousmemberofthisgraveSociety.
"AskDr.Fergusontocomein,"wasthequietremark
ofSirFrancisM----.
Andcomeinthedoctordid,andstoodthere,quite
unmovedbythethundersofapplausethatgreetedhis
appearance.
Hewasamanofaboutfortyyearsofage,ofmedium
heightandphysique.Hissanguinetemperamentwas
disclosedinthedeepcolorofhischeeks.Hiscountenance
wascoldlyexpressive,withregularfeatures,andalarge
nose--oneofthosenosesthatresembletheprowofaship,
andstampthefacesofmenpredestinedtoaccomplish
greatdiscoveries.Hiseyes,whichweregentleand
intelligent,ratherthanbold,lentapeculiarcharmto
hisphysiognomy.Hisarmswerelong,andhisfeetwere
plantedwiththatsoliditywhichindicatesagreatpedestrian.
Acalmgravityseemedtosurroundthedoctor'sentire
person,andnoonewoulddreamthathecouldbecomethe
agentofanymystification,howeverharmless.
Hence,theapplausethatgreetedhimattheoutset
continueduntilhe,withafriendlygesture,claimedsilence
onhisownbehalf.Hesteppedtowardtheseatthathad
beenpreparedforhimonhispresentation,andthen,
standingerectandmotionless,he,withadetermined
glance,pointedhisrightforefingerupward,and
pronouncedaloudthesingleword--
"Excelsior!"
NeverhadoneofBright'sorCobden'ssuddenonslaughts,
neverhadoneofPalmerston'sabruptdemands
forfundstoplatetherocksoftheEnglishcoastwithiron,
madesuchasensation.SirFrancisM----'saddresswas
completelyovershadowed.Thedoctorhadshownhimself
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moderate,sublime,andself-contained,inone;hehad
utteredthewordofthesituation--
"Excelsior!"
Thegoutyoldadmiralwhohadbeenfindingfault,was
completelywonoverbythesingularmanbeforehim,and
immediatelymovedtheinsertionofDr.Ferguson'sspeech
in"TheProceedingsoftheRoyalGeographicalSociety
ofLondon."
Who,then,wasthisperson,andwhatwastheenterprise
thatheproposed?
Ferguson'sfather,abraveandworthycaptaininthe
EnglishNavy,hadassociatedhissonwithhim,fromthe
youngman'searliestyears,intheperilsandadventuresof
hisprofession.Thefinelittlefellow,whoseemedtohave
neverknownthemeaningoffear,earlyrevealedakeen
andactivemind,aninvestigatingintelligence,anda
remarkableturnforscientificstudy;moreover,hedisclosed
uncommonaddressinextricatinghimselffromdifficulty;
hewasneverperplexed,noteveninhandlinghisforkfor
thefirsttime--anexerciseinwhichchildrengenerally
havesolittlesuccess.
Hisfancykindledearlyattherecitalshereadofdaring
enterpriseandmaritimeadventure,andhefollowed
withenthusiasmthediscoveriesthatsignalizedthefirstpart
ofthenineteenthcentury.Hemusedoverthegloryofthe
MungoParks,theBruces,theCaillies,theLevaillants,
andtosomeextent,lverilybelieve,ofSelkirk(Robinson
Crusoe),whomheconsideredinnowiseinferiortothe
rest.Howmanyawell-employedhourhepassedwith
thatheroonhisisleofJuanFernandez!Oftenhecriticised
theideasoftheshipwreckedsailor,andsometimes
discussedhisplansandprojects.Hewouldhavedone
differently,insuchandsuchacase,orquiteaswellat
least--ofthathefeltassured.Butofonethinghewas
satisfied,thathenevershouldhaveleftthatpleasantisland,
wherehewasashappyasakingwithoutsubjects--
no,notiftheinducementheldouthadbeenpromotionto
thefirstlordshipintheadmiralty!
ltmayreadilybeconjecturedwhetherthesetendencies
weredevelopedduringayouthofadventure,spentin
everynookandcorneroftheGlobe.Moreover,hisfather,
whowasamanofthoroughinstruction,omittednoopportunity
toconsolidatethiskeenintelligencebyserious
studiesinhydrography,physics,andmechanics,along
withaslighttinctureofbotany,medicine,andastronomy.
Uponthedeathoftheestimablecaptain,SamuelFerguson,
thentwenty-twoyearsofage,hadalreadymade
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hisvoyagearoundtheworld.Hehadenlistedinthe
BengaleseCorpsofEngineers,anddistinguishedhimself
inseveralaffairs;butthissoldier'slifehadnotexactly
suitedhim;caringbutlittleforcommand,hehadnotbeen
fondofobeying.He,therefore,sentinhisresignation,
andhalfbotanizing,halfplayingthehunter,hemadehis
waytowardthenorthofthelndianPeninsula,andcrossed
itfromCalcuttatoSurat--amereamateurtripforhim.
FromSuratweseehimgoingovertoAustralia,and
in1845participatinginCaptainSturt'sexpedition,which
hadbeensentouttoexplorethenewCaspianSea,supposed
toexistinthecentreofNewHolland.
SamuelFergusonreturnedtoEnglandabout1850,
and,morethaneverpossessedbythedemonofdiscovery,
hespenttheinterveningtime,until1853,inaccompanying
CaptainMcClureontheexpeditionthatwentaround
theAmericanContinentfromBehring'sStraitstoCape
Farewell.
Notwithstandingfatiguesofeverydescription,andin
allclimates,Ferguson'sconstitutioncontinuedmarvellously
sound.Hefeltateaseinthemidstofthemostcomplete
privations;infine,hewastheverytypeofthe
thoroughlyaccomplishedexplorerwhosestomachexpands
orcontractsatwill;whoselimbsgrowlongerorshorter
accordingtotheresting-placethateachstageofajourney
maybring;whocanfallasleepatanyhourofthedayor
awakeatanyhourofthenight.
Nothing,then,waslesssurprising,afterthat,thanto
findourtraveller,intheperiodfrom1855to1857,visiting
thewholeregionwestoftheThibet,incompanywiththe
brothersSchlagintweit,andbringingbacksomecurious
ethnographicobservationsfromthatexpedition.
Duringthesedifferentjourneys,Fergusonhadbeen
themostactiveandinterestingcorrespondentofthe
DailyTelegraph,thepennynewspaperwhosecirculation
amountsto140,000copies,andyetscarcelysufficesforits
manylegionsofreaders.Thus,thedoctorhadbecome
wellknowntothepublic,althoughhecouldnotclaim
membershipineitheroftheRoyalGeographicalSocieties
ofLondon,Paris,Berlin,Vienna,orSt.Petersburg,or
yetwiththeTravellers'Club,oreventheRoyalPolytechnic
lnstitute,wherehisfriendthestatisticianCockburn
ruledinstate.
Thelattersavanthad,oneday,gonesofarastopropose
tohimthefollowingproblem:Giventhenumberof
milestravelledbythedoctorinmakingthecircuitofthe
Globe,howmanymorehadhisheaddescribedthanhis
feet,byreasonofthedifferentlengthsoftheradii?--or,
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thenumberofmilestraversedbythedoctor'sheadand
feetrespectivelybeinggiven,requiredtheexactheight
ofthatgentleman?
Thiswasdonewiththeideaofcomplimentinghim,
butthedoctorhadheldhimselfalooffromallthelearned
bodies--belonging,ashedid,tothechurchmilitantand
nottothechurchpolemical.Hefoundhistimebetter
employedinseekingthanindiscussing,indiscovering
ratherthandiscoursing.
ThereisastorytoldofanEnglishmanwhocameone
daytoGeneva,intendingtovisitthelake.Hewasplaced
inoneofthoseoddvehiclesinwhichthepassengerssit
sidebyside,astheydoinanomnibus.Well,itsohappened
thattheEnglishmangotaseatthatlefthimwith
hisbackturnedtowardthelake.Thevehiclecompleted
itscirculartripwithouthisthinkingtoturnaroundonce,
andhewentbacktoLondondelightedwiththeLakeofGeneva.
DoctorFerguson,however,hadturnedaroundtolook
abouthimonhisjourneyings,andturnedtosuchgood
purposethathehadseenagreatdeal.lndoingso,he
hadsimplyobeyedthelawsofhisnature,andwehave
goodreasontobelievethathewas,tosomeextent,afatalist,
butofanorthodoxschooloffatalismwithal,thatled
himtorelyuponhimselfandevenuponProvidence.He
claimedthathewasimpelled,ratherthandrawnbyhis
ownvolition,tojourneyashedid,andthathetraversed
theworldlikethelocomotive,whichdoesnotdirectitself,
butisguidedanddirectedbythetrackitrunson.
"ldonotfollowmyroute;"heoftensaid,"itismy
routethatfollowsme."
Thereaderwillnotbesurprised,then,atthecalmness
withwhichthedoctorreceivedtheapplausethatwelcomed
himintheRoyalSociety.Hewasaboveallsuch
trifles,havingnopride,andlessvanity.Helookedupon
thepropositionaddressedtohimbySirFrancisM----as
thesimplestthingintheworld,andscarcelynoticedthe
immenseeffectthatitproduced.
Whenthesessionclosed,thedoctorwasescortedto
theroomsoftheTravellers'Club,inPallMall.Asuperb
entertainmenthadbeenpreparedthereinhishonor.The
dimensionsofthedishesservedweremadetocorrespond
withtheimportanceofthepersonageentertained,andthe
boiledsturgeonthatfiguredatthismagnificentrepastwas
notaninchshorterthanDr.Fergusonhimself.
Numeroustoastswereofferedandquaffed,inthewines
ofFrance,tothecelebratedtravellerswhohadmadetheir
namesillustriousbytheirexplorationsofAfricanterritory.
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Theguestsdranktotheirhealthortotheirmemory,
inalphabeticalorder,agoodoldEnglishwayofdoingthe
thing.Amongthoserememberedthus,were:Abbadie,
Adams,Adamson,Anderson,Arnaud,Baikie,Baldwin,
Barth,Batouda,Beke,Beltram,DuBerba,Bimbachi,
Bolognesi,Bolwik,Belzoni,Bonnemain,Brisson,Browne,
Bruce,Brun-Rollet,Burchell,Burckhardt,Burton,Cailland,
Caillie,Campbell,Chapman,Clapperton,Clot-Bey,
Colomieu,Courval,Cumming,Cuny,Debono,Decken,
Denham,Desavanchers,Dicksen,Dickson,Dochard,Du
Chaillu,Duncan,Durand,Duroule,Duveyrier,D'Escayrac,
DeLauture,Erhardt,Ferret,Fresnel,Galinier,Galton,
Geoffroy,Golberry,Hahn,Halm,Harnier,Hecquart,
Heuglin,Hornemann,Houghton,lmbert,Kauffmann,
Knoblecher,Krapf,Kummer,Lafargue,Laing,Lafaille,
Lambert,Lamiral,Lampriere,JohnLander,Richard
Lander,Lefebvre,Lejean,Levaillant,Livingstone,MacCarthy,
Maggiar,Maizan,Malzac,Moffat,Mollien,Monteiro,Morrison,
MungoPark,Neimans,Overweg,Panet,Partarrieau,
Pascal,Pearse,Peddie,Penney,Petherick,Poncet,Prax,
Raffenel,Rabh,Rebmann,Richardson,Riley,Ritchey,
Rochetd'Hericourt,Rongawi,Roscher,Ruppel,Saugnier,
Speke,Steidner,Thibaud,Thompson,Thornton,Toole,
Tousny,Trotter,Tuckey,Tyrwhitt,Vaudey,Veyssiere,
Vincent,Vinco,Vogel,Wahlberg,Warrington,Washington,
Werne,Wild,andlast,butnotleast,Dr.Ferguson,
who,byhisincredibleattempt,wastolinktogetherthe
achievementsofalltheseexplorers,andcompletetheseries
ofAfricandiscovery.
CHAPTERSECOND.
TheArticleintheDailyTelegraph.--WarbetweentheScientificJournals.--
Mr.PetermannbackshisFriendDr.Ferguson.--ReplyoftheSavantKoner.
--Betsmade.--SundryPropositionsofferedtotheDoctor.
Onthenextday,initsnumberofJanuary15th,theDaily
Telegraphpublishedanarticlecouchedinthefollowingterms:
"Africais,atlength,abouttosurrenderthesecret
ofhervastsolitudes;amodernOEdipusistogiveusthe
keytothatenigmawhichthelearnedmenofsixtycenturies
havenotbeenabletodecipher.lnotherdays,toseekthe
sourcesoftheNile--fontesNiliquoerere--wasregardedas
amadendeavor,achimerathatcouldnotberealized.
"Dr.Barth,infollowingouttoSoudanthetracktraced
byDenhamandClapperton;Dr.Livingstone,inmultiplying
hisfearlessexplorationsfromtheCapeofGoodHope
tothebasinoftheZambesi;CaptainsBurtonandSpeke,
inthediscoveryofthegreatinteriorlakes,haveopened
threehighwaystomoderncivilization.THElRPOlNTOF
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5wiab10
lNTERSECTlON,whichnotravellerhasyetbeenableto
reach,istheveryheartofAfrica,anditisthither
thatalleffortsshouldnowbedirected.
"Thelaborsofthesehardypioneersofsciencearenow
abouttobeknittogetherbythedaringprojectofDr.
SamuelFerguson,whosefineexplorationsourreaders
havefrequentlyhadtheopportunityofappreciating.
"Thisintrepiddiscovererproposestotraverseall
AfricafromeasttowestlNABALLOON.lfwearewell
informed,thepointofdepartureforthissurprisingjourney
istobetheislandofZanzibar,upontheeasterncoast.
Asforthepointofarrival,itisreservedforProvidence
alonetodesignate.
"Theproposalforthisscientificundertakingwasofficially
made,yesterday,attheroomsoftheRoyalGeographical
Society,andthesumoftwenty-fivehundredpoundswas
votedtodefraytheexpensesoftheenterprise.
"Weshallkeepourreadersinformedastotheprogress
ofthisenterprise,whichhasnoprecedentintheannals
ofexploration."
Asmaybesupposed,theforegoingarticlehadan
enormousechoamongscientificpeople.Atfirst,itstirred
upastormofincredulity;Dr.Fergusonpassedfora
purelychimericalpersonageoftheBarnumstamp,who,
afterhavinggonethroughtheUnitedStates,proposedto
"do"theBritishlsles.
AhumorousreplyappearedintheFebruarynumber
oftheBulletinsdelaSocieteGeographiqueofGeneva,
whichverywittilyshoweduptheRoyalSocietyofLondon
andtheirphenomenalsturgeon.
ButHerrPetermann,inhisMittheilungen,published
atGotha,reducedtheGenevajournaltothemostabsolute
silence.HerrPetermannknewDr.Fergusonpersonally,
andguaranteedtheintrepidityofhisdauntlessfriend.
Besides,allmannerofdoubtwasquicklyputoutof
thequestion:preparationsforthetripweresetonfootat
London;thefactoriesofLyonsreceivedaheavyorderfor
thesilkrequiredforthebodyoftheballoon;and,finally,
theBritishGovernmentplacedthetransport-shipResolute,
CaptainBennett,atthedisposaloftheexpedition.
Atonce,uponwordofallthis,athousandencouragements
wereoffered,andfelicitationscamepouringinfrom
allquarters.Thedetailsoftheundertakingwerepublished
infullinthebulletinsoftheGeographicalSociety
ofParis;aremarkablearticleappearedintheNouvelles
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5wiab10
AnnalesdesVoyages,delaGeographie,del'Histoire,et
del'ArchaeologiedeM.V.A.Malte-Brun("NewAnnals
ofTravels,Geography,History,andArchaeology,by
M.V.A.Malte-Brun");andasearchingessayintheZeitschrift
furAllgemeineErdkunde,byDr.W.Koner,triumphantly
demonstratedthefeasibilityofthejourney,its
chancesofsuccess,thenatureoftheobstaclesexisting,
theimmenseadvantagesoftheaerialmodeoflocomotion,
andfoundfaultwithnothingbuttheselectedpointof
departure,whichitcontendedshouldbeMassowah,asmall
portinAbyssinia,whenceJamesBruce,in1768,started
uponhisexplorationsinsearchofthesourcesoftheNile.
Apartfromthat,itmentioned,intermsofunreserved
admiration,theenergeticcharacterofDr.Ferguson,andthe
heart,thricepanopliedinbronze,thatcouldconceiveand
undertakesuchanenterprise.
TheNorthAmericanReviewcouldnot,withoutsome
displeasure,contemplatesomuchglorymonopolizedby
England.ltthereforeratherridiculedthedoctor'sscheme,
andurgedhim,byallmeans,topushhisexplorationsas
farasAmerica,whilehewasaboutit.
lnaword,withoutgoingoverallthejournalsinthe
world,therewasnotascientificpublication,fromthe
JournalofEvangelicalMissionstotheRevueAlgerienne
etColoniale,fromtheAnnalesdelaPropagationdela
FoitotheChurchMissionarylntelligencer,thathadnot
somethingtosayabouttheaffairinallitsphases.
ManylargebetsweremadeatLondonandthroughout
Englandgenerally,first,astotherealorsupposititious
existenceofDr.Ferguson;secondly,astothetripitself,
which,somecontended,wouldnotbeundertakenatall,
andwhichwasreallycontemplated,accordingtoothers;
thirdly,uponthesuccessorfailureoftheenterprise;and
fourthly,upontheprobabilitiesofDr.Ferguson'sreturn.
Thebetting-bookswerecoveredwithentriesofimmense
sums,asthoughtheEpsomraceswereatstake.
Thus,believersandunbelievers,thelearnedandthe
ignorant,alikehadtheireyesfixedonthedoctor,andhe
becamethelionoftheday,withoutknowingthathecarried
suchamane.Onhispart,hewillinglygavethe
mostaccurateinformationtouchinghisproject.Hewas
veryeasilyapproached,beingnaturallythemostaffable
manintheworld.Morethanoneboldadventurerpresented
himself,offeringtosharethedangersaswellasthe
gloryoftheundertaking;butherefusedthemall,without
givinghisreasonsforrejectingthem.
Numerousinventorsofmechanismapplicabletothe
guidanceofballoonscametoproposetheirsystems,but
hewouldacceptnone;and,whenhewasaskedwhether
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5wiab10
hehaddiscoveredsomethingofhisownforthatpurpose,
heconstantlyrefusedtogiveanyexplanation,andmerely
busiedhimselfmoreactivelythaneverwiththepreparations
forhisjourney.
CHAPTERTHlRD.
TheDoctor'sFriend.--TheOriginoftheirFriendship.--DickKennedy
atLondon.--AnunexpectedbutnotveryconsolingProposal.--AProverb
bynomeanscheering.--AfewNamesfromtheAfricanMartyrology.--The
AdvantagesofaBalloon.--Dr.Ferguson'sSecret.
Dr.Fergusonhadafriend--notanotherself,indeed,
analterego,forfriendshipcouldnotexistbetweentwo
beingsexactlyalike.
But,iftheypossesseddifferentqualities,aptitudes,and
temperaments,DickKennedyandSamuelFergusonlived
withoneandthesameheart,andthatgavethemnogreat
trouble.lnfact,quitethereverse.
DickKennedywasaScotchman,inthefullacceptation
oftheword--open,resolute,andheadstrong.Helived
inthetownofLeith,whichisnearEdinburgh,and,in
truth,isameresuburbofAuldReekie.Sometimeshe
wasafisherman,buthewasalwaysandeverywherea
determinedhunter,andthatwasnothingremarkablefora
sonofCaledonia,whohadknownsomelittleclimbing
amongtheHighlandmountains.Hewascitedasawonderful
shotwiththerifle,sincenotonlycouldhesplita
bulletonaknife-blade,buthecoulddivideitintotwo
suchequalpartsthat,uponweighingthem,scarcelyany
differencewouldbeperceptible.
Kennedy'scountenancestrikinglyrecalledthatofHerbert
Glendinning,asSirWalterScotthasdepicteditin
"TheMonastery";hisstaturewasabovesixfeet;fullof
graceandeasymovement,heyetseemedgiftedwithherculean
strength;afaceembrownedbythesun;eyeskeen
andblack;anaturalairofdaringcourage;infine,
somethingsound,solid,andreliableinhisentireperson,
spoke,atfirstglance,infavorofthebonnyScot.
Theacquaintanceshipofthesetwofriendshadbeen
formedinlndia,whentheybelongedtothesameregiment.
WhileDickwouldbeoutinpursuitofthetiger
andtheelephant,Samuelwouldbeinsearchofplantsand
insects.Eachcouldcallhimselfexpertinhisownprovince,
andmorethanonerarebotanicalspecimen,thatto
sciencewasasgreatavictorywonastheconquestofa
pairofivorytusks,becamethedoctor'sbooty.
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5wiab10
Thesetwoyoungmen,moreover,neverhadoccasion
tosaveeachother'slives,ortorenderanyreciprocal
service.Hence,anunalterablefriendship.Destiny
sometimesborethemapart,butsympathyalwaysunited
themagain.
SincetheirreturntoEnglandtheyhadbeenfrequently
separatedbythedoctor'sdistantexpeditions;but,on
hisreturn,thelatterneverfailedtogo,nottoASKfor
hospitality,buttobestowsomeweeksofhispresenceat
thehomeofhiscronyDick.
TheScottalkedofthepast;thedoctorbusilyprepared
forthefuture.Theonelookedback,theotherforward.
Hence,arestlessspiritpersonifiedinFerguson;perfect
calmnesstypifiedinKennedy--suchwasthecontrast.
AfterhisjourneytotheThibet,thedoctorhadremained
nearlytwoyearswithouthintingatnewexplorations;and
Dick,supposingthathisfriend'sinstinctfortraveland
thirstforadventurehadatlengthdiedout,wasperfectly
enchanted.Theywouldhaveendedbadly,somedayorother,
hethoughttohimself;nomatterwhatexperienceonehas
withmen,onedoesnottravelalwayswithimpunityamong
cannibalsandwildbeasts.So,Kennedybesoughtthedoctor
totieuphisbarkforlife,havingdoneenoughforscience,
andtoomuchforthegratitudeofmen.
Thedoctorcontentedhimselfwithmakingnoreplyto
this.Heremainedabsorbedinhisownreflections,giving
himselfuptosecretcalculations,passinghisnightsamong
heapsoffigures,andmakingexperimentswiththe
strangest-lookingmachinery,inexplicabletoeverybodybut
himself.ltcouldreadilybeguessed,though,thatsomegreat
thoughtwasfermentinginhisbrain.
"Whatcanhehavebeenplanning?"wonderedKennedy,when,in
themonthofJanuary,hisfriendquittedhimtoreturntoLondon.
HefoundoutonemorningwhenhelookedintotheDailyTelegraph.
"MercifulHeaven!"heexclaimed,"thelunatic!the
madman!CrossAfricainaballoon!Nothingbutthat
waswantedtocaptheclimax!That'swhathe'sbeen
botheringhiswitsaboutthesetwoyearspast!"
Now,reader,substituteforalltheseexclamationpoints,
asmanyringingthumpswithabrawnyfistuponthetable,
andyouhavesomeideaofthemanualexercisethatDick
wentthroughwhilehethusspoke.
Whenhisconfidentialmaid-of-all-work,theagedElspeth,
triedtoinsinuatethatthewholethingmightbeahoax--
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5wiab10
"Notabitofit!"saidhe."Don'tlknowmyman?lsn'tit
justlikehim?Travelthroughtheair!There,now,he's
jealousoftheeagles,next!No!lwarrantyou,he'llnot
doit!l'llfindawaytostophim!He!whyifthey'dlet
himalone,he'dstartsomedayforthemoon!"
OnthatveryeveningKennedy,halfalarmed,andhalf
exasperated,tookthetrainforLondon,wherehearrived
nextmorning.
Three-quartersofanhourlateracabdepositedhimat
thedoorofthedoctor'smodestdwelling,inSohoSquare,
GreekStreet.Forthwithheboundedupthestepsand
announcedhisarrivalwithfivegood,hearty,sounding
rapsatthedoor.
Fergusonopened,inperson.
"Dick!youhere?"heexclaimed,butwithnogreat
expressionofsurprise,afterall.
"Dickhimself!"wastheresponse.
"What,mydearboy,youatLondon,andthisthe
mid-seasonofthewintershooting?"
"Yes!herelam,atLondon!"
"Andwhathaveyoucometotownfor?"
"Topreventthegreatestpieceoffollythateverwas
conceived."
"Folly!"saidthedoctor.
"lswhatthispapersays,thetruth?"rejoinedKennedy,
holdingoutthecopyoftheDailyTelegraph,mentionedabove.
"Ah!that'swhatyoumean,isit?Thesenewspapers
aregreattattlers!But,sitdown,mydearDick."
"No,lwon'tsitdown!--Then,youreallyintendto
attemptthisjourney?"
"Mostcertainly!allmypreparationsaregettingalong
finely,andl--"
"Whereareyourtraps?Letmehaveachanceat
them!l'llmakethemfly!l'llputyourpreparationsin
fineorder."Andsosaying,thegallantScotgavewayto
agenuineexplosionofwrath.
"Come,becalm,mydearDick!"resumedthedoctor.
"You'reangryatmebecauseldidnotacquaintyouwith
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5wiab10
mynewproject."
"Hecallsthishisnewproject!"
"lhavebeenverybusy,"thedoctorwenton,without
heedingtheinterruption;"lhavehadsomuchtolook
after!Butrestassuredthatlshouldnothavestarted
withoutwritingtoyou."
"Oh,indeed!l'mhighlyhonored."
"Becauseitismyintentiontotakeyouwithme."
Uponthis,theScotchmangavealeapthatawildgoat
wouldnothavebeenashamedofamonghisnativecrags.
"Ah!really,then,youwantthemtosendusbothto
Bedlam!"
"lhavecountedpositivelyuponyou,mydearDick,
andlhavepickedyououtfromalltherest."
Kennedystoodspeechlesswithamazement.
"Afterlisteningtomefortenminutes,"saidthedoctor,
"youwillthankme!"
"Areyouspeakingseriously?"
"Veryseriously."
"Andsupposethatlrefusetogowithyou?"
"Butyouwon'trefuse."
"But,supposethatlweretorefuse?"
"Well,l'dgoalone."
"Letussitdown,"saidKennedy,"andtalkwithout
excitement.Themomentyougiveupjestingaboutit,
wecandiscussthething."
"Letusdiscussit,then,atbreakfast,ifyouhaveno
objections,mydearDick."
Thetwofriendstooktheirseatsoppositetoeachother,
atalittletablewithaplateoftoastandahugetea-urn
beforethem.
"MydearSamuel,"saidthesportsman,"yourproject
isinsane!itisimpossible!ithasnoresemblanceto
anythingreasonableorpracticable!"
Page18
5wiab10
"That'sforustofindoutwhenweshallhavetriedit!"
"Buttryingitisexactlywhatyououghtnottoattempt."
"Whyso,ifyouplease?"
"Well,therisks,thedifficultyofthething."
"Asfordifficulties,"repliedFerguson,inaserious
tone,"theyweremadetobeovercome;asforrisksand
dangers,whocanflatterhimselfthatheistoescapethem?
Everythinginlifeinvolvesdanger;itmayevenbe
dangeroustositdownatone'sowntable,orto
putone'shatonone'sownhead.Moreover,wemust
lookuponwhatistooccurashavingalreadyoccurred,
andseenothingbutthepresentinthefuture,forthe
futureisbutthepresentalittlefartheron."
"Thereitis!"exclaimedKennedy,withashrug.
"Asgreatafatalistasever!"
"Yes!butinthegoodsenseoftheword.Letusnot
troubleourselves,then,aboutwhatfatehasinstoreforus,
andletusnotforgetourgoodoldEnglishproverb:'The
manwhowasborntobehungwillneverbedrowned!'"
Therewasnoreplytomake,butthatdidnotprevent
Kennedyfromresumingaseriesofargumentswhichmay
bereadilyconjectured,butwhichweretoolongforusto
repeat.
"Well,then,"hesaid,afteranhour'sdiscussion,"if
youareabsolutelydeterminedtomakethistripacrossthe
Africancontinent--ifitisnecessaryforyourhappiness,
whynotpursuetheordinaryroutes?"
"Why?"ejaculatedthedoctor,growinganimated.
"Because,allattemptstodoso,uptothistime,have
utterlyfailed.Because,fromMungoPark,assassinated
ontheNiger,toVogel,whodisappearedintheWadai
country;fromOudney,whodiedatMurmur,andClapperton,
lostatSackatou,totheFrenchmanMaizan,whowascutto
pieces;fromMajorLaing,killedbytheTouaregs,toRoscher,
fromHamburg,massacredinthebeginningof1860,thenames
ofvictimaftervictimhavebeeninscribedonthelistsof
Africanmartyrdom!Because,tocontendsuccessfullyagainst
theelements;againsthunger,andthirst,andfever;against
savagebeasts,andstillmoresavagemen,isimpossible!
Because,whatcannotbedoneinoneway,shouldbetried
inanother.lnfine,becausewhatonecannotpassthrough
directlyinthemiddle,mustbepassedbygoingtooneside
oroverhead!"
"lfpassingoveritweretheonlyquestion!"interposedKennedy;
Page19
5wiab10
"butpassinghighupintheair,doctor,there'stherub!"
"Come,then,"saidthedoctor,"whathaveltofear?
Youwilladmitthatlhavetakenmyprecautionsinsuch
mannerastobecertainthatmyballoonwillnotfall;but,
shoulditdisappointme,lshouldfindmyselfontheground
inthenormalconditionsimposeduponotherexplorers.
But,myballoonwillnotdeceiveme,andweneedmake
nosuchcalculations."
"Yes,butyoumusttakethemintoview."
"No,Dick.lintendnottobeseparatedfrom
theballoonuntillreachthewesterncoastofAfrica.
Withit,everythingispossible;withoutit,lfallback
intothedangersanddifficultiesaswellasthenatural
obstaclesthatordinarilyattendsuchanexpedition:withit,
neitherheat,nortorrents,nortempests,northesimoom,
norunhealthyclimates,norwildanimals,norsavagemen,
aretobefeared!lflfeeltoohot,lcanascend;iftoo
cold,lcancomedown.Shouldtherebeamountain,lcan
passoverit;aprecipice,lcansweepacrossit;ariver,lcan
sailbeyondit;astorm,lcanriseawayaboveit;atorrent,
lcanskimitlikeabird!lcanadvancewithoutfatigue,
lcanhaltwithoutneedofrepose!lcansoarabovethe
nascentcities!lcanspeedonwardwiththerapidityofa
tornado,sometimesattheloftiestheights,sometimesonlya
hundredfeetabovethesoil,whilethemapofAfricaunrolls
itselfbeneathmygazeinthegreatatlasoftheworld."
EventhestubbornKennedybegantofeelmoved,and
yetthespectaclethusconjuredupbeforehimgavehimthe
vertigo.Herivetedhiseyesuponthedoctorwithwonder
andadmiration,andyetwithfear,forhealreadyfelt
himselfswingingaloftinspace.
"Come,come,"saidhe,atlast."Letussee,Samuel.
Thenyouhavediscoveredthemeansofguidingaballoon?"
"Notbyanymeans.ThatisaUtopianidea."
"Then,youwillgo--"
"WhithersoeverProvidencewills;but,atallevents,
fromeasttowest."
"Whyso?"
"Becauselexpecttoavailmyselfofthetrade-winds,
thedirectionofwhichisalwaysthesame."
"Ah!yes,indeed!"saidKennedy,reflecting;"the
trade-winds--yes--truly--onemight--there'ssomething
inthat!"
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5wiab10
"Somethinginit--yes,myexcellentfriend--there's
EVERYTHlNGinit.TheEnglishGovernmenthasplaceda
transportatmydisposal,andthreeorfourvesselsareto
cruiseoffthewesterncoastofAfrica,aboutthepresumed
periodofmyarrival.lnthreemonths,atmost,lshallbe
atZanzibar,wherelwillinflatemyballoon,andfromthat
pointweshalllaunchourselves."
"We!"saidDick.
"Haveyoustillashadowofanobjectiontooffer?
Speak,friendKennedy."
"Anobjection!lhaveathousand;butamongother
things,tellme,ifyouexpecttoseethecountry.lfyou
expecttomountanddescendatpleasure,youcannotdo
so,withoutlosingyourgas.Uptothistimenoother
meanshavebeendevised,anditisthisthathasalways
preventedlongjourneysintheair."
"MydearDick,lhaveonlyonewordtoanswer--l
shallnotloseoneparticleofgas."
"Andyetyoucandescendwhenyouplease?"
"lshalldescendwhenlplease."
"Andhowwillyoudothat?"
"Ah,ha!thereinliesmysecret,friendDick.Have
faith,andletmydevicebeyours--'Excelsior!'"
"'Excelsior'beitthen,"saidthesportsman,whodid
notunderstandawordofLatin.
Buthemadeuphismindtoopposehisfriend'sdeparture
byallmeansinhispower,andsopretendedtogive
in,atthesametimekeepingonthewatch.Asforthe
doctor,hewentondiligentlywithhispreparations.
CHAPTERFOURTH.
AfricanExplorations.--Barth,Richardson,Overweg,Werne,Brun-Rollet,
Penney,Andrea,Debono,Miani,GuillaumeLejean,Bruce,KrapfandRebmann,
Maizan,Roscher,BurtonandSpeke.
TheaeriallinewhichDr.Fergusoncounteduponfollowing
hadnotbeenchosenatrandom;hispointofdeparturehad
beencarefullystudied,anditwasnotwithout
goodcausethathehadresolvedtoascendattheisland
ofZanzibar.Thisisland,lyingneartotheeasterncoast
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5wiab10
ofAfrica,isinthesixthdegreeofsouthlatitude,thatis
tosay,fourhundredandthirtygeographicalmilesbelow
theequator.
Fromthisislandthelatestexpedition,sentbywayof
thegreatlakestoexplorethesourcesoftheNile,hadjust
setout.
Butitwouldbewelltoindicatewhatexplorations
Dr.Fergusonhopedtolinktogether.Thetwoprincipal
oneswerethoseofDr.Barthin1849,andofLieutenants
BurtonandSpekein1858.
Dr.BarthisaHamburger,whoobtainedpermission
forhimselfandforhiscountrymanOverwegtojointhe
expeditionoftheEnglishmanRichardson.Thelatterwas
chargedwithamissionintheSoudan.
Thisvastregionissituatedbetweenthefifteenthand
tenthdegreesofnorthlatitude;thatistosay,that,in
ordertoapproachit,theexplorermustpenetratefifteen
hundredmilesintotheinteriorofAfrica.
Untilthen,thecountryinquestionhadbeenknown
onlythroughthejourneysofDenham,ofClapperton,and
ofOudney,madefrom1822to1824.Richardson,Barth,
andOverweg,jealouslyanxioustopushtheirinvestigations
farther,arrivedatTunisandTripoli,liketheirpredecessors,
andgotasfarasMourzouk,thecapitalofFezzan.
Theythenabandonedtheperpendicularline,andmade
asharpturnwestwardtowardGhat,guided,withdifficulty,
bytheTouaregs.Afterathousandscenesofpillage,of
vexation,andattacksbyarmedforces,theircaravan
arrived,inOctober,atthevastoasisofAsben.Dr.Barth
separatedfromhiscompanions,madeanexcursiontothe
townofAghades,andrejoinedtheexpedition,which
resumeditsmarchonthe12thofDecember.Atlengthit
reachedtheprovinceofDamerghou;therethethreetravellers
parted,andBarthtooktheroadtoKano,wherehe
arrivedbydintofperseverance,andafterpaying
considerabletribute.
lnspiteofanintensefever,hequittedthatplaceon
the7thofMarch,accompaniedbyasingleservant.The
principalaimofhisjourneywastoreconnoitreLakeTchad,
fromwhichhewasstillthreehundredandfiftymilesdistant.
Hethereforeadvancedtowardtheeast,andreached
thetownofZouricolo,intheBornoucountry,whichisthe
coreofthegreatcentralempireofAfrica.Thereheheard
ofthedeathofRichardson,whohadsuccumbedtofatigue
andprivation.HenextarrivedatKouka,thecapitalof
Bornou,onthebordersofthelake.Finally,attheend
ofthreeweeks,onthe14thofApril,twelvemonthsafter
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5wiab10
havingquittedTripoli,hereachedthetownofNgornou.
Wefindhimagainsettingforthonthe29thofMarch,
1851,withOverweg,tovisitthekingdomofAdamaoua,
tothesouthofthelake,andfromtherehepushedonas
farasthetownofYola,alittlebelowninedegreesnorth
latitude.Thiswastheextremesouthernlimitreachedby
thatdaringtraveller.
HereturnedinthemonthofAugusttoKouka;from
therehesuccessivelytraversedtheMandara,Barghimi,
andKlanemcountries,andreachedhisextremelimitin
theeast,thetownofMasena,situatedatseventeen
degreestwentyminuteswestlongitude.
Onthe25thofNovember,1852,afterthedeathof
Overweg,hislastcompanion,heplungedintothewest,
visitedSockoto,crossedtheNiger,andfinallyreached
Timbuctoo,wherehehadtolanguish,duringeightlong
months,undervexationsinflicteduponhimbythesheik,
andallkindsofill-treatmentandwretchedness.Butthe
presenceofaChristianinthecitycouldnotlongbe
tolerated,andtheFoullansthreatenedtobesiegeit.The
doctor,therefore,leftitonthe17thofMarch,1854,and
fledtothefrontier,whereheremainedforthirty-three
daysinthemostabjectdestitution.Hethenmanagedto
getbacktoKanoinNovember,thencetoKouka,where
heresumedDenham'srouteafterfourmonths'delay.He
regainedTripolitowardthecloseofAugust,1855,and
arrivedinLondononthe6thofSeptember,theonly
survivorofhisparty.
SuchwastheventuresomejourneyofDr.Barth.
Dr.Fergusoncarefullynotedthefact,thathehad
stoppedatfourdegreesnorthlatitudeandseventeen
degreeswestlongitude.
NowletusseewhatLieutenantsBurtonandSpeke
accomplishedinEasternAfrica.
ThevariousexpeditionsthathadascendedtheNile
couldnevermanagetoreachthemysterioussourceofthat
river.AccordingtothenarrativeoftheGermandoctor,
FerdinandWerne,theexpeditionattemptedin1840,under
theauspicesofMehemetAli,stoppedatGondokoro,
betweenthefourthandfifthparallelsofnorthlatitude.
ln1855,Brun-Rollet,anativeofSavoy,appointed
consulforSardiniainEasternSoudan,totaketheplace
ofVaudey,whohadjustdied,setoutfromKarthoum,
and,underthenameofYacoubthemerchant,tradingin
gumsandivory,gotasfarasBelenia,beyondthefourth
degree,buthadtoreturninill-healthtoKarthoum,where
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5wiab10
hediedin1857.
NeitherDr.Penney--theheadoftheEgyptianmedical
service,who,inasmallsteamer,penetratedonedegree
beyondGondokoro,andthencamebacktodieofexhaustion
atKarthoum--norMiani,theVenetian,who,turningthe
cataractsbelowGondokoro,reachedthesecondparallel--
northeMaltesetrader,AndreaDebono,whopushedhis
journeyuptheNilestillfarther--couldworktheirway
beyondtheapparentlyimpassablelimit.
ln1859,M.GuillaumeLejean,intrustedwithamission
bytheFrenchGovernment,reachedKarthoumby
wayoftheRedSea,andembarkedupontheNilewitha
retinueoftwenty-onehiredmenandtwentysoldiers,but
hecouldnotgetpastGondokoro,andranextremeriskof
hislifeamongthenegrotribes,whowereinfullrevolt.
TheexpeditiondirectedbyM.d'EscayracdeLauture
madeanequallyunsuccessfulattempttoreachthefamous
sourcesoftheNile.
Thisfatallimitinvariablybroughteverytravellertoa
halt.lnancienttimes,theambassadorsofNeroreached
theninthdegreeoflatitude,butineighteencenturiesonly
fromfivetosixdegrees,orfromthreehundredtothree
hundredandsixtygeographicalmiles,weregained.
Manytravellersendeavoredtoreachthesourcesofthe
Nilebytakingtheirpointofdepartureontheeastern
coastofAfrica.
Between1768and1772theScotchtraveller,Bruce,
setoutfromMassowah,aportofAbyssinia,traversedthe
Tigre,visitedtheruinsofAxum,sawthesourcesofthe
Nilewheretheydidnotexist,andobtainednoseriousresult.
ln1844,Dr.Krapf,anAnglicanmissionary,founded
anestablishmentatMonbaz,onthecoastofZanguebar,
and,incompanywiththeRev.Dr.Rebmann,discovered
twomountain-rangesthreehundredmilesfromthecoast.
ThesewerethemountainsofKilimandjaroandKenia,
whichMessrs.deHeuglinandThorntonhavepartlyscaled
sorecently.
ln1845,Maizan,theFrenchexplorer,disembarked,
alone,atBagamayo,directlyoppositetoZanzibar,and
gotasfarasDeje-la-Mhora,wherethechiefcausedhim
tobeputtodeathinthemostcrueltorment.
ln1859,inthemonthofAugust,theyoungtraveller,
Roscher,fromHamburg,setoutwithacaravanofArab
merchants,reachedLakeNyassa,andwasthereassassinated
whileheslept.
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5wiab10
Finally,in1857,LieutenantsBurtonandSpeke,both
officersintheBengalarmy,weresentbytheLondon
GeographicalSocietytoexplorethegreatAfricanlakes,
andonthe17thofJunetheyquittedZanzibar,and
plungeddirectlyintothewest.
Afterfourmonthsofincrediblesuffering,theirbaggage
havingbeenpillaged,andtheirattendantsbeaten
andslain,theyarrivedatKazeh,asortofcentral
rendezvousfortradersandcaravans.Theywereinthe
midstofthecountryoftheMoon,andtheretheycollected
somepreciousdocumentsconcerningthemanners,government,
religion,fauna,andfloraoftheregion.Theynext
madeforthefirstofthegreatlakes,theonenamed
Tanganayika,situatedbetweenthethirdandeighthdegrees
ofsouthlatitude.Theyreacheditonthe14thofFebruary,
1858,andvisitedthevarioustribesresidingonits
banks,themostofwhomarecannibals.
Theydepartedagainonthe26thofMay,andreentered
Kazehonthe20thofJune.ThereBurton,who
wascompletelywornout,layillforseveralmonths,
duringwhichtimeSpekemadeapushtothenorthward
ofmorethanthreehundredmiles,goingasfarasLake
Okeracua,whichhecameinsightofonthe3dofAugust;
buthecoulddescryonlytheopeningofitatlatitude
twodegreesthirtyminutes.
HereachedKazeh,onhisreturn,onthe25thofAugust,
and,incompanywithBurton,againtookupthe
routetoZanzibar,wheretheyarrivedinthemonthof
Marchinthefollowingyear.Thesetwodaringexplorers
thenreembarkedforEngland;andtheGeographical
SocietyofParisdecreedthemitsannualprizemedal.
Dr.Fergusoncarefullyremarkedthattheyhadnot
gonebeyondtheseconddegreeofsouthlatitude,northe
twenty-ninthofeastlongitude.
Theproblem,therefore,washowtolinktheexplorations
ofBurtonandSpekewiththoseofDr.Barth,since
todosowastoundertaketotraverseanextentofmore
thantwelvedegreesofterritory.
CHAPTERFlFTH.
Kennedy'sDreams.--ArticlesandPronounsinthePlural.--Dick'slnsinuations.
--APromenadeovertheMapofAfrica.--Whatiscontainedbetweentwo
PointsoftheCompass.--Expeditionsnowonfoot.--SpekeandGrant.--Krapf,
DeDecken,andDeHeuglin.
Dr.Fergusonenergeticallypushedthepreparations
Page25
5wiab10
forhisdeparture,andinpersonsuperintendedthe
constructionofhisballoon,withcertainmodifications;in
regardtowhichheobservedthemostabsolutesilence.
Foralongtimepasthehadbeenapplyinghimselftothe
studyoftheArablanguageandthevariousMandingoe
idioms,and,thankstohistalentsasapolyglot,hehad
maderapidprogress.
lnthemeanwhilehisfriend,thesportsman,neverlet
himoutofhissight--afraid,nodoubt,thatthedoctor
mighttakehisdeparture,withoutsayingawordtoanybody.
Onthissubject,heregaledhimwiththemost
persuasivearguments,which,however,didNOTpersuade
SamuelFerguson,andwastedhisbreathinpathetic
entreaties,bywhichthelatterseemedtobebutslightly
moved.lnfine,Dickfeltthatthedoctorwasslipping
throughhisfingers.
ThepoorScotwasreallytobepitied.Hecouldnotlook
upontheazurevaultwithoutasombreterror:whenasleep,
hefeltoscillationsthatmadehisheadreel;andevery
nighthehadvisionsofbeingswungaloftatimmeasurableheights.
Wemustaddthat,duringthesefearfulnightmares,
heonceortwicefelloutofbed.Hisfirstcarethenwas
toshowFergusonaseverecontusionthathehadreceived
onthecranium."Andyet,"hewouldadd,with
warmth,"thatwasattheheightofonlythreefeet--not
aninchmore--andsuchabumpasthis!Onlythink,then!"
Thisinsinuation,fullofsadmeaningasitwas,didnot
seemtotouchthedoctor'sheart.
"We'llnotfall,"washisinvariablereply.
"But,still,supposethatweWEREtofall!"
"WewillNOTfall!"
Thiswasdecisive,andKennedyhadnothingmoretosay.
WhatparticularlyexasperatedDickwas,thatthedoctor
seemedcompletelytolosesightofhispersonality--
ofhis--Kennedy's--andtolookuponhimasirrevocably
destinedtobecomehisaerialcompanion.Noteventhe
shadowofadoubtwaseversuggested;andSamuelmade
anintolerablemisuseofthefirstpersonplural:
"'We'aregettingalong;'we'shallbereadyon
the----;'we'shallstartonthe----,"etc.,etc.
Andthentherewasthesingularpossessiveadjective:
"'Our'balloon;'our'car;'our'expedition."
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5wiab10
Andthesameintheplural,too:
"'Our'preparations;'our'discoveries;'our'ascensions."
Dickshudderedatthem,althoughhewasdetermined
nottogo;buthedidnotwanttoannoyhisfriend.Let
usalsodisclosethefactthat,withoutknowingexactly
whyhimself,hehadsenttoEdinburghforacertain
selectionofheavyclothing,andhisbesthunting-gearand
fire-arms.
Oneday,afterhavingadmittedthat,withanoverwhelming
runofgood-luck,thereMlGHTbeonechanceof
successinathousand,hepretendedtoyieldentirelyto
thedoctor'swishes;but,inordertostillputoffthe
journey,heopenedthemostvariedseriesofsubterfuges.He
threwhimselfbackuponquestioningtheutilityofthe
expedition--itsopportuneness,etc.Thisdiscoveryofthe
sourcesoftheNile,wasitlikelytobeofanyuse?--Would
onehavereallylaboredforthewelfareofhumanity?--
When,afterall,theAfricantribesshouldhavebeencivilized,
wouldtheybeanyhappier?--Werefolkscertain
thatcivilizationhadnotitschosenabodethererather
thaninEurope?--Perhaps!--Andthen,couldn'tonewait
alittlelonger?--ThetripacrossAfricawouldcertainly
beaccomplishedsomeday,andinalesshazardousmanner.--
lnanothermonth,orinsixmonthsbeforetheyear
wasover,someexplorerwouldundoubtedlycomein--etc.,etc.
Thesehintsproducedaneffectexactlyoppositeto
whatwasdesiredorintended,andthedoctortrembled
withimpatience.
"Areyouwilling,then,wretchedDick--areyouwilling,
falsefriend--thatthisgloryshouldbelongtoanother?
Mustlthenbeuntruetomypasthistory;recoilbefore
obstaclesthatarenotserious;requitewithcowardly
hesitationwhatboththeEnglishGovernmentandthe
RoyalSocietyofLondonhavedoneforme?"
"But,"resumedKennedy,whomadegreatuseofthat
conjunction.
"But,"saidthedoctor,"areyounotawarethatmy
journeyistocompetewiththesuccessoftheexpeditions
nowonfoot?Don'tyouknowthatfreshexplorersare
advancingtowardthecentreofAfrica?"
"Still--"
"Listentome,Dick,"andcastyoureyesoverthatmap."
Dickglancedoverit,withresignation.
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5wiab10
"Now,ascendthecourseoftheNile."
"lhaveascendedit,"repliedtheScotchman,with
docility.
"StopatGondokoro."
"lamthere."
AndKennedythoughttohimselfhoweasysuchatrip
was--onthemap!
"Now,takeoneofthepointsofthesedividersandletitrest
uponthatplacebeyondwhichthemostdaringexplorershave
scarcelygone."
"lhavedoneso."
"AndnowlookalongthecoastfortheislandofZanzibar,
inlatitudesixdegreessouth."
"lhaveit."
"Now,followthesameparallelandarriveatKazeh."
"lhavedoneso."
"Runupagainalongthethirty-thirddegreeoflongitude
totheopeningofLakeOukereoue,atthepointwhere
LieutenantSpekehadtohalt."
"lamthere;alittlemore,andlshouldhavetumbled
intothelake."
"Verygood!Now,doyouknowwhatwehavethe
righttosuppose,accordingtotheinformationgivenby
thetribesthatlivealongitsshores?"
"lhaven'ttheleastidea."
"Why,thatthislake,thelowerextremityofwhichis
intwodegreesandthirtyminutes,mustextendalsotwo
degreesandahalfabovetheequator."
"Really!"
"Wellfromthisnorthernextremitythereflowsa
streamwhichmustnecessarilyjointheNile,ifitbenot
theNileitself."
"Thatis,indeed,curious."
"Then,lettheotherpointofyourdividersrestupon
Page28
5wiab10
thatextremityofLakeOukereoue."
"ltisdone,friendFerguson."
"Now,howmanydegreescanyoucountbetweenthe
twopoints?"
"Scarcelytwo."
"Anddoyouknowwhatthatmeans,Dick?"
"Nottheleastintheworld."
"Why,thatmakesscarcelyonehundredandtwenty
miles--inotherwords,anothing."
"Almostnothing,Samuel."
"Well,doyouknowwhatistakingplaceatthismoment?"
"No,uponmyhonor,ldonot."
"Verywell,then,l'lltellyou.TheGeographicalSociety
regardasveryimportanttheexplorationofthislake
ofwhichSpekecaughtaglimpse.Undertheirauspices,
Lieutenant(nowCaptain)Spekehasassociatedwithhim
CaptainGrant,ofthearmyinlndia;theyhaveputthemselves
attheheadofanumerousandwell-equippedexpedition;
theirmissionistoascendthelakeandreturnto
Gondokoro;theyhavereceivedasubsidyofmorethan
fivethousandpounds,andtheGovernoroftheCapeof
GoodHopehasplacedHottentotsoldiersattheirdisposal;
theysetoutfromZanzibaratthecloseofOctober,1860.
lnthemeanwhileJohnPetherick,theEnglishconsulat
thecityofKarthoum,hasreceivedaboutsevenhundred
poundsfromtheforeignoffice;heistoequipasteamerat
Karthoum,stockitwithsufficientprovisions,andmakehis
waytoGondokoro;there,hewillawaitCaptainSpeke's
caravan,andbeabletoreplenishitssuppliestosomeextent."
"Wellplanned,"saidKennedy.
"Youcaneasilysee,then,thattimepressesifweare
totakepartintheseexploringlabors.Andthatisnot
all,since,whilesomearethusadvancingwithsuresteps
tothediscoveryofthesourcesoftheNile,othersare
penetratingtotheveryheartofAfrica."
"Onfoot?"saidKennedy.
"Yes,onfoot,"rejoinedthedoctor,withoutnoticing
theinsinuation."DoctorKrapfproposestopushforward,
inthewest,bywayoftheDjob,ariverlyingunderthe
equator.BarondeDeckenhasalreadysetoutfrom
Page29
5wiab10
Monbaz,hasreconnoitredthemountainsofKenaiaand
Kilimandjaro,andisnowplungingintowardthecentre."
"Butallthistimeonfoot?"
"Onfootoronmules."
"Exactlythesame,sofaraslamconcerned,"ejaculatedKennedy.
"Lastly,"resumedthedoctor,"M.deHeuglin,the
Austrianvice-consulatKarthoum,hasjustorganizeda
veryimportantexpedition,thefirstaimofwhichisto
searchforthetravellerVogel,who,in1853,wassentinto
theSoudantoassociatehimselfwiththelaborsofDr.
Barth.ln1856,hequittedBornou,anddeterminedto
exploretheunknowncountrythatliesbetweenLakeTchad
andDarfur.Nothinghasbeenseenofhimsincethat
time.LettersthatwerereceivedinAlexandria,in1860,
saidthathewaskilledattheorderoftheKingofWadai;
butotherletters,addressedbyDr.Hartmanntothetraveller's
father,relatethat,accordingtotherecitalofafelatah
ofBornou,Vogelwasmerelyheldasaprisonerat
Wara.Allhopeisnotthenlost.Hence,acommittee
hasbeenorganizedunderthepresidencyoftheRegentof
Saxe-Cogurg-Gotha;myfriendPetermannisitssecretary;
anationalsubscriptionhasprovidedfortheexpense
oftheexpedition,whosestrengthhasbeenincreased
bythevoluntaryaccessionofseverallearnedmen,and
M.deHeuglinsetoutfromMassowah,inthemonthof
June.WhileengagedinlookingforVogel,heisalsoto
exploreallthecountrybetweentheNileandLakeTchad,
thatistosay,toknittogethertheoperationsofCaptain
SpekeandthoseofDr.Barth,andthenAfricawillhave
beentraversedfromeasttowest."*
*AfterthedepartureofDr.Ferguson,itwasascertainedthat
M.deHeuglin,owingtosomedisagreement,tookaroutedifferent
fromtheoneassignedtohisexpedition,thecommandofthelatter
havingbeentransferredtoMr.Muntzinger.
"Well,"saidthecannyScot,"sinceeverythingis
gettingonsowell,what'stheuseofourgoingdownthere?"
Dr.Fergusonmadenoreply,butcontentedhimself
withasignificantshrugoftheshoulders.
CHAPTERSlXTH.
AServant--matchhim!--HecanseetheSatellitesofJupiter.--Dick
andJoehardatit.--DoubtandFaith.--TheWeighingCeremony.--Joe
andWellington.--HegetsaHalf-crown.
Page30
5wiab10
Dr.Fergusonhadaservantwhoansweredwithalacrityto
thenameofJoe.Hewasanexcellentfellow,whotestified
themostabsoluteconfidenceinhismaster,andthemost
unlimiteddevotiontohisinterests,evenanticipating
hiswishesandorders,whichwerealwaysintelligently
executed.lnfine,hewasaCalebwithoutthe
growling,andaperfectpatternofconstantgood-humor.
Hadhebeenmadeonpurposefortheplace,itcouldnot
havebeenbetterdone.Fergusonputhimselfentirelyin
hishands,sofarastheordinarydetailsofexistencewere
concerned,andhedidwell.lncomparable,whole-souled
Joe!aservantwhoordersyourdinner;wholikeswhat
youlike;whopacksyourtrunk,withoutforgettingyour
socksoryourlinen;whohaschargeofyourkeysandyour
secrets,andtakesnoadvantageofallthis!
Butthen,whatamanthedoctorwasintheeyesof
thisworthyJoe!Withwhatrespectandwhatconfidence
thelatterreceivedallhisdecisions!WhenFergusonhad
spoken,hewouldbeafoolwhoshouldattempttoquestion
thematter.Everythinghethoughtwasexactlyright;
everythinghesaid,theperfectionofwisdom;everything
heorderedtobedone,quitefeasible;allthatheundertook,
practicable;allthatheaccomplished,admirable.
YoumighthavecutJoetopieces--notanagreeable
operation,tobesure--andyethewouldnothavealtered
hisopinionofhismaster.
So,whenthedoctorconceivedtheprojectofcrossing
Africathroughtheair,forJoethethingwasalready
done;obstaclesnolongerexisted;fromthemomentwhen
thedoctorhadmadeuphismindtostart,hehadarrived
--alongwithhisfaithfulattendant,too,forthenoble
fellowknew,withoutawordutteredaboutit,thathewould
beoneoftheparty.
Moreover,hewasjustthemantorenderthegreatest
servicebyhisintelligenceandhiswonderfulagility.Had
theoccasionarisentonameaprofessorofgymnasticsfor
themonkeysintheZoologicalGarden(whoaresmart
enough,by-the-way!),Joewouldcertainlyhavereceived
theappointment.Leaping,climbing,almostflying--
thesewereallsporttohim.
lfFergusonwastheheadandKennedythearm,Joe
wastobetherighthandoftheexpedition.Hehad,
already,accompaniedhismasteronseveraljourneys,and
hadasmatteringofscienceappropriatetohiscondition
andstyleofmind,buthewasespeciallyremarkablefora
sortofmildphilosophy,acharmingturnofoptimism.ln
hissighteverythingwaseasy,logical,natural,and,
consequently,hecouldseenouseincomplainingorgrumbling.
Amongothergifts,hepossessedastrengthandrange
Page31
5wiab10
ofvisionthatwereperfectlysurprising.Heenjoyed,in
commonwithMoestlin,Kepler'sprofessor,therarefaculty
ofdistinguishingthesatellitesofJupiterwiththenaked
eye,andofcountingfourteenofthestarsinthegroupof
Pleiades,theremotestofthembeingonlyoftheninth
magnitude.Hepresumednonethemoreforthat;onthe
contrary,hemadehisbowtoyou,atadistance,andwhen
occasionarosehebravelyknewhowtousehiseyes.
WithsuchprofoundfaithasJoefeltinthedoctor,it
isnottobewonderedatthatincessantdiscussionssprang
upbetweenhimandKennedy,withoutanylackofrespect
tothelatter,however.
Onedoubted,theotherbelieved;onehadaprudentforesight,
theotherblindconfidence.Thedoctor,however,vibrated
betweendoubtandconfidence;thatistosay,hetroubled
hisheadwithneitheronenortheother.
"Well,Mr.Kennedy,"Joewouldsay.
"Well,myboy?"
"Themoment'sathand.ltseemsthatwearetosail
forthemoon."
"YoumeantheMountainsoftheMoon,whicharenot
quitesofaroff.But,nevermind,onetripisjustas
dangerousastheother!"
"Dangerous!What!withamanlikeDr.Ferguson?"
"ldon'twanttospoilyourillusions,mygoodJoe;
butthisundertakingofhisisnothingmorenorlessthan
theactofamadman.Hewon'tgo,though!"
"Hewon'tgo,eh?Thenyouhaven'tseenhisballoon
atMitchell'sfactoryintheBorough?"
"l'lltakepreciousgoodcaretokeepawayfromit!"
"Well,you'llloseafinesight,sir.Whatasplendid
thingitis!Whataprettyshape!Whatanicecar!
Howsnugwe'llfeelinit!"
"Thenyoureallythinkofgoingwithyourmaster?"
"l?"answeredJoe,withanaccentofprofoundconviction.
"Why,l'dgowithhimwhereverhepleases!
Whoeverheardofsuchathing?Leavehimtogooff
alone,afterwe'vebeenallovertheworldtogether!Who
wouldhelphim,whenhewastired?Whowouldgive
himahandinclimbingovertherocks?Whowould
attendhimwhenhewassick?No,Mr.Kennedy,Joewill
Page32
5wiab10
alwayssticktothedoctor!"
"You'reafinefellow,Joe!"
"But,then,you'recomingwithus!"
"Oh!certainly,"saidKennedy;"thatistosay,l
willgowithyouuptothelastmoment,topreventSamuel
eventhenfrombeingguiltyofsuchanactoffolly!l
willfollowhimasfarasZanzibar,soastostophimthere,
ifpossible."
"You'llstopnothingatall,Mr.Kennedy,withallrespect
toyou,sir.Mymasterisnohare-brainedperson;
hetakesalongtimetothinkoverwhathemeanstodo,
andthen,whenheoncegetsstarted,theEvilOnehimself
couldn'tmakehimgiveitup."
"Well,we'llseeaboutthat."
"Don'tflatteryourself,sir--butthen,themainthing
is,tohaveyouwithus.Forahunterlikeyou,sir,
Africa'sagreatcountry.So,eitherway,youwon'tbe
sorryforthetrip."
"No,that'safact,lshan'tbesorryforit,iflcanget
thiscrazymantogiveuphisscheme."
"By-the-way,"saidJoe,"youknowthattheweighing
comesoffto-day."
"Theweighing--whatweighing?"
"Why,mymaster,andyou,andl,arealltobe
weighedto-day!"
"What!likehorse-jockeys?"
"Yes,likejockeys.Only,neverfear,youwon'tbe
expectedtomakeyourselflean,ifyou'refoundtobe
heavy.You'llgoasyouare."
"Well,lcantellyou,lamnotgoingtoletmyselfbe
weighed,"saidKennedy,firmly.
"But,sir,itseemsthatthedoctor'smachinerequiresit."
"Well,hismachinewillhavetodowithoutit."
"Humph!andsupposethatitcouldn'tgoup,then?"
"Egad!that'salllwant!"
"Come!come,Mr.Kennedy!Mymasterwillbesending
Page33
5wiab10
forusdirectly."
"lshan'tgo."
"Oh!now,youwon'tvexthedoctorinthatway!"
"Aye!thatlwill."
"Well!"saidJoewithalaugh,"yousaythatbecause
he'snothere;butwhenhesaystoyourface,'Dick!'
(withallrespecttoyou,sir,)'Dick,lwanttoknow
exactlyhowmuchyouweigh,'you'llgo,lwarrantit."
"No,lwillNOTgo!"
Atthismomentthedoctorenteredhisstudy,where
thisdiscussionhadbeentakingplace;and,ashecame
in,castaglanceatKennedy,whodidnotfeelaltogether
athisease.
"Dick,"saidthedoctor,"comewithJoe;lwantto
knowhowmuchyoubothweigh."
"But--"
"Youmaykeepyourhaton.Come!"AndKennedywent.
Theyrepairedincompanytotheworkshopofthe
Messrs.Mitchell,whereoneofthoseso-called"Roman"
scaleswasinreadiness.ltwasnecessary,bytheway,
forthedoctortoknowtheweightofhiscompanions,so
astofixtheequilibriumofhisballoon;sohemadeDick
getupontheplatformofthescales.Thelatter,without
makinganyresistance,said,inanundertone:
"Oh!well,thatdoesn'tbindmetoanything."
"Onehundredandfifty-threepounds,"saidthedoctor,
notingitdownonhistablets.
"Amltooheavy?"
"Why,no,Mr.Kennedy!"saidJoe;"andthen,you
know,lamlighttomakeupforit."
Sosaying,Joe,withenthusiasm,tookhisplaceonthe
scales,andverynearlyupsettheminhisreadyhaste.
HestrucktheattitudeofWellingtonwhereheismadeto
apeAchilles,atHyde-Parkentrance,andwassuperbin
it,withouttheshield.
"Onehundredandtwentypounds,"wrotethedoctor.
"Ah!ha!"saidJoe,withasmileofsatisfaction
Page34
5wiab10
Andwhydidhesmile?Henevercouldtellhimself.
"lt'smyturnnow,"saidFerguson--andheputdown
onehundredandthirty-fivepoundstohisownaccount.
"Allthreeofus,"saidhe,"donotweighmuchmore
thanfourhundredpounds."
"But,sir,"saidJoe,"ifitwasnecessaryforyour
expedition,lcouldmakemyselfthinnerbytwentypounds,
bynoteatingsomuch."
"Useless,myboy!"repliedthedoctor."Youmay
eatasmuchasyoulike,andhere'shalf-a-crowntobuy
youtheballast."
CHAPTERSEVENTH.
GeometricalDetails.--CalculationoftheCapacityoftheBalloon.--The
DoubleReceptacle.--TheCovering.--TheCar.--TheMysteriousApparatus.
--TheProvisionsandStores.--TheFinalSummingup.
Dr.Fergusonhadlongbeenengageduponthedetails
ofhisexpedition.ltiseasytocomprehendthattheballoon
--thatmarvellousvehiclewhichwastoconveyhim
throughtheair--wastheconstantobjectofhissolicitude.
Attheoutset,inordernottogivetheballoontoo
ponderousdimensions,hehaddecidedtofillitwith
hydrogengas,whichisfourteenandahalftimeslighter
thancommonair.Theproductionofthisgasiseasy,
andithasgiventhegreatestsatisfactionhithertoin
aerostaticexperiments.
Thedoctor,accordingtoveryaccuratecalculations,
foundthat,includingthearticlesindispensabletohis
journeyandhisapparatus,heshouldhavetocarryaweight
of4,000pounds;thereforehehadtofindoutwhatwould
betheascensionalforceofaballooncapableofraisingsuch
aweight,and,consequently,whatwouldbeitscapacity.
Aweightoffourthousandpoundsisrepresentedby
adisplacementoftheairamountingtoforty-fourthousand
eighthundredandforty-sevencubicfeet;or,inother
words,forty-fourthousandeighthundredandforty-seven
cubicfeetofairweighaboutfourthousandpounds.
Bygivingtheballoonthesecubicdimensions,andfilling
itwithhydrogengas,insteadofcommonair--theformer
beingfourteenandahalftimeslighterandweighing
thereforeonlytwohundredandseventy-sixpounds--a
differenceofthreethousandsevenhundredandtwenty-four
Page35
5wiab10
poundsinequilibriumisproduced;anditisthis
differencebetweentheweightofthegascontainedinthe
balloonandtheweightofthesurroundingatmosphere
thatconstitutestheascensionalforceoftheformer.
However,weretheforty-fourthousandeighthundred
andforty-sevencubicfeetofgasofwhichwespeak,all
introducedintotheballoon,itwouldbeentirelyfilled;
butthatwouldnotdo,because,astheballooncontinued
tomountintothemorerarefiedlayersoftheatmosphere,
thegaswithinwoulddilate,andsoonburstthecover
containingit.Balloons,then,areusuallyonlytwo-thirds
filled.
Butthedoctor,incarryingoutaprojectknownonly
tohimself,resolvedtofillhisballoononlyone-half;and,
sincehehadtocarryforty-fourthousandeighthundred
andforty-sevencubicfeetofgas,togivehisballoon
nearlydoublecapacityhearrangeditinthatelongated,
ovalshapewhichhascometobepreferred.Thehorizontal
diameterwasfiftyfeet,andtheverticaldiameter
seventy-fivefeet.Hethusobtainedaspheroid,the
capacityofwhichamounted,inroundnumbers,toninety
thousandcubicfeet.
CouldDr.Fergusonhaveusedtwoballoons,hischances
ofsuccesswouldhavebeenincreased;for,shouldone
burstintheair,hecould,bythrowingoutballast,keep
himselfupwiththeother.Butthemanagementoftwo
balloonswould,necessarily,beverydifficult,inviewof
theproblemhowtokeepthembothatanequalascensionalforce.
Afterhavingponderedthemattercarefully,Dr.Ferguson,
byaningeniousarrangement,combinedtheadvantagesof
twoballoons,withoutincurringtheirinconveniences.He
constructedtwoofdifferentsizes,andinclosedthe
smallerinthelargerone.Hisexternalballoon,which
hadthedimensionsgivenabove,containedalessoneof
thesameshape,whichwasonlyforty-fivefeetin
horizontal,andsixty-eightfeetinverticaldiameter.The
capacityofthisinteriorballoonwasonlysixty-seven
thousandcubicfeet:itwastofloatinthefluidsurrounding
it.Avalveopenedfromoneballoonintotheother,
andthusenabledtheaeronauttocommunicatewithboth.
Thisarrangementofferedtheadvantage,thatifgas
hadtobeletoff,soastodescend,thatwhichwasinthe
outerballoonwouldgofirst;and,wereitcompletely
emptied,thesmalleronewouldstillremainintact.The
outerenvelopemightthenbecastoffasauselessencumbrance;
andthesecondballoon,leftfreetoitself,wouldnotoffer
thesameholdtothecurrentsofairasahalf-inflatedone
mustneedspresent.
Page36
5wiab10
Moreover,incaseofanaccidenthappeningtotheoutside
balloon,suchasgettingtorn,forinstance,theother
wouldremainintact.
TheballoonsweremadeofastrongbutlightLyonssilk,
coatedwithguttapercha.Thisgummy,resinoussubstance
isabsolutelywater-proof,andalsoresistsacidsandgas
perfectly.Thesilkwasdoubled,attheupperextremityof
theoval,wheremostofthestrainwouldcome.
Suchanenvelopeasthiscouldretaintheinflating
fluidforanylengthoftime.ltweighedhalfapoundper
ninesquarefeet.Hencethesurfaceoftheoutsideballoon
beingabouteleventhousandsixhundredsquarefeet,its
envelopeweighedsixhundredandfiftypounds.Theenvelope
ofthesecondorinnerballoon,havingninethousandtwo
hundredsquarefeetofsurface,weighedonlyaboutfive
hundredandtenpounds,orsayelevenhundredandsixty
poundsforboth.
Thenetworkthatsupportedthecarwasmadeofvery
stronghempencord,andthetwovalvesweretheobject
ofthemostminuteandcarefulattention,astherudderof
ashipwouldbe.
Thecar,whichwasofacircularformandfifteenfeet
indiameter,wasmadeofwicker-work,strengthenedwith
aslightcoveringofiron,andprotectedbelowbyasystem
ofelasticsprings,todeadentheshockofcollision.lts
weight,alongwiththatofthenetwork,didnotexceed
twohundredandfiftypounds.
lnadditiontotheabove,thedoctorcausedtobeconstructed
twosheet-ironcheststwolinesinthickness.Thesewere
connectedbymeansofpipesfurnishedwithstopcocks.He
joinedtotheseaspiral,twoinchesindiameter,which
terminatedintwobranchpiecesofunequallength,the
longerofwhich,however,wastwenty-fivefeetinheight
andtheshorteronlyfifteenfeet.
Thesesheet-ironchestswereembeddedinthecarin
suchawayastotakeuptheleastpossibleamountof
space.Thespiral,whichwasnottobeadjusteduntil
somefuturemoment,waspackedup,separately,along
withaverystrongBuntzenelectricbattery.Thisapparatus
hadbeensoingeniouslycombinedthatitdidnot
weighmorethansevenhundredpounds,evenincluding
twenty-fivegallonsofwaterinanotherreceptacle.
Theinstrumentsprovidedforthejourneyconsistedof
twobarometers,twothermometers,twocompasses,asextant,
twochronometers,anartificialhorizon,andanaltazimuth,
tothrowouttheheightofdistantandinaccessibleobjects.
Page37
5wiab10
TheGreenwichObservatoryhadplaceditselfatthe
doctor'sdisposal.Thelatter,however,didnotintendto
makeexperimentsinphysics;hemerelywantedtobe
abletoknowinwhatdirectionhewaspassing,andto
determinethepositionoftheprincipalrivers,mountains,
andtowns.
Healsoprovidedhimselfwiththreethoroughlytested
ironanchors,andalightbutstrongsilkladderfiftyfeet
inlength.
Heatthesametimecarefullyweighedhisstoresof
provision,whichconsistedoftea,coffee,biscuit,salted
meat,andpemmican,apreparationwhichcomprisesmany
nutritiveelementsinasmallspace.Besidesasufficient
stockofpurebrandy,hearrangedtwowater-tanks,each
ofwhichcontainedtwenty-twogallons.
Theconsumptionofthesearticleswouldnecessarily,
littlebylittle,diminishtheweighttobesustained,forit
mustberememberedthattheequilibriumofaballoon
floatingintheatmosphereisextremelysensitive.The
lossofanalmostinsignificantweightsufficestoproducea
verynoticeabledisplacement.
Nordidthedoctorforgetanawningtoshelterthe
car,northecoveringsandblanketsthatweretobethe
beddingofthejourney,norsomefowlingpiecesandrifles,
withtheirrequisitesupplyofpowderandball.
Hereisthesummingupofhisvariousitems,andtheir
weight,ashecomputedit:
Ferguson...........................135pounds.
Kennedy............................153"
Joe................................120"
Weightoftheoutsideballoon......650"
Weightofthesecondballoon.......510"
Carandnetwork....................280"
Anchors,instruments,awnings,
andsundryutensils,guns,
coverings,etc...................190"
Meat,pemmican,biscuits,tea,
coffee,brandy...................386"
Water..............................400"
Apparatus..........................700"
Weightofthehydrogen.............276"
Ballast............................200"
-----
4,000pounds.
SuchweretheitemsofthefourthousandpoundsthatDr.
Fergusonproposedtocarryupwithhim.Hetookonlytwo
hundredpoundsofballastfor"unforeseenemergencies,"
Page38
5wiab10
asheremarked,sinceotherwisehedidnotexpecttouse
any,thankstothepeculiarityofhisapparatus.
CHAPTERElGHTH.
Joe'slmportance.--TheCommanderoftheResolute.--Kennedy's
Arsenal.--MutualAmenities.--TheFarewellDinner.--Departure
onthe21stofFebruary.--TheDoctor'sScientificSessions.--
Duveyrier.--Livingstone.--DetailsoftheAerialVoyage.--Kennedy
silenced.
Aboutthe10thofFebruary,thepreparationswere
prettywellcompleted;andtheballoons,firmlysecured,
onewithintheother,werealtogetherfinished.Theyhad
beensubjectedtoapowerfulpneumaticpressureinall
parts,andthetestgaveexcellentevidenceoftheirsolidity
andofthecareappliedintheirconstruction.
Joehardlyknewwhathewasabout,withdelight.He
trottedincessantlytoandfrobetweenhishomeinGreek
Street,andtheMitchellestablishment,alwaysfullofbusiness,
butalwaysinthehighestspirits,givingdetailsofthe
affairtopeoplewhodidnotevenaskhim,soproudwas
he,aboveallthings,ofbeingpermittedtoaccompanyhis
master.lhaveevenashrewdsuspicionthatwhatwith
showingtheballoon,explainingtheplansandviewsofthe
doctor,givingfolksaglimpseofthelatter,througha
half-openedwindow,orpointinghimoutashepassedalong
thestreets,thecleverscampearnedafewhalf-crowns,but
wemustnotfindfaultwithhimforthat.Hehadas
muchrightasanybodyelsetospeculateupontheadmiration
andcuriosityofhiscontemporaries.
Onthe16thofFebruary,theResolutecastanchornear
Greenwich.Shewasascrewpropellerofeighthundred
tons,afastsailer,andtheveryvesselthathadbeensent
outtothepolarregions,torevictualthelastexpedition
ofSirJamesRoss.Hercommander,CaptainBennet,had
thenameofbeingaveryamiableperson,andhetooka
particularinterestinthedoctor'sexpedition,havingbeen
oneofthatgentleman'sadmirersforalongtime.Bennet
wasratheramanofsciencethanamanofwar,which
didnot,however,preventhisvesselfromcarryingfour
carronades,thathadneverhurtanybody,tobesure,but
hadperformedthemostpacificdutyintheworld.
TheholdoftheResolutewassoarrangedastofinda
stowing-placefortheballoon.Thelatterwasshipped
withthegreatestprecautiononthe18thofFebruary,and
wasthencarefullydepositedatthebottomofthevesselin
suchawayastopreventaccident.Thecaranditsaccessories,
theanchors,thecords,thesupplies,thewater-tanks,
Page39
5wiab10
whichweretobefilledonarriving,allwereembarked
andputawayunderFerguson'sowneyes.
Tentonsofsulphuricacidandtentonsofironfilings,
wereputonboardforthefutureproductionofthehydrogen
gas.Thequantitywasmorethanenough,butitwas
welltobeprovidedagainstaccident.Theapparatusto
beemployedinmanufacturingthegas,includingsome
thirtyemptycasks,wasalsostowedawayinthehold.
Thesevariouspreparationswereterminatedonthe
18thofFebruary,intheevening.Twostate-rooms,
comfortablyfittedup,werereadyforthereceptionofDr.
FergusonandhisfriendKennedy.Thelatter,allthe
whileswearingthathewouldnotgo,wentonboardwith
aregulararsenalofhuntingweapons,amongwhichwere
twodouble-barrelledbreech-loadingfowling-pieces,anda
riflethathadwithstoodeverytest,ofthemakeofPurdey,
Moore&Dickson,atEdinburgh.Withsuchaweapona
marksmanwouldfindnodifficultyinlodginga
bulletintheeyeofachamoisatthedistanceoftwo
thousandpaces.Alongwiththeseimplements,hehadtwo
ofColt'ssix-shooters,forunforeseenemergencies.His
powder-case,hiscartridge-pouch,hislead,andhisbullets,
didnotexceedacertainweightprescribedbythedoctor.
Thethreetravellersgotthemselvestorightsonboard
duringtheworking-hoursofFebruary19th.Theywere
receivedwithmuchdistinctionbythecaptainandhis
officers,thedoctorcontinuingasreservedasever,and
thinkingofnothingbuthisexpedition.Dickseemeda
gooddealmoved,butwasunwillingtobetrayit;while
Joewasfairlydancingandbreakingoutinlaughable
remarks.Theworthyfellowsoonbecamethejesterand
merry-andrewoftheboatswain'smess,whereaberthhad
beenkeptforhim.
Onthe20th,agrandfarewelldinnerwasgiventoDr.
FergusonandKennedybytheRoyalGeographicalSociety.
CommanderBennetandhisofficerswerepresent
attheentertainment,whichwassignalizedbycopious
libationsandnumeroustoasts.Healthsweredrunk,in
sufficientabundancetoguaranteealltheguestsalifetime
ofcenturies.SirFrancisM----presided,withrestrained
butdignifiedfeeling.
Tohisownsupremeconfusion,DickKennedycame
inforalargeshareinthejovialfelicitationsofthenight.
Afterhavingdrunktothe"intrepidFerguson,theglory
ofEngland,"theyhadtodrinkto"thenolesscourageous
Kennedy,hisdaringcompanion."
Dickblushedagooddeal,andthatpassedformodesty;
whereupontheapplauseredoubled,andDickblushedagain.
Page40
5wiab10
AmessagefromtheQueenarrivedwhiletheywereat
dessert.HerMajestyofferedhercomplimentstothetwo
travellers,andexpressedherwishesfortheirsafeand
successfuljourney.This,ofcourse,renderedimperative
freshtoaststo"HermostgraciousMajesty."
Atmidnight,aftertouchingfarewellsandwarmshaking
ofhands,theguestsseparated.
TheboatsoftheResolutewereinwaitingatthestairs
ofWestminsterBridge.Thecaptainleapedin,accompanied
byhisofficersandpassengers,andtherapidcurrent
oftheThames,aidingthestrongarmsoftherowers,
borethemswiftlytoGreenwich.lnanhour'stimeall
wereasleeponboard.
Thenextmorning,February21st,atthreeo'clock,the
furnacesbegantoroar;atfive,theanchorswereweighed,
andtheResolute,powerfullydrivenbyherscrew,began
toploughthewatertowardthemouthoftheThames.
ltisneedlesstosaythatthetopicofconversationwith
everyoneonboardwasDr.Ferguson'senterprise.Seeing
andhearingthedoctorsooninspiredeverybodywith
suchconfidencethat,inaveryshorttime,therewasno
one,exceptingtheincredulousScotchman,onthesteamer
whohadtheleastdoubtoftheperfectfeasibilityand
successoftheexpedition.
Duringthelong,unoccupiedhoursofthevoyage,the
doctorheldregularsittings,withlecturesongeographical
science,intheofficers'mess-room.Theseyoungmenfelt
anintenseinterestinthediscoveriesmadeduringthelast
fortyyearsinAfrica;andthedoctorrelatedtothemthe
explorationsofBarth,Burton,Speke,andGrant,anddepicted
thewondersofthisvast,mysteriouscountry,now
thrownopenonallsidestotheinvestigationsofscience.
Onthenorth,theyoungDuveyrierwasexploringSahara,
andbringingthechiefsoftheTouaregstoParis.Under
theinspirationoftheFrenchGovernment,twoexpeditions
werepreparing,which,descendingfromthenorth,and
comingfromthewest,wouldcrosseachotheratTimbuctoo.
lnthesouth,theindefatigableLivingstonewas
stilladvancingtowardtheequator;and,sinceMarch,
1862,hehad,incompanywithMackenzie,ascendedthe
riverRovoonia.Thenineteenthcenturywould,assuredly,
notpass,contendedthedoctor,withoutAfricahaving
beencompelledtosurrenderthesecretsshehaskept
lockedupinherbosomforsixthousandyears.
ButtheinterestofDr.Ferguson'shearerswasexcited
tothehighestpitchwhenhemadeknowntothem,in
detail,thepreparationsforhisownjourney.Theytook
Page41
5wiab10
pleasureinverifyinghiscalculations;theydiscussed
them;andthedoctorfranklytookpartinthediscussion.
Asageneralthing,theyweresurprisedatthelimited
quantityofprovisionthathetookwithhim;andoneday
oneoftheofficersquestionedhimonthatsubject.
"Thatpeculiarpointastonishesyou,doesit?"said
Ferguson.
"ltdoes,indeed."
"Buthowlongdoyouthinkmytripisgoingtolast?
Wholemonths?lfso,youaregreatlymistaken.Were
ittobealongone,weshouldbelost;weshouldnever
getback.Butyoumustknowthatthedistancefrom
ZanzibartothecoastofSenegalisonlythirty-five
hundred--sayfourthousandmiles.Well,attherateoftwo
hundredandfortymileseverytwelvehours,whichdoes
notcomeneartherapidityofourrailroadtrains,by
travellingdayandnight,itwouldtakeonlysevendaysto
crossAfrica!"
"Butthenyoucouldseenothing,makenogeographical
observations,orreconnoitrethefaceofthecountry."
"Ah!"repliedthedoctor,"iflammasterofmy
balloon--iflcanascendanddescendatwill,lshallstop
whenlplease,especiallywhentooviolentcurrentsofair
threatentocarrymeoutofmywaywiththem."
"Andyouwillencountersuch,"saidCaptainBennet.
"Therearetornadoesthatsweepattherateofmorethan
twohundredandfortymilesperhour."
"Yousee,then,thatwithsuchspeedasthat,wecould
crossAfricaintwelvehours.OnewouldriseatZanzibar,
andgotobedatSt.Louis!"
"But,"rejoinedtheofficer,"couldanyballoonwithstand
thewearandtearofsuchvelocity?"
"lthashappenedbefore,"repliedFerguson.
"Andtheballoonwithstoodit?"
"Perfectlywell.ltwasatthetimeofthecoronation
ofNapoleon,in1804.Theaeronaut,Gernerin,sentupa
balloonatParis,abouteleveno'clockintheevening.lt
borethefollowinginscription,inlettersofgold:'Paris,
25Frimaire;yearXlll;CoronationoftheEmperorNapoleon
byhisHoliness,PiusVll.'Onthenextmorning,
theinhabitantsofRomesawthesameballoonsoaring
abovetheVatican,whenceitcrossedtheCampagna,and
Page42
5wiab10
finallyfluttereddownintothelakeofBracciano.Soyou
see,gentlemen,thataballooncanresistsuchvelocities."
"Aballoon--thatmightbe;butaman?"insinuatedKennedy.
"Yes,aman,too!--fortheballoonisalwaysmotionless
withreferencetotheairthatsurroundsit.What
movesisthemassoftheatmosphereitself:forinstance,
onemaylightataperinthecar,andtheflamewillnot
evenwaver.AnaeronautinGarnerin'sballoonwouldnot
havesufferedintheleastfromthespeed.Butthenl
havenooccasiontoattemptsuchvelocity;andiflcan
anchortosometree,orsomefavorableinequalityofthe
ground,atnight,lshallnotfailtodoso.Besides,we
takeprovisionfortwomonthswithus,afterall;andthere
isnothingtopreventourskilfulhuntsmanherefromfurnishing
gameinabundancewhenwecometoalight."
"Ah!Mr.Kennedy,"saidayoungmidshipman,with
enviouseyes,"whatsplendidshotsyou'llhave!"
"Withoutcounting,"saidanother,"thatyou'llhave
thegloryaswellasthesport!"
"Gentlemen,"repliedthehunter,stammeringwith
confusion,"lgreatly--appreciate--yourcompliments--
butthey--don't--belongtome."
"You!"exclaimedeverybody,"don'tyouintendtogo?"
"lamnotgoing!"
"Youwon'taccompanyDr.Ferguson?"
"Notonlyshalllnotaccompanyhim,butlamheresoas
tobepresentatthelastmomenttopreventhisgoing."
Everyeyewasnowturnedtothedoctor.
"Nevermindhim!"saidthelatter,calmly."Thisis
amatterthatwecan'targuewithhim.Atheartheknows
perfectlywellthathelSgoing."
"BySaintAndrew!"saidKennedy,"lswear--"
"Sweartonothing,friendDick;youhavebeenganged
andweighed--youandyourpowder,yourguns,andyour
bullets;sodon'tletussayanythingmoreaboutit."
And,infact,fromthatdayuntilthearrivalatZanzibar,
Dickneveropenedhismouth.Hetalkedneitheraboutthat
noraboutanythingelse.Hekeptabsolutelysilent.
Page43
5wiab10
CHAPTERNlNTH.
TheydoubletheCape.--TheForecastle.--ACourseofCosmography
byProfessorJoe.--ConcerningtheMethodofguidingBalloons.--How
toseekoutAtmosphericCurrents.--Eureka.
TheResoluteplungedalongrapidlytowardtheCape
ofGoodHope,theweathercontinuingfine,althoughthe
searanheavier.
Onthe30thofMarch,twenty-sevendaysafterthedeparture
fromLondon,theTableMountainloomeduponthehorizon.
CapeCitylyingatthefootofanamphitheatreofhills,
couldbedistinguishedthroughtheship'sglasses,andsoon
theResolutecastanchorintheport.Butthecaptaintouched
thereonlytoreplenishhiscoalbunkers,andthatwasbuta
day'sjob.Onthemorrow,hesteeredawaytothesouth'ard,
soastodoublethesouthernmostpointofAfrica,andenter
theMozambiqueChannel.
ThiswasnotJoe'sfirstsea-voyage,andso,forhis
part,hesoonfoundhimselfathomeonboard;everybody
likedhimforhisfranknessandgood-humor.Aconsiderable
shareofhismaster'srenownwasreflecteduponhim.
Hewaslistenedtoasanoracle,andhemadenomore
mistakesthanthenextone.
So,whilethedoctorwaspursuinghisdescriptivecourse
oflecturingintheofficers'mess,Joereignedsupreme
ontheforecastle,holdingforthinhisownpeculiar
manner,andmakinghistorytosuithimself--astyleof
procedurepursued,bytheway,bythegreatesthistorians
ofallagesandnations.
Thetopicofdiscoursewas,naturally,theaerialvoyage.
Joehadexperiencedsometroubleingettingtherebellious
spiritstobelieveinit;but,onceacceptedbythem,nothing
connectedwithitwasanylongeranimpossibilitytothe
imaginationsoftheseamenstimulatedbyJoe'sharangues.
Ourdazzlingnarratorpersuadedhishearersthat,after
thistrip,manyothersstillmorewonderfulwouldbeundertaken.
lnfact,itwastobebutthefirstofalongseries
ofsuperhumanexpeditions.
"Yousee,myfriends,whenamanhashadatasteofthat
kindoftravelling,hecan'tgetalongafterwardwithany
other;so,onournextexpedition,insteadofgoingoffto
oneside,we'llgorightahead,goingup,too,allthetime."
"Humph!thenyou'llgotothemoon!"saidoneof
thecrowd,withastareofamazement.
Page44
5wiab10
"Tothemoon!"exclaimedJoe,"Tothemoon!pooh!
that'stoocommon.Everybodymightgotothemoon,
thatway.Besides,there'snowaterthere,andyouhave
tocarrysuchalotofitalongwithyou.Thenyouhave
totakeairalonginbottles,soastobreathe."
"Ay!ay!that'sallright!Butcanamangetadropof
therealstuffthere?"saidasailorwholikedhistoddy.
"Notadrop!"wasJoe'sanswer."No!oldfellow,
notinthemoon.Butwe'regoingtoskiproundamong
thoselittletwinklersupthere--thestars--andthe
splendidplanetsthatmyoldmansooftentalksabout.For
instance,we'llcommencewithSaturn--"
"Thatonewiththering?"askedtheboatswain.
"Yes!thewedding-ring--onlynooneknowswhat's
becomeofhiswife!"
"What?willyougosohighupasthat?"saidoneof
theship-boys,gapingwithwonder."Why,yourmaster
mustbeOldNickhimself."
"Oh!no,he'stoogoodforthat."
"But,afterSaturn--whatthen?"wasthenextinquiry
ofhisimpatientaudience.
"AfterSaturn?Well,we'llvisitJupiter.Afunny
placethatis,too,wherethedaysareonlyninehoursand
ahalflong--agoodthingforthelazyfellows--andthe
years,wouldyoubelieveit--lasttwelveofours,whichis
fineforfolkswhohaveonlysixmonthstolive.Theyget
offalittlelongerbythat."
"Twelveyears!"ejaculatedtheboy.
"Yes,myyoungster;sothatinthatcountryyou'dbe
toddlingafteryourmammyyet,andthatoldchapyonder,
wholooksaboutfifty,wouldonlybealittleshaveroffour
andahalf."
"Blazes!that'sagood'un!"shoutedthewholeforecastletogether.
"Solemntruth!"saidJoe,stoutly.
"Butwhatcanyouexpect?Whenpeoplewillstayin
thisworld,theylearnnothingandkeepasignorantas
bears.ButjustcomealongtoJupiterandyou'llsee.
Buttheyhavetolookoutupthere,forhe'sgotsatellites
thatarenotjusttheeasiestthingstopass."
Allthemenlaughed,buttheymorethanhalfbelieved
Page45
5wiab10
him.ThenhewentontotalkaboutNeptune,whereseafaring
mengetajovialreception,andMars,wherethe
militarygetthebestofthesidewalktosuchanextent
thatfolkscanhardlystandit.Finally,hedrewthema
heavenlypictureofthedelightsofVenus.
"Andwhenwegetbackfromthatexpedition,"saidthe
indefatigablenarrator,"they'lldecorateuswiththeSouthern
CrossthatshinesupthereintheCreator'sbutton-hole."
"Ay,andyou'dhavewellearnedit!"saidthesailors.
Thuspassedthelongeveningsontheforecastlein
merrychat,andduringthesametimethedoctorwenton
withhisinstructivediscourses.
Onedaytheconversationturneduponthemeansof
directingballoons,andthedoctorwasaskedhisopinion
aboutit.
"ldon'tthink,"saidhe,"thatweshallsucceedinfinding
outasystemofdirectingthem.lamfamiliarwith
alltheplansattemptedandproposed,andnotonehas
succeeded,notoneispracticable.Youmayreadily
understandthatlhaveoccupiedmymindwiththissubject,
whichwas,necessarily,sointerestingtome,butlhave
notbeenabletosolvetheproblemwiththeappliances
nowknowntomechanicalscience.Wewouldhaveto
discoveramotivepowerofextraordinaryforce,and
almostimpossiblelightnessofmachinery.And,eventhen,
wecouldnotresistatmosphericcurrentsofanyconsiderable
strength.Untilnow,theefforthasbeenratherto
directthecarthantheballoon,andthathasbeenone
greaterror."
"Stilltherearemanypointsofresemblancebetweena
balloonandashipwhichisdirectedatwill."
"Notatall,"retortedthedoctor,"thereislittleorno
similaritybetweenthetwocases.Airisinfinitelyless
densethanwater,inwhichtheshipisonlyhalfsubmerged,
whilethewholebulkofaballoonisplungedintheatmosphere,
andremainsmotionlesswithreferencetotheelement
thatsurroundsit."
"Youthink,then,thataerostaticsciencehassaidits
lastword?"
"Notatall!notatall!Butwemustlookforanother
pointinthecase,andifwecannotmanagetoguideour
balloon,wemust,atleast,trytokeepitinfavorableaerial
currents.lnproportionasweascend,thelatterbecome
muchmoreuniformandflowmoreconstantlyinonedirection.
Theyarenolongerdisturbedbythemountainsand
Page46
5wiab10
valleysthattraversethesurfaceoftheglobe,andthese,
youknow,arethechiefcauseofthevariationsofthewind
andtheinequalityoftheirforce.Therefore,thesezones
havingbeenoncedetermined,theballoonwillmerelyhave
tobeplacedinthecurrentsbestadaptedtoitsdestination."
"Butthen,"continuedCaptainBennet,"inordertoreachthem,
youmustkeepconstantlyascendingordescending.Thatisthe
realdifficulty,doctor."
"Andwhy,mydearcaptain?"
"Letusunderstandoneanother.ltwouldbeadifficulty
andanobstacleonlyforlongjourneys,andnotfor
shortaerialexcursions."
"Andwhyso,ifyouplease?"
"Becauseyoucanascendonlybythrowingoutballast;
youcandescendonlyafterlettingoffgas,andbythese
processesyourballastandyourgasaresoonexhausted."
"Mydearsir,that'sthewholequestion.Thereisthe
onlydifficultythatscienceneednowseektoovercome.
Theproblemisnothowtoguidetheballoon,buthowto
takeitupanddownwithoutexpendingthegaswhichis
itsstrength,itslife-blood,itssoul,iflmayusethe
expression."
"Youareright,mydeardoctor;butthisproblemis
notyetsolved;thismeanshasnotyetbeendiscovered."
"lbegyourpardon,itHASbeendiscovered."
"Bywhom?"
"Byme!"
"Byyou?"
"Youmayreadilybelievethatotherwiselshouldnot
haveriskedthisexpeditionacrossAfricainaballoon.ln
twenty-fourhourslshouldhavebeenwithoutgas!"
"ButyousaidnothingaboutthatinEngland?"
"No!ldidnotwanttohavemyselfoverhauledin
public.lsawnouseinthat.lmademypreparatory
experimentsinsecretandwassatisfied.lhavenooccasion,
then,tolearnanythingmorefromthem."
"Well!doctor,woulditbepropertoaskwhatis
yoursecret?"
Page47
5wiab10
"Hereitis,gentlemen--thesimplestthinginthe
world!"
Theattentionofhisauditorywasnowdirectedtothe
doctorintheutmostdegreeashequietlyproceededwith
hisexplanation.
CHAPTERTENTH.
FormerExperiments.--TheDoctor'sFiveReceptacles.--TheGasCylinder.--
TheCalorifere.--TheSystemofManoeuvring.--Successcertain.
"Theattempthasoftenbeenmade,gentlemen,"said
thedoctor,"toriseanddescendatwill,withoutlosing
ballastorgasfromtheballoon.AFrenchaeronaut,M.
Meunier,triedtoaccomplishthisbycompressingairinan
innerreceptacle.ABelgian,Dr.VanHecke,bymeans
ofwingsandpaddles,obtainedaverticalpowerthatwould
havesufficedinmostcases,butthepracticalresults
securedfromtheseexperimentshavebeeninsignificant.
"lthereforeresolvedtogoaboutthethingmoredirectly;
so,atthestart,ldispensedwithballastaltogether,
exceptingasaprovisionforcasesofspecialemergency,
suchasthebreakageofmyapparatus,orthenecessityof
ascendingverysuddenly,soastoavoidunforeseenobstacles.
"Mymeansofascentanddescentconsistsimplyindilating
orcontractingthegasthatisintheballoonbythe
applicationofdifferenttemperatures,andhereisthe
methodofobtainingthatresult.
"Yousawmebringonboardwiththecarseveral
casesorreceptacles,theuseofwhichyoumaynothave
understood.Theyarefiveinnumber.
"Thefirstcontainsabouttwenty-fivegallonsofwater,
towhichladdafewdropsofsulphuricacid,soasto
augmentitscapacityasaconductorofelectricity,andthenl
decomposeitbymeansofapowerfulBuntzenbattery.
Water,asyouknow,consistsoftwopartsofhydrogento
oneofoxygengas.
"Thelatter,throughtheactionofthebattery,passes
atitspositivepoleintothesecondreceptacle.Athird
receptacle,placedabovethesecondone,andofdoubleits
capacity,receivesthehydrogenpassingintoitbythe
negativepole.
"Stopcocks,ofwhichonehasanorificetwicethesize
oftheother,communicatebetweenthesereceptaclesand
afourthone,whichiscalledthemixturereservoir,sincein
Page48
5wiab10
itthetwogasesobtainedbythedecompositionofthe
waterdoreallycommingle.Thecapacityofthisfourth
tankisaboutforty-onecubicfeet.
"Ontheupperpartofthistankisaplatinumtube
providedwithastopcock.
"Youwillnowreadilyunderstand,gentlemen,theapparatus
thatlhavedescribedtoyouisreallyagascylinder
andblow-pipeforoxygenandhydrogen,theheatof
whichexceedsthatofaforgefire.
"Thismuchestablished,lproceedtothesecondpart
ofmyapparatus.Fromthelowestpartofmyballoon,
whichishermeticallyclosed,issuetwotubesalittle
distanceapart.Theonestartsamongtheupperlayersofthe
hydrogengas,theotheramidthelowerlayers.
"Thesetwopipesareprovidedatintervalswithstrong
jointingsofindia-rubber,whichenablethemtomovein
harmonywiththeoscillationsoftheballoon.
"Bothofthemrundownasfarasthecar,andlose
themselvesinanironreceptacleofcylindricalform,
whichiscalledtheheat-tank.Thelatterisclosedat
itstwoendsbytwostrongplatesofthesamemetal.
"Thepiperunningfromthelowerpartoftheballoon
runsintothiscylindricalreceptaclethroughthelower
plate;itpenetratesthelatterandthentakestheformof
ahelicoidalorscrew-shapedspiral,theringsofwhich,
risingoneovertheother,occupynearlythewholeofthe
heightofthetank.Beforeagainissuingfromit,this
spiralrunsintoasmallconewithaconcavebase,thatis
turneddownwardintheshapeofasphericalcap.
"ltisfromthetopofthisconethatthesecondpipe
issues,anditruns,aslhavesaid,intotheupperbedsof
theballoon.
"Thesphericalcapofthesmallconeisofplatinum,so
asnottomeltbytheactionofthecylinderandblow-pipe,
forthelatterareplaceduponthebottomoftheirontank
inthemidstofthehelicoidalspiral,andtheextremityof
theirflamewillslightlytouchthecapinquestion.
"Youallknow,gentlemen,whatacalorifere,toheat
apartments,is.Youknowhowitacts.Theairofthe
apartmentsisforcedtopassthroughitspipes,andisthen
releasedwithaheightenedtemperature.Well,whatl
havejustdescribedtoyouisnothingmorenorlessthana
calorifere.
"lnfact,whatisitthattakesplace?Thecylinder
Page49
5wiab10
oncelighted,thehydrogeninthespiralandinthe
concaveconebecomesheated,andrapidlyascendsthrough
thepipethatleadstotheupperpartoftheballoon.A
vacuumiscreatedbelow,anditattractsthegasinthe
lowerparts;thisbecomesheatedinitsturn,andis
continuallyreplaced;thus,anextremelyrapidcurrentofgas
isestablishedinthepipesandinthespiral,whichissues
fromtheballoonandthenreturnstoit,andisheatedover
again,incessantly.
"Now,thecasesincrease1/480oftheirvolumeforeach
degreeofheatapplied.lf,then,lforcethetemperature
18degrees,thehydrogenoftheballoonwilldilate18/480or
1614cubicfeet,andwill,therefore,displace1614more
cubicfeetofair,whichwillincreaseitsascensionalpower
by160pounds.Thisisequivalenttothrowingoutthat
weightofballast.lflaugmentthetemperatureby180
degrees,thegaswilldilate180/480andwilldisplace16,740
cubicfeetmore,anditsascensionalforcewillbeaugmented
by1,600pounds.
"Thus,yousee,gentlemen,thatlcaneasilyeffect
veryconsiderablechangesofequilibrium.Thevolumeof
theballoonhasbeencalculatedinsuchmannerthat,when
halfinflated,itdisplacesaweightofairexactlyequalto
thatoftheenvelopecontainingthehydrogengas,andof
thecaroccupiedbythepassengers,andallitsapparatus
andaccessories.Atthispointofinflation,itisinexact
equilibriumwiththeair,andneithermountsnordescends.
"lnorder,then,toeffectanascent,lgivethegasa
temperaturesuperiortothetemperatureofthesurrounding
airbymeansofmycylinder.Bythisexcessofheat
itobtainsalargerdistention,andinflatestheballoon
more.Thelatter,then,ascendsinproportionaslheat
thehydrogen.
"Thedescent,ofcourse,iseffectedbyloweringthe
heatofthecylinder,andlettingthetemperatureabate.
Theascentwouldbe,usually,morerapidthanthedescent;
butthatisafortunatecircumstance,sinceitisofno
importancetometodescendrapidly,while,ontheother
hand,itisbyaveryrapidascentthatlavoidobstacles.
Therealdangerlurksbelow,andnotabove.
"Besides,aslhavesaid,lhaveacertainquantityof
ballast,whichwillenablemetoascendmorerapidlystill,
whennecessary.Myvalve,atthetopoftheballoon,is
nothingmorenorlessthanasafety-valve.Theballoon
alwaysretainsthesamequantityofhydrogen,andthe
variationsoftemperaturethatlproduceinthemidstof
thisshut-upgasare,ofthemselves,sufficienttoprovide
foralltheseascendinganddescendingmovements.
Page50
5wiab10
"Now,gentlemen,asapracticaldetail,letmeadd
this:
"Thecombustionofthehydrogenandoftheoxygen
atthepointofthecylinderproducessolelythevaporor
steamofwater.lhave,therefore,providedthelower
partofthecylindricalironboxwithascape-pipe,witha
valveoperatingbymeansofapressureoftwoatmospheres;
consequently,sosoonasthisamountofpressure
isattained,thesteamescapesofitself.
"Herearetheexactfigures:25gallonsofwater,
separatedintoitsconstituentelements,yield200pounds
ofoxygenand25poundsofhydrogen.Thisrepresents,
atatmospherictension,1,800cubicfeetoftheformerand
3,780cubicfeetofthelatter,or5,670cubicfeet,inall,of
themixture.Hence,thestopcockofmycylinder,when
fullyopen,expends27cubicfeetperhour,withaflameat
leastsixtimesasstrongasthatofthelargelampsused
forlightingstreets.Onanaverage,then,andinorderto
keepmyselfataverymoderateelevation,lshouldnot
burnmorethanninecubicfeetperhour,sothatmy
twenty-fivegallonsofwaterrepresentsixhundredand
thirty-sixhoursofaerialnavigation,oralittle
morethantwenty-sixdays.
"Well,aslcandescendwhenlplease,toreplenishmy
stockofwaterontheway,mytripmightbeindefinitely
prolonged.
"Such,gentlemen,ismysecret.ltissimple,and,
likemostsimplethings,itcannotfailtosucceed.The
dilationandcontractionofthegasintheballoonismy
meansoflocomotion,whichcallsforneithercumbersome
wings,noranyothermechanicalmotor.Acalorifereto
producethechangesoftemperature,andacylinderto
generatetheheat,areneitherinconvenientnorheavy.l
think,therefore,thatlhavecombinedalltheelementsof
success."
Dr.Fergusonhereterminatedhisdiscourse,andwas
mostheartilyapplauded.Therewasnotanobjectionto
maketoit;allhadbeenforeseenanddecided.
"However,"saidthecaptain,"thethingmayprove
dangerous."
"Whatmattersthat,"repliedthedoctor,"provided
thatitbepracticable?"
CHAPTERELEVENTH.
Page51
5wiab10
TheArrivalatZanzibar.--TheEnglishConsul.--lll-willofthe
lnhabitants.--ThelslandofKoumbeni.--TheRain-Makers.--lnflation
oftheBalloon.--Departureonthe18thofApril.--ThelastGood-by.
--TheVictoria.
Aninvariablyfavorablewindhadacceleratedthe
progressoftheResolutetowardtheplaceofher
destination.ThenavigationoftheMozambiqueChannelwas
especiallycalmandpleasant.Theagreeablecharacterof
thetripbyseawasregardedasagoodomenoftheprobable
issueofthetripthroughtheair.Everyonelooked
forwardtothehourofarrival,andsoughttogivethelast
touchtothedoctor'spreparations.
AtlengththevesselhoveinsightofthetownofZanzibar,
upontheislandofthesamename,and,onthe15thofApril,
at11o'clockinthemorning,sheanchoredintheport.
TheislandofZanzibarbelongstothelmaumofMuscat,
anallyofFranceandEngland,andis,undoubtedly,
hisfinestsettlement.Theportisfrequentedbyagreat
manyvesselsfromtheneighboringcountries.
TheislandisseparatedfromtheAfricancoastonlyby
achannel,thegreatestwidthofwhichisbutthirtymiles.
lthasalargetradeingums,ivory,and,aboveall,in
"ebony,"forZanzibaristhegreatslave-market.Thither
convergesallthebootycapturedinthebattleswhichthe
chiefsoftheinteriorarecontinuallyfighting.Thistraffic
extendsalongthewholeeasterncoast,andasfarasthe
Nilelatitudes.Mr.G.Lejeanevenreportsthathehas
seenitcarriedon,openly,undertheFrenchflag.
UponthearrivaloftheResolute,theEnglishconsulat
Zanzibarcameonboardtoofferhisservicestothedoctor,
ofwhoseprojectstheEuropeannewspapershadmadehim
awareforamonthpast.But,uptothatmoment,hehad
remainedwiththenumerousphalanxoftheincredulous.
"ldoubted,"saidhe,holdingouthishandtoDr.Ferguson,
"butnowldoubtnolonger."
Heinvitedthedoctor,Kennedy,andthefaithfulJoe,
ofcourse,tohisowndwelling.Throughhiscourtesy,
thedoctorwasenabledtohaveknowledgeofthevarious
lettersthathehadreceivedfromCaptainSpeke.The
captainandhiscompanionshadsuffereddreadfullyfrom
hungerandbadweatherbeforereachingtheUgogocountry.
Theycouldadvanceonlywithextremedifficulty,
anddidnotexpecttobeabletocommunicateagainfor
alongtime.
"Thoseareperilsandprivationswhichweshallmanage
Page52
5wiab10
toavoid,"saidthedoctor.
Thebaggageofthethreetravellerswasconveyedto
theconsul'sresidence.Arrangementsweremadefor
disembarkingtheballoonuponthebeachatZanzibar.There
wasaconvenientspot,nearthesignal-mast,closebyan
immensebuilding,thatwouldservetoshelteritfromthe
eastwinds.Thishugetower,resemblingatunstanding
ononeend,besidewhichthefamousHeidelbergtun
wouldhaveseemedbutaveryordinarybarrel,servedas
afortification,andonitsplatformwerestationed
Belootchees,armedwithlances.TheseBelootcheesarea
kindofbrawling,good-for-nothingJanizaries.
But,whenabouttolandtheballoon,theconsulwas
informedthatthepopulationoftheislandwouldoppose
theirdoingsobyforce.Nothingissoblindasfanatical
passion.ThenewsofthearrivalofaChristian,whowas
toascendintotheair,wasreceivedwithrage.The
negroes,moreexasperatedthantheArabs,sawinthis
projectanattackupontheirreligion.Theytookitinto
theirheadsthatsomemischiefwasmeanttothesunand
themoon.Now,thesetwoluminariesareobjectsof
venerationtotheAfricantribes,andtheydeterminedto
opposesosacrilegiousanenterprise.
Theconsul,informedoftheirintentions,conferredwith
Dr.FergusonandCaptainBennetonthesubject.The
latterwasunwillingtoyieldtothreats,buthisfriend
dissuadedhimfromanyideaofviolentretaliation.
"Weshallcertainlycomeoutwinners,"hesaid.
"Eventheimaum'ssoldierswilllendusahand,ifwe
needit.But,mydearcaptain,anaccidentmayhappen
inamoment,anditwouldrequirebutoneunluckyblow
todotheballoonanirreparableinjury,sothatthetrip
wouldbetotallydefeated;thereforewemustactwith
thegreatestcaution."
"Butwhatarewetodo?lfwelandonthecoastof
Africa,weshallencounterthesamedifficulties.What
arewetodo?"
"Nothingismoresimple,"repliedtheconsul."You
observethosesmallislandsoutsideoftheport;landyour
balloonononeofthem;surrounditwithaguardof
sailors,andyouwillhavenorisktorun."
"Justthething!"saidthedoctor,"andweshallbe
entirelyatoureaseincompletingourpreparations."
Thecaptainyieldedtothesesuggestions,andthe
ResolutewasheadedfortheislandofKoumbeni.During
themorningofthe16thApril,theballoonwasplacedin
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5wiab10
safetyinthemiddleofaclearinginthegreatwoods,
withwhichthesoilisstudded.
Twomasts,eightyfeetinheight,wereraisedatthe
samedistancefromeachother.Blocksandtackle,placed
attheirextremities,affordedthemeansofelevatingthe
balloon,bytheaidofatransverserope.ltwasthen
entirelyuninflated.Theinteriorballoonwasfastenedto
theexteriorone,insuchmannerastobeliftedupinthe
sameway.Tothelowerendofeachballoonwerefixed
thepipesthatservedtointroducethehydrogengas.
Thewholeday,onthe17th,wasspentinarranging
theapparatusdestinedtoproducethegas;itconsisted
ofsomethirtycasks,inwhichthedecompositionofwater
waseffectedbymeansofiron-filingsandsulphuricacid
placedtogetherinalargequantityofthefirst-named
fluid.Thehydrogenpassedintoahugecentralcask,
afterhavingbeenwashedontheway,andthenceinto
eachballoonbytheconduit-pipes.lnthismannereach
ofthemreceivedacertainaccurately-ascertainedquantity
ofgas.Forthispurpose,therehadtobeemployed
eighteenhundredandsixty-sixpoundsofsulphuricacid,
sixteenthousandandfiftypoundsofiron,andninethousand
onehundredandsixty-sixgallonsofwater.This
operationcommencedonthefollowingnight,aboutthree
A.M.,andlastednearlyeighthours.Thenextday,the
balloon,coveredwithitsnetwork,undulatedgracefully
aboveitscar,whichwasheldtothegroundbynumerous
sacksofearth.Theinflatingapparatuswasputtogether
withextremecare,andthepipesissuingfromtheballoon
weresecurelyfittedtothecylindricalcase.
Theanchors,thecordage,theinstruments,thetravelling-wraps,
theawning,theprovisions,andthearms,were
putintheplaceassignedtotheminthecar.Thesupply
ofwaterwasprocuredatZanzibar.Thetwohundred
poundsofballastweredistributedinfiftybagsplacedat
thebottomofthecar,butwithinarm's-reach.
Thesepreparationswereconcludedaboutfiveo'clockinthe
evening,whilesentinelskeptclosewatcharoundtheisland,
andtheboatsoftheResolutepatrolledthechannel.
Theblackscontinuedtoshowtheirdispleasureby
grimacesandcontortions.Theirobi-men,orwizards,
wentupanddownamongtheangrythrongs,pouring
fuelontheflameoftheirfanaticism;andsomeofthe
excitedwretches,morefuriousanddaringthantherest,
attemptedtogettotheislandbyswimming,butthey
wereeasilydrivenoff.
Thereuponthesorceriesandincantationscommenced;
the"rain-makers,"whopretendtohavecontroloverthe
Page54
5wiab10
clouds,invokedthestormsandthe"stone-showers,"as
theblackscallhail,totheiraid.Tocompelthemtodo
so,theypluckedleavesofallthedifferenttreesthatgrow
inthatcountry,andboiledthemoveraslowfire,while,
atthesametime,asheepwaskilledbythrustingalong
needleintoitsheart.But,inspiteofalltheirceremonies,
theskyremainedclearandbeautiful,andtheyprofited
nothingbytheirslaughteredsheepandtheiruglygrimaces.
Theblacksthenabandonedthemselvestothemost
furiousorgies,andgotfearfullydrunkon"tembo,"a
kindofardentspiritsdrawnfromthecocoa-nuttree,and
anextremelyheadysortofbeercalled"togwa."Their
chants,whichweredestituteofallmelody,butweresung
inexcellenttime,continueduntilfarintothenight.
Aboutsixo'clockintheevening,thecaptainassembled
thetravellersandtheofficersoftheshipatafarewell
repastinhiscabin.Kennedy,whomnobodyventuredto
questionnow,satwithhiseyesrivetedonDr.Ferguson,
murmuringindistinguishablewords.lnotherrespects,
thedinnerwasagloomyone.Theapproachofthefinal
momentfilledeverybodywiththemostseriousreflections.
Whathadfateinstoreforthesedaringadventurers?
Shouldtheyeveragainfindthemselvesinthemidstof
theirfriends,orseatedatthedomestichearth?Were
theirtravellingapparatustofail,whatwouldbecomeof
them,amongthoseferocioussavagetribes,inregionsthat
hadneverbeenexplored,andinthemidstofboundless
deserts?
Suchthoughtsasthese,whichhadbeendimandvague
untilthen,orbutslightlyregardedwhentheycameup,
returnedupontheirexcitedfancieswithintenseforceat
thispartingmoment.Dr.Ferguson,stillcoldandimpassible,
talkedofthis,that,andtheother;buthestroveinvain
toovercomethisinfectiousgloominess.Heutterlyfailed.
Assomedemonstrationagainstthepersonalsafetyof
thedoctorandhiscompanionswasfeared,allthreeslept
thatnightonboardtheResolute.Atsixo'clockinthe
morningtheylefttheircabin,andlandedontheislandof
Koumbeni.
Theballoonwasswayinggentlytoandfrointhe
morningbreeze;thesand-bagsthathadhelditdown
werenowreplacedbysometwentystrong-armedsailors,
andCaptainBennetandhisofficerswerepresentto
witnessthesolemndepartureoftheirfriends.
AtthismomentKennedywentrightuptothedoctor,
graspedhishand,andsaid:
"Samuel,haveyouabsolutelydeterminedtogo?"
Page55
5wiab10
"Solemnlydetermined,mydearDick."
"lhavedoneeverythingthatlcouldtopreventthis
expedition,havelnot?"
"Everything!"
"Well,then,myconscienceisclearonthatscore,and
lwillgowithyou."
"lwassureyouwould!"saidthedoctor,betraying
inhisfeaturesswifttracesofemotion.
Atlastthemomentoffinalleave-takingarrived.The
captainandhisofficersembracedtheirdauntlessfriends
withgreatfeeling,notexceptingevenJoe,who,worthy
fellow,wasasproudandhappyasaprince.Everyone
inthepartyinsisteduponhavingafinalshakeofthe
doctor'shand.
Atnineo'clockthethreetravellersgotintotheircar.
Thedoctorlitthecombustibleinhiscylinderandturned
theflamesoastoproducearapidheat,andtheballoon,
whichhadrestedonthegroundinperfectequipoise,began
toriseinafewminutes,sothattheseamenhadtoslacken
theropestheyhelditby.Thecarthenroseabouttwenty
feetabovetheirheads.
"Myfriends!"exclaimedthedoctor,standingupbetween
histwocompanions,andtakingoffhishat,"letus
giveouraerialshipanamethatwillbringhergoodluck!
letuschristenherVictoria!"
Thisspeechwasansweredwithstentoriancheersof
"HuzzafortheQueen!HuzzaforOldEngland!"
Atthismomenttheascensionalforceoftheballoon
increasedprodigiously,andFerguson,Kennedy,andJoe,
wavedalastgood-bytotheirfriends.
"Letgoall!"shoutedthedoctor,andatthewordthe
Victoriashotrapidlyupintothesky,whilethefour
carronadesonboardtheResolutethunderedforthaparting
saluteinherhonor.
CHAPTERTWELFTH
CrossingtheStrait.--TheMrima.--Dick'sRemarkandJoe's
Proposition.--ARecipeforCoffee-making.--TheUzaramo.--The
UnfortunateMaizan.--MountDathumi.--TheDoctor'sCards.--Night
underaNopal.
Page56
5wiab10
Theairwaspure,thewindmoderate,andtheballoon
ascendedalmostperpendicularlytoaheightoffifteen
hundredfeet,asindicatedbyadepressionoftwoinches
inthebarometriccolumn.
Atthisheightamoredecidedcurrentcarriedthe
balloontowardthesouthwest.Whatamagnificentspectacle
wasthenoutspreadbeneaththegazeofthetravellers!
TheislandofZanzibarcouldbeseeninitsentireextent,
markedoutbyitsdeepercoloruponavastplanisphere;
thefieldshadtheappearanceofpatternsofdifferent
colors,andthickclumpsofgreenindicatedthegrovesand
thickets.
Theinhabitantsoftheislandlookednolargerthan
insects.Thehuzzaingandshoutingwerelittlebylittle
lostinthedistance,andonlythedischargeoftheship's
gunscouldbeheardintheconcavitybeneaththeballoon,
asthelatterspedonitsflight.
"Howfinethatis!"saidJoe,breakingsilenceforthe
firsttime.
Hegotnoreply.Thedoctorwasbusyobservingthe
variationsofthebarometerandnotingdownthedetails
ofhisascent.
Kennedylookedon,andhadnoteyesenoughtotake
inallthathesaw.
Theraysofthesuncomingtotheaidoftheheating
cylinder,thetensionofthegasincreased,andtheVictoria
attainedtheheightoftwenty-fivehundredfeet.
TheResolutelookedlikeamerecockle-shell,andthe
Africancoastcouldbedistinctlyseeninthewestmarked
outbyafringeoffoam.
"Youdon'ttalk?"saidJoe,again.
"Wearelooking!"saidthedoctor,directinghisspy-glass
towardthemainland.
"Formypart,lmusttalk!"
"Asmuchasyouplease,Joe;talkasmuchasyoulike!"
AndJoewentonalonewithatremendousvolleyof
exclamations.The"ohs!"andthe"ahs!"explodedone
aftertheother,incessantly,fromhislips.
Duringhispassageovertheseathedoctordeemedit
besttokeepathispresentelevation.Hecouldthus
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5wiab10
reconnoitreagreaterstretchofthecoast.Thethermometer
andthebarometer,hangingupinsideofthehalf-opened
awning,werealwayswithinsight,andasecondbarometer
suspendedoutsidewastoserveduringthenightwatches.
AttheendofabouttwohourstheVictoria,driven
alongataspeedofalittlemorethaneightmiles,very
visiblynearedthecoastofthemainland.Thedoctor,
thereupon,determinedtodescendalittlenearertothe
ground.Sohemoderatedtheflameofhiscylinder,and
theballoon,inafewmoments,haddescendedtoanaltitude
onlythreehundredfeetabovethesoil.
ltwasthenfoundtobepassingjustovertheMrima
country,thenameofthispartoftheeasterncoastof
Africa.Densebordersofmango-treesprotecteditsmargin,
andtheebb-tidedisclosedtoviewtheirthickroots,
chafedandgnawedbytheteethofthelndianOcean.The
sandswhich,atanearlierperiod,formedthecoast-line,
roundedawayalongthedistanthorizon,andMount
Ngururearedaloftitssharpsummitinthenorthwest.
TheVictoriapassedneartoavillagewhichthedoctor
foundmarkeduponhischartasKaole.ltsentirepopulation
hadassembledincrowds,andwereyellingwithanger
andfear,atthesametimevainlydirectingtheirarrows
againstthismonsteroftheairthatsweptalongsomajestically
awayabovealltheirpowerlessfury.
Thewindwassettingtothesouthward,butthedoctor
feltnoconcernonthatscore,sinceitenabledhimthe
bettertofollowtheroutetracedbyCaptainsBurtonand
Speke.
Kennedyhad,atlength,becomeastalkativeasJoe,
andthetwokeptupacontinualinterchangeofadmiring
interjectionsandexclamations.
"Outuponstage-coaches!"saidone.
"Steamersindeed!"saidtheother.
"Railroads!eh?rubbish!"putinKennedy,"that
youtravelon,withoutseeingthecountry!"
"Balloons!they'rethesortforme!"Joewouldadd.
"Why,youdon'tfeelyourselfgoing,andNaturetakes
thetroubletospreadherselfoutbeforeone'seyes!"
"Whatasplendidsight!Whataspectacle!What
adelight!adreaminahammock!"
"Supposewetakeourbreakfast?"wasJoe'sunpoetical
changeoftune,atlast,forthekeen,openairhad
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5wiab10
mightilysharpenedhisappetite.
"Goodidea,myboy!"
"Oh!itwon'ttakeuslongtodothecooking--biscuit
andpottedmeat?"
"Andasmuchcoffeeasyoulike,"saidthedoctor."l
giveyouleavetoborrowalittleheatfrommycylinder.
There'senoughandtospare,forthatmatter,andsowe
shallavoidtheriskofaconflagration."
"Thatwouldbeadreadfulmisfortune!"ejaculated
Kennedy."lt'sthesameasapowder-magazinesuspended
overourheads."
"Notprecisely,"saidFerguson,"butstillifthegaswere
totakefireitwouldburnupgradually,andweshould
settledownontheground,whichwouldbedisagreeable;
butneverfear--ourballoonishermeticallysealed."
"Letuseatabite,then,"repliedKennedy.
"Now,gentlemen,"putinJoe,"whiledoingthesame
asyou,l'mgoingtogetyouupacupofcoffeethatl
thinkyou'llhavesomethingtosayabout."
"Thefactis,"addedthedoctor,"thatJoe,alongwith
athousandothervirtues,hasaremarkabletalentforthe
preparationofthatdeliciousbeverage:hecompoundsit
ofamixtureofvariousorigin,butheneverwouldreveal
tometheingredients."
"Well,master,sincewearesofarabove-ground,lcan
tellyouthesecret.ltisjusttomixequalquantitiesof
Mocha,ofBourboncoffee,andofRioNunez."
Afewmomentslater,threesteamingcupsofcoffee
wereserved,andtoppedoffasubstantialbreakfast,which
wasadditionallyseasonedbythejokesandreparteesof
theguests.Eachonethenresumedhispostofobservation.
Thecountryoverwhichtheywerepassingwasremarkable
foritsfertility.Narrow,windingpathsplunged
inbeneaththeoverarchingverdure.Theysweptalong
abovecultivatedfieldsoftobacco,maize,andbarley,at
fullmaturity,andhereandthereimmenserice-fields,
fullofstraightstalksandpurpleblossoms.Theycould
distinguishsheepandgoatstoo,confinedinlarge
cages,setuponpilestokeepthemoutofreachofthe
leopards'fangs.Luxuriantvegetationspreadinwild
profusenessoverthisprodigalsoil.
Villageaftervillagerangwithyellsofterrorand
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astonishmentatthesightoftheVictoria,andDr.
Fergusonprudentlykeptherabovethereachofthebarbarian
arrows.Thesavagesbelow,thusbaffled,rantogether
fromtheirhuddleofhutsandfollowedthetravellerswith
theirvainimprecationswhiletheyremainedinsight.
Atnoon,thedoctor,uponconsultinghismap,calculated
thattheywerepassingovertheUzaramo*country.
Thesoilwasthicklystuddedwithcocoa-nut,papaw,and
cotton-woodtrees,abovewhichtheballoonseemedtodisport
itselflikeabird.Joefoundthissplendidvegetation
amatterofcourse,seeingthattheywereinAfrica.Kennedy
descriedsomeharesandquailsthataskednothing
betterthantogetagoodshotfromhisfowling-piece,but
itwouldhavebeenpowderwasted,sincetherewasno
timetopickupthegame.
*UandOusignifycountryinthelanguageofthatregion.
Theaeronautssweptonwiththespeedoftwelvemiles
perhour,andsoonwerepassinginthirty-eightdegrees
twentyminuteseastlongitude,overthevillageofTounda.
"ltwasthere,"saidthedoctor,"thatBurtonand
Spekewereseizedwithviolentfevers,andforamoment
thoughttheirexpeditionruined.Andyettheywereonly
ashortdistancefromthecoast,butfatigueandprivation
werebeginningtotelluponthemseverely."
lnfact,thereisaperpetualmalariareigningthroughout
thecountryinquestion.Eventhedoctorcouldhope
toescapeitseffectsonlybyrisingabovetherangeofthe
miasmathatexhalesfromthisdampregionwhencethe
blazingraysofthesunpumpupitspoisonousvapors.
Onceinawhiletheycoulddescryacaravanrestingina
"kraal,"awaitingthefreshnessandcooloftheeveningto
resumeitsroute.Thesekraalsarewidepatchesofcleared
land,surroundedbyhedgesandjungles,wheretraders
takeshelteragainstnotonlythewildbeasts,butalsothe
robbertribesofthecountry.Theycouldseethenatives
runningandscatteringinalldirectionsatthesightofthe
Victoria.Kennedywaskeentogetacloserlookatthem,
butthedoctorinvariablyheldoutagainsttheidea.
"Thechiefsarearmedwithmuskets,"hesaid,"and
ourballoonwouldbetooconspicuousamarkfortheir
bullets."
"Wouldabullet-holebringusdown?"askedJoe.
"Notimmediately;butsuchaholewouldsoonbecome
alargetornorificethroughwhichourgaswouldescape."
"Then,letuskeepatarespectfuldistancefromyon
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miscreants.Whatmusttheythinkastheyseeussailing
intheair?l'msuretheymustfeellikeworshippingus!"
"Letthemworshipaway,then,"repliedthedoctor,
"butatadistance.Thereisnoharmdoneingettingasfar
awayfromthemaspossible.See!thecountryisalready
changingitsaspect:thevillagesarefewerandfarther
between;themango-treeshavedisappeared,fortheirgrowth
ceasesatthislatitude.Thesoilisbecominghillyand
portendsmountainsnotfaroff."
"Yes,"saidKennedy,"itseemstomethatlcansee
somehighlandonthisside."
"lnthewest--thosearethenearestrangesofthe
Ourizara--MountDuthumi,nodoubt,behindwhichlhope
tofindshelterforthenight.l'llstiruptheheatinthe
cylinderalittle,forwemustkeepatanelevationoffive
orsixhundredfeet."
"Thatwasagrantideaofyours,sir,"saidJoe."lt's
mightyeasytomanageit;youturnacock,andthething's
done."
"Ah!herewearemoreatourease,"saidthesportsman,
astheballoonascended;"thereflectionofthesun
onthoseredsandswasgettingtobeinsupportable."
"Whatsplendidtrees!"criedJoe."They'requite
natural,buttheyareveryfine!Whyadozenofthem
wouldmakeaforest!"
"Thosearebaobabs,"repliedDr.Ferguson."See,there'sone
withatrunkfullyonehundredfeetincircumference.ltwas,
perhaps,atthefootofthatverytreethatMaizan,theFrench
traveller,expiredin1845,forweareoverthevillageof
Deje-la-Mhora,towhichhepushedonalone.Hewasseizedby
thechiefofthisregion,fastenedtothefootofabaobab,
andtheferociousblackthenseveredallhisjointswhile
thewar-songofhistribewaschanted;hethenmadeagash
intheprisoner'sneck,stoppedtosharpenhisknife,and
fairlytoreawaythepoorwretch'sheadbeforeithadbeen
cutfromthebody.TheunfortunateFrenchmanwasbut
twenty-sixyearsofage."
"AndFrancehasneveravengedsohideousacrime?"
saidKennedy.
"Francediddemandsatisfaction,andtheSaidofZanzibar
didallinhispowertocapturethemurderer,butinvain."
"lmovethatwedon'tstophere!"urgedJoe;"letus
goup,master,letusgouphigherbyallmeans."
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"Allthemorewillingly,Joe,thatthereisMount
Duthumirightaheadofus.lfmycalculationsberight
weshallhavepasseditbeforeseveno'clockintheevening."
"Shallwenottravelatnight?"askedtheScotchman.
"No,aslittleaspossible.Withcareandvigilance
wemightdososafely,butitisnotenoughtosweepacross
Africa.Wewanttoseeit."
"Uptothistimewehavenothingtocomplainof,
master.Thebestcultivatedandmostfertilecountryin
theworldinsteadofadesert!Believethegeographers
afterthat!"
Letuswait,Joe!weshallseeby-and-by."
Abouthalf-pastsixintheeveningtheVictoriawasdirectly
oppositeMountDuthumi;inordertopass,ithadtoascend
toaheightofmorethanthreethousandfeet,andtoaccomplish
thatthedoctorhadonlytoraisethetemperatureofhisgas
eighteendegrees.ltmighthavebeencorrectlysaidthathe
heldhisballooninhishand.Kennedyhadonlytoindicate
tohimtheobstaclestobesurmounted,andtheVictoria
spedthroughtheair,skimmingthesummitsoftherange.
Ateighto'clockitdescendedthefartherslope,the
acclivityofwhichwasmuchlessabrupt.Theanchorswere
thrownoutfromthecarandoneofthem,comingincontact
withthebranchesofanenormousnopal,caughtonit
firmly.Joeatoncelethimselfslidedowntheropeand
securedit.Thesilkladderwasthenloweredtohim
andheremountedtothecarwithagility.Theballoon
nowremainedperfectlyatrestshelteredfromthe
easternwinds.
Theeveningmealwasgotready,andtheaeronauts,
excitedbytheirday'sjourney,madeaheavyonslaught
upontheprovisions.
"Whatdistancehavewetraversedto-day?"asked
Kennedy,disposingofsomealarmingmouthfuls.
Thedoctortookhisbearings,bymeansoflunarobservations,
andconsultedtheexcellentmapthathehadwith
himforhisguidance.ltbelongedtotheAtlasof"Der
NeuesterEndeckungeninAfrika"("TheLatestDiscoveries
inAfrica"),publishedatGothabyhislearnedfriend
Dr.Petermann,andbythatsavantsenttohim.This
Atlaswastoservethedoctoronhiswholejourney;forit
containedtheitineraryofBurtonandSpeketothegreat
lakes;theSoudan,accordingtoDr.Barth;theLower
Senegal,accordingtoGuillaumeLejean;andtheDeltaof
theNiger,byDr.Blaikie.
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Fergusonhadalsoprovidedhimselfwithaworkwhich
combinedinonecompilationallthenotionsalreadyacquired
concerningtheNile.ltwasentitled"TheSources
oftheNile;beingaGeneralSurveyoftheBasinofthat
RiverandofitsHead-Stream,withtheHistoryofthe
NiloticDiscovery,byCharlesBeke,D.D."
Healsohadtheexcellentchartspublishedinthe
"BulletinsoftheGeographicalSocietyofLondon;"and
notasinglepointofthecountriesalreadydiscovered
could,therefore,escapehisnotice.
Upontracingonhismaps,hefoundthathislatitudinal
routehadbeentwodegrees,oronehundredand
twentymiles,tothewestward.
Kennedyremarkedthattheroutetendedtowardthe
south;butthisdirectionwassatisfactorytothedoctor,
whodesiredtoreconnoitrethetracksofhispredecessors
asmuchaspossible.ltwasagreedthatthenightshould
bedividedintothreewatches,sothateachoftheparty
shouldtakehisturninwatchingoverthesafetyofthe
rest.Thedoctortookthewatchcommencingatnine
o'clock;Kennedy,theonecommencingatmidnight;and
Joe,thethreeo'clockmorningwatch.
SoKennedyandJoe,wellwrappedintheirblankets,
stretchedthemselvesatfulllengthundertheawning,and
sleptquietly;whileDr.Fergusonkeptonthelookout.
CHAPTERTHlRTEENTH.
ChangeofWeather.--KennedyhastheFever.--TheDoctor'sMedicine.
--TravelsonLand.--TheBasinoflmenge.--MountRubeho.--Six
ThousandFeetElevation.--AHaltintheDaytime.
Thenightwascalm.However,onSaturdaymorning,
Kennedy,asheawoke,complainedoflassitudeandfeverish
chills.Theweatherwaschanging.Thesky,covered
withclouds,seemedtobelayinginsuppliesforafresh
deluge.AgloomyregionisthatZungomorocountry,
whereitrainscontinually,excepting,perhaps,foracouple
ofweeksinthemonthofJanuary.
Aviolentshowerwasnotlongindrenchingourtravellers.
Belowthem,theroads,intersectedby"nullahs,"
asortofinstantaneoustorrent,weresoonrendered
impracticable,entangledastheywere,besides,withthorny
thicketsandgiganticlianas,orcreepingvines.The
sulphurettedhydrogenemanations,whichCaptainBurton
mentions,couldbedistinctlysmelt.
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5wiab10
"Accordingtohisstatement,andlthinkhe'sright,"
saidthedoctor,"onecouldreadilybelievethatthereis
acorpsehiddenbehindeverythicket."
"Anuglycountrythis!"sighedJoe;"anditseems
tomethatMr.Kennedyisnonethebetterforhaving
passedthenightinit."
"Totellthetruth,lhavequiteahighfever,"saidthe
sportsman.
"There'snothingremarkableaboutthat,mydearDick,for
weareinoneofthemostunhealthyregionsinAfrica;but
weshallnotremainherelong;solet'sbeoff."
ThankstoaskilfulmanoeuvreachievedbyJoe,the
anchorwasdisengaged,andJoereascendedtothecarby
meansoftheladder.Thedoctorvigorouslydilatedthe
gas,andtheVictoriaresumedherflight,drivenalongby
aspankingbreeze.
Onlyafewscatteredhutscouldbeseenthroughthe
pestilentialmists;buttheappearanceofthecountrysoon
changed,foritoftenhappensinAfricathatsomeofthe
unhealthiestdistrictslieclosebesideothersthatare
perfectlysalubrious.
Kennedywasvisiblysuffering,andthefeverwasmastering
hisvigorousconstitution.
"ltwon'tdotofallill,though,"hegrumbled;and
sosaying,hewrappedhimselfinablanket,andlaydown
undertheawning.
"Alittlepatience,Dick,andyou'llsoongetover
this,"saidthedoctor.
"Getoverit!Egad,Samuel,ifyou'veanydrugin
yourtravelling-chestthatwillsetmeonmyfeetagain,
bringitwithoutdelay.l'llswallowitwithmyeyes
shut!"
"Oh,lcandobetterthanthat,friendDick;forlcan
giveyouafebrifugethatwon'tcostanything."
"Andhowwillyoudothat?"
"Veryeasily.lamsimplygoingtotakeyouup
abovethesecloudsthatarenowdelugingus,andremove
youfromthispestilentialatmosphere.laskforonlyten
minutes,inordertodilatethehydrogen."
Thetenminuteshadscarcelyelapsederethetravellers
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5wiab10
werebeyondtherainybeltofcountry.
"Waitalittle,now,Dick,andyou'llbegintofeelthe
effectofpureairandsunshine."
"There'sacureforyou!"saidJoe;"why,it'swonderful!"
"No,it'smerelynatural."
"Oh!natural;yes,nodoubtofthat!"
"lbringDickintogoodair,asthedoctorsdo,every
day,inEurope,or,aslwouldsendapatientatMartinique
tothePitons,aloftymountainonthatisland,togetclear
oftheyellowfever."
"Ah!byJove,thisballoonisaparadise!"exclaimed
Kennedy,feelingmuchbetteralready.
"ltleadstoit,anyhow!"repliedJoe,quitegravely.
ltwasacuriousspectacle--thatmassofcloudspiled
up,atthemoment,awaybelowthem!Thevaporsrolled
overeachother,andmingledtogetherinconfusedmasses
ofsuperbbrilliance,astheyreflectedtheraysofthesun.
TheVictoriahadattainedanaltitudeoffourthousand
feet,andthethermometerindicatedacertaindiminution
oftemperature.Thelandbelowcouldnolongerbeseen.
Fiftymilesawaytothewestward,MountRubehoraised
itssparklingcrest,markingthelimitoftheUgogocountry
ineastlongitudethirty-sixdegreestwentyminutes.
Thewindwasblowingattherateoftwentymilesanhour,
buttheaeronautsfeltnothingofthisincreasedspeed.
Theyobservednojar,andhadscarcelyanysenseofmotion
atall.
Threehourslater,thedoctor'spredictionwasfully
verified.Kennedynolongerfeltasingleshiverofthe
fever,butpartookofsomebreakfastwithanexcellent
appetite.
Thatbeatssulphateofquinine!"saidtheenergetic
Scot,withheartyemphasisandmuchsatisfaction.
"Positively,"saidJoe,"thisiswherel'llhavetoretire
towhenlgetold!"
Aboutteno'clockinthemorningtheatmosphere
clearedup,thecloudsparted,andthecountrybeneath
couldagainbeseen,theVictoriameanwhilerapidly
descending.Dr.Fergusonwasinsearchofacurrentthat
wouldcarryhimmoretothenortheast,andhefoundit
aboutsixhundredfeetfromtheground.Thecountry
wasbecomingmorebroken,andevenmountainous.The
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5wiab10
Zungomorodistrictwasfadingoutofsightintheeast
withthelastcocoa-nut-treesofthatlatitude.
Erelong,thecrestsofamountain-rangeassumedamore
decidedprominence.Afewpeaksrosehereandthere,
anditbecamenecessarytokeepasharplookoutforthe
pointedconesthatseemedtospringupeverymoment.
"We'rerightamongthebreakers!"saidKennedy.
"Keepcool,Dick.Weshan'ttouchthem,"wasthe
doctor'squietanswer.
"lt'sajollywaytotravel,anyhow!"saidJoe,with
hisusualflowofspirits.
lnfact,thedoctormanagedhisballoonwithwondrous
dexterity.
"Now,ifwehadbeencompelledtogoafootoverthat
drenchedsoil,"saidhe,"weshouldstillbedraggingalong
inapestilentialmire.SinceourdeparturefromZanzibar,
halfourbeastsofburdenwouldhavediedwithfatigue.
Weshouldbelookinglikeghostsourselves,anddespair
wouldbeseizingonourhearts.Weshouldbeincontinual
squabbleswithourguidesandporters,andcompletely
exposedtotheirunbridledbrutality.Duringthedaytime,
adamp,penetrating,unendurablehumidity!At
night,acoldfrequentlyintolerable,andthestingsofa
kindofflywhosebitepiercesthethickestcloth,anddrives
thevictimcrazy!Allthis,too,withoutsayinganything
aboutwildbeastsandferociousnativetribes!"
"lmovethatwedon'ttryit!"saidJoe,inhisdrollway.
"lexaggeratenothing,"continuedFerguson,"for,
uponreadingthenarrativesofsuchtravellersashavehad
thehardihoodtoventureintotheseregions,youreyes
wouldfillwithtears."
Abouteleveno'clocktheywerepassingoverthebasin
oflmenge,andthetribesscatteredovertheadjacenthills
wereimpotentlymenacingtheVictoriawiththeirweapons.
Finally,shespedalongasfarasthelastundulations
ofthecountrywhichprecedeRubeho.Theseformthe
lastandloftiestchainofthemountainsofUsagara.
Theaeronautstookcarefulandcompletenoteofthe
orographicconformationofthecountry.Thethreeramifications
mentioned,ofwhichtheDuthumiformsthefirst
link,areseparatedbyimmenselongitudinalplains.These
elevatedsummitsconsistofroundedcones,betweenwhich
thesoilisbestrewnwitherraticblocksofstoneandgravelly
bowlders.Themostabruptdeclivityofthesemountains
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5wiab10
confrontstheZanzibarcoast,butthewesternslopes
aremerelyinclinedplanes.Thedepressionsinthesoil
arecoveredwithablack,richloam,onwhichthereisa
vigorousvegetation.Variouswater-coursesfilterthrough,
towardtheeast,andworktheirwayonwardtoflowinto
theKingani,inthemidstofgiganticclumpsofsycamore,
tamarind,calabash,andpalmyratrees.
"Attention!"saidDr.Ferguson."WeareapproachingRubeho,the
nameofwhichsignifies,inthelanguageofthecountry,the
'PassageoftheWinds,'andwewoulddowelltodoubleitsjagged
pinnaclesatacertainheight.lfmychartbeexact,wearegoing
toascendtoanelevationoffivethousandfeet."
"Shallweoftenhaveoccasiontoreachthosefarupper
beltsoftheatmosphere?"
"Veryseldom:theheightoftheAfricanmountains
appearstobequitemoderatecomparedwiththatofthe
EuropeanandAsiaticranges;but,inanycase,ourgood
Victoriawillfindnodifficultyinpassingoverthem."
lnaverylittlewhile,thegasexpandedunderthe
actionoftheheat,andtheballoontookaverydecided
ascensionalmovement.Besides,thedilationofthehydrogen
involvednodanger,andonlythree-fourthsofthevast
capacityoftheballoonwasfilledwhenthebarometer,
byadepressionofeightinches,announcedanelevation
ofsixthousandfeet.
"Shallwegothishighverylong?"askedJoe.
"Theatmosphereoftheearthhasaheightofsixthousand
fathoms,"saidthedoctor;"and,withaverylarge
balloon,onemightgofar.ThatiswhatMessrs.Brioschi
andGay-Lussacdid;butthenthebloodburstfromtheir
mouthsandears.Respirableairwaswanting.Some
yearsago,twofearlessFrenchmen,Messrs.Barraland
Bixio,alsoventuredintotheveryloftyregions;buttheir
balloonburst--"
"Andtheyfell?"askedKennedy,abruptly.
"Certainlytheydid;butaslearnedmenshouldalways
fall--namely,withouthurtingthemselves."
"Well,gentlemen,"saidJoe,"youmaytrytheirfall
overagain,ifyoulike;but,asforme,whoambutadolt,
lpreferkeepingatthemediumheight--neithertoofar
up,nortoolowdown.ltwon'tdotobetooambitious."
Attheheightofsixthousandfeet,thedensityofthe
atmospherehasalreadygreatlydiminished;soundisconveyed
withdifficulty,andthevoiceisnotsoeasilyheard.
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5wiab10
Theviewofobjectsbecomesconfused;thegazenolonger
takesinanybutlarge,quiteill-distinguishablemasses;
menandanimalsonthesurfacebecomeabsolutelyinvisible;
theroadsandriversgettolooklikethreads,and
thelakesdwindletoponds.
Thedoctorandhisfriendsfeltthemselvesinavery
anomalouscondition;anatmosphericcurrentofextreme
velocitywasbearingthemawaybeyondaridmountains,
uponwhosesummitsvastfieldsofsnowsurprisedthe
gaze;whiletheirconvulsedappearancetoldofTitanic
travailintheearliestepochoftheworld'sexistence.
Thesunshoneatthezenith,andhisraysfellperpendicularly
uponthoselonelysummits.Thedoctortookanaccuratedesign
ofthesemountains,whichformfourdistinctridgesalmostin
astraightline,thenorthernmostbeingthelongest.
TheVictoriasoondescendedtheslopeoppositetothe
Rubeho,skirtinganacclivitycoveredwithwoods,and
dottedwithtreesofverydeep-greenfoliage.Thencame
crestsandravines,inasortofdesertwhichprecededthe
Ugogocountry;andlowerdownwereyellowplains,
parchedandfissuredbytheintenseheat,and,hereand
there,bestrewnwithsalineplantsandbramblythickets.
Someunderbrush,which,fartheron,becameforests,
embellishedthehorizon.Thedoctorwentnearertothe
ground;theanchorswerethrownout,andoneofthem
sooncaughtintheboughsofahugesycamore.
Joe,slippingnimblydownthetree,carefullyattached
theanchor,andthedoctorlefthiscylinderatworktoa
certaindegreeinordertoretainsufficientascensional
forceintheballoontokeepitintheair.Meanwhilethe
windhadsuddenlydiedaway.
"Now,"saidFerguson,"taketwoguns,friendDick--
oneforyourselfandoneforJoe--andbothofyoutryto
bringbacksomenicecutsofantelope-meat;theywill
makeusagooddinner."
"Offtothehunt!"exclaimedKennedy,joyously.
Heclimbedbrisklyoutofthecaranddescended.Joehad
swunghimselfdownfrombranchtobranch,andwaswaiting
forhimbelow,stretchinghislimbsinthemeantime.
"Don'tflyawaywithoutus,doctor!"shoutedJoe.
"Neverfear,myboy!--lamsecurelylashed.l'll
spendthetimegettingmynotesintoshape.Agoodhunt
toyou!butbecareful.Besides,frommyposthere,l
canobservethefaceofthecountry,and,attheleast
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suspiciousthinglnotice,l'llfireasignal-shot,and
withthatyoumustrallyhome."
"Agreed!"saidKennedy;andofftheywent.
CHAPTERFOURTEENTH.
TheForestofGum-Trees.--TheBlueAntelope.--TheRallying-Signal.
--AnUnexpectedAttack.--TheKanyeme.--ANightintheOpenAir.--The
Mabunguru.--Jihoue-la-Mkoa.--ASupplyofWater.--ArrivalatKazeh.
Thecountry,dryandparchedasitwas,consistingof
aclayeysoilthatcrackedopenwiththeheat,seemed,
indeed,adesert:hereandtherewereafewtracesof
caravans;thebonesofmenandanimals,thathadbeen
half-gnawedaway,moulderingtogetherinthesamedust.
Afterhalfanhour'swalking,DickandJoeplunged
intoaforestofgum-trees,theireyesalertonallsides,
andtheirfingersonthetrigger.Therewasnoforeseeing
whattheymightencounter.Withoutbeingarifleman,Joe
couldhandlefire-armswithnotriflingdexterity.
"Awalkdoesonegood,Mr.Kennedy,butthisisn't
theeasiestgroundintheworld,"hesaid,kickingaside
somefragmentsofquartzwithwhichthesoilwasbestrewn.
Kennedymotionedtohiscompaniontobesilentand
tohalt.Thepresentcasecompelledthemtodispense
withhunting-dogs,and,nomatterwhatJoe'sagilitymight
be,hecouldnotbeexpectedtohavethescentofasetter
oragreyhound.
Aherdofadozenantelopeswerequenchingtheir
thirstinthebedofatorrentwheresomepoolsofwater
hadlodged.Thegracefulcreatures,snuffingdangerin
thebreeze,seemedtobedisturbedanduneasy.Their
beautifulheadscouldbeseenbetweeneverydraught,
raisedintheairwithquickandsuddenmotionasthey
sniffedthewindinthedirectionofourtwohunters,with
theirflexiblenostrils.
Kennedystolearoundbehindsomeclumpsofshrubbery,
whileJoeremainedmotionlesswherehewas.The
former,atlength,gotwithingunshotandfired.
Theherddisappearedinthetwinklingofaneye;one
maleantelopeonly,thatwashitjustbehindthe
shoulder-joint,fellheadlongtotheground,and
Kennedyleapedtowardhisbooty.
ltwasablauwbok,asuperbanimalofapale-bluish
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5wiab10
colorshadinguponthegray,butwiththebellyandthe
insideofthelegsaswhiteasthedrivensnow.
"Asplendidshot!"exclaimedthehunter."lt'savery
rarespeciesoftheantelope,andlhopetobeableto
preparehisskininsuchawayastokeepit."
"lndeed!"saidJoe,"doyouthinkofdoingthat,Mr.Kennedy?"
"Why,certainlyldo!Justseewhatafinehideitis!"
"ButDr.Fergusonwillneverallowustotakesuchan
extraweight!"
"You'reright,Joe.Stillitisapitytohavetoleave
suchanobleanimal."
"Thewholeofit?Oh,wewon'tdothat,sir;we'll
takeallthegoodeatablepartsofit,and,ifyou'llletme,
l'llcuthimupjustaswellasthechairmanofthehonorable
corporationofbutchersofthecityofLondoncoulddo."
"Asyouplease,myboy!Butyouknowthatinmyhunter'sway
lcanjustaseasilyskinandcutupapieceofgameaskillit."
"l'msureofthat,Mr.Kennedy.Well,then,youcan
buildafireplacewithafewstones;there'splentyofdry
dead-wood,andlcanmakethehotcoalstellinafew
minutes."
"Oh!thatwon'ttakelong,"saidKennedy,goingto
workonthefireplace,wherehehadabriskflamecrackling
andsparklinginaminuteortwo.
Joehadcutsomeoftheniceststeaksandthebestpartsof
thetenderloinfromthecarcassoftheantelope,andthese
werequicklytransformedtothemostsavoryofbroils.
"There,thosewillticklethedoctor!"saidKennedy.
"Doyouknowwhatlwasthinkingabout?"saidJoe.
"Why,aboutthesteaksyou'rebroiling,tobesure!"
repliedDick.
"Nottheleastintheworld.lwasthinkingwhata
figurewe'dcutifwecouldn'tfindtheballoonagain."
"ByGeorge,whatanidea!Why,doyouthinkthe
doctorwoulddesertus?"
"No;butsupposehisanchorweretoslip!"
"lmpossible!and,besides,thedoctorwouldfindno
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5wiab10
difficultyincomingdownagainwithhisballoon;he
handlesitathisease."
"Butsupposethewindweretosweepitoff,sothathe
couldn'tcomebacktowardus?"
"Come,come,Joe!atrucetoyoursuppositions;
they'reanythingbutpleasant."
"Ah!sir,everythingthathappensinthisworldis
natural,ofcourse;but,then,anythingmayhappen,and
weoughttolookoutbeforehand."
Atthismomentthereportofagunrangoutupontheair.
"What'sthat?"exclaimedJoe.
"lt'smyrifle,lknowtheringofher!"saidKennedy.
"Asignal!"
"Yes;dangerforus!"
"Forhim,too,perhaps."
"Let'sbeoff!"
Andthehunters,havinggathereduptheproductof
theirexpedition,rapidlymadetheirwaybackalongthe
paththattheyhadmarkedbybreakingboughsandbushes
whentheycame.Thedensityoftheunderbrushprevented
theirseeingtheballoon,althoughtheycouldnot
befarfromit.
Asecondshotwasheard.
"Wemusthurry!"saidJoe.
"There!athirdreport!"
"Why,itsoundstomeasifhewasdefendinghimself
againstsomething."
"Letusmakehaste!"
Theynowbegantorunatthetopoftheirspeed.
Whentheyreachedtheoutskirtsoftheforest,they,at
firstglance,sawtheballooninitsplaceandthedoctorin
thecar.
"What'sthematter?"shoutedKennedy.
"GoodGod!"suddenlyexclaimedJoe.
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"Whatdoyousee?"
"Downthere!look!acrowdofblackssurrounding
theballoon!"
And,infact,there,twomilesfromwheretheywere,
theysawsomethirtywildnativesclosetogether,yelling,
gesticulating,andcuttingallkindsofanticsatthefootof
thesycamore.Some,climbingintothetreeitself,were
makingtheirwaytothetopmostbranches.Thedanger
seemedpressing.
"Mymasterislost!"criedJoe.
"Come!alittlemorecoolness,Joe,andletusseehow
westand.Weholdthelivesoffourofthosevillainsin
ourhands.Forward,then!"
Theyhadmadeamilewithheadlongspeed,when
anotherreportwasheardfromthecar.Theshothad,
evidently,tolduponahugeblackdemon,whohadbeen
hoistinghimselfupbytheanchor-rope.Alifelessbody
fellfromboughtobough,andhungabouttwentyfeet
fromtheground,itsarmsandlegsswayingtoandfroin
theair.
"Ha!"saidJoe,halting,"whatdoesthatfellowholdby?"
"Nomatterwhat!"saidKennedy;"letusrun!let
usrun!"
"Ah!Mr.Kennedy,"saidJoe,again,inaroarof
laughter,"byhistail!byhistail!it'sanape!They're
allapes!"
"Well,they'reworsethanmen!"saidKennedy,ashe
dashedintothemidstofthehowlingcrowd.
ltwas,indeed,atroopofveryformidablebaboonsof
thedog-facedspecies.Thesecreaturesarebrutal,ferocious,
andhorribletolookupon,withtheirdog-likemuzzles
andsavageexpression.However,afewshotsscattered
them,andthechatteringhordescamperedoff,
leavingseveraloftheirnumberontheground.
lnamomentKennedywasontheladder,andJoe,
clamberingupthebranches,detachedtheanchor;thecar
thendippedtowherehewas,andhegotintoitwithout
difficulty.Afewminuteslater,theVictoriaslowly
ascendedandsoaredawaytotheeastward,waftedbya
moderatewind.
"Thatwasanattackforyou!"saidJoe.
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"Wethoughtyouweresurroundedbynatives."
"Well,fortunately,theywereonlyapes,"saidthedoctor.
"Atadistancethere'snogreatdifference,"remarkedKennedy.
"Norcloseathand,either,"addedJoe.
"Well,howeverthatmaybe,"resumedFerguson,"this
attackofapesmighthavehadthemostseriousconsequences.
Hadtheanchoryieldedtotheirrepeatedefforts,whoknows
whitherthewindwouldhavecarriedme?"
"Whatdidltellyou,Mr.Kennedy?"
"Youwereright,Joe;but,evenrightasyoumay
havebeen,youwere,atthatmoment,preparingsome
antelope-steaks,theverysightofwhichgavemea
monstrousappetite."
"lbelieveyou!"saidthedoctor;"thefleshofthe
antelopeisexquisite."
"Youmayjudgeofthatyourself,now,sir,forsupper'sready."
"Uponmywordasasportsman,thosevenison-steaks
haveagamyflavorthat'snottobesneezedat,ltellyou."
"Good!"saidJoe,withhismouthfull,"lcouldlive
onantelopeallthedaysofmylife;andallthebetterwith
aglassofgrogtowashitdown."
Sosaying,thegoodfellowwenttoworktopreparea
jorumofthatfragrantbeverage,andallhandstastedit
withsatisfaction.
"Everythinghasgonewellthusfar,"saidhe.
"Verywellindeed!"assentedKennedy.
"Come,now,Mr.Kennedy,areyousorrythatyou
camewithus?"
"l'dliketoseeanybodypreventmycoming!"
ltwasnowfouro'clockintheafternoon.TheVictoria
hadstruckamorerapidcurrent.Thefaceofthe
countrywasgraduallyrising,and,erelong,thebarometer
indicatedaheightoffifteenhundredfeetabovethelevel
ofthesea.Thedoctorwas,therefore,obligedtokeep
hisballoonupbyaquiteconsiderabledilationofgas,and
thecylinderwashardatworkallthetime.
Towardseveno'clock,theballoonwassailingoverthe
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basinofKanyeme.Thedoctorimmediatelyrecognized
thatimmenseclearing,tenmilesinextent,withitsvillages
buriedinthemidstofbaobabandcalabashtrees.
ltistheresidenceofoneofthesultansoftheUgogo
country,wherecivilizationis,perhaps,theleastbackward.
Thenativestherearelessaddictedtosellingmembersof
theirownfamilies,butstill,menandanimalsalllive
togetherinroundhuts,withoutframes,thatlooklike
haystacks.
BeyondKanyemethesoilbecomesaridandstony,but
inanhour'sjourney,inafertiledipofthesoil,vegetation
hadresumedallitsvigoratsomedistancefromMdaburu.
Thewindfellwiththecloseoftheday,andtheatmosphere
seemedtosleep.Thedoctorvainlysoughtfora
currentofairatdifferentheights,and,atlast,seeingthis
calmofallnature,heresolvedtopassthenightafloat,and,
forgreatersafety,rosetotheheightofonethousandfeet,
wheretheballoonremainedmotionless.Thenightwas
magnificent,theheavensglitteringwithstars,andprofoundly
silentintheupperair.
DickandJoestretchedthemselvesontheirpeaceful
couch,andweresoonsoundasleep,thedoctorkeepingthe
firstwatch.Attwelveo'clockthelatterwasrelievedby
Kennedy.
"Shouldtheslightestaccidenthappen,wakenme,"
saidFerguson,"and,aboveallthings,don'tlosesightof
thebarometer.Tousitisthecompass!"
Thenightwascold.Thereweretwenty-sevendegrees
ofdifferencebetweenitstemperatureandthatofthedaytime.
Withnightfallhadbegunthenocturnalconcert
ofanimalsdrivenfromtheirhiding-placesbyhungerand
thirst.Thefrogsstruckintheirgutturalsoprano,
redoubledbytheyelpingofthejackals,whiletheimposing
bassoftheAfricanlionsustainedtheaccordsofthisliving
orchestra.
Uponresuminghispost,inthemorning,thedoctor
consultedhiscompass,andfoundthatthewindhad
changedduringthenight.Theballoonhadbeenbearing
aboutthirtymilestothenorthwestduringthelasttwo
hours.ltwasthenpassingoverMabunguru,astony
country,strewnwithblocksofsyeniteofafinepolish,and
knobbedwithhugebowldersandangularridgesofrock;
conicmasses,liketherocksofKarnak,studdedthesoil
likesomanyDruidicdolmens;thebonesofbuffaloesand
elephantswhitenedithereandthere;butfewtreescould
beseen,exceptingintheeast,wherethereweredense
woods,amongwhichafewvillageslayhalfconcealed.
Towardseveno'clocktheysawahugeroundrock
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nearlytwomilesinextent,likeanimmensetortoise.
"Weareontherighttrack,"saidDr.Ferguson.
"There'sJihoue-la-Mkoa,wherewemusthaltforafew
minutes.lamgoingtorenewthesupplyofwaternecessary
formycylinder,andsoletustrytoanchorsomewhere."
"Thereareveryfewtrees,"repliedthehunger.
"Nevermind,letustry.Joe,throwouttheanchors!"
Theballoon,graduallylosingitsascensionalforce,
approachedtheground;theanchorsranalonguntil,at
last,oneofthemcaughtinthefissureofarock,andthe
balloonremainedmotionless.
ltmustnotbesupposedthatthedoctorcouldentirely
extinguishhiscylinder,duringthesehalts.Theequilibrium
oftheballoonhadbeencalculatedatthelevelof
thesea;and,asthecountrywascontinuallyascending,
andhadreachedanelevationoffromsixtosevenhundred
feet,theballoonwouldhavehadatendencytogolower
thanthesurfaceofthesoilitself.ltwas,therefore,
necessarytosustainitbyacertaindilationofthegas.But,
incasethedoctor,intheabsenceofallwind,hadletthe
carrestupontheground,theballoon,thusrelievedofa
considerableweight,wouldhavekeptupofitself,without
theaidofthecylinder.
Themapsindicatedextensivepondsonthewestern
slopeoftheJihoue-la-Mkoa.Joewentthitheralone
withacaskthatwouldholdabouttengallons.Hefound
theplacepointedouttohim,withoutdifficulty,neartoa
desertedvillage;gothisstockofwater,andreturnedin
lessthanthree-quartersofanhour.Hehadseennothing
particularexceptingsomeimmenseelephant-pits.lnfact,
hecameverynearfallingintooneofthem,atthebottom
ofwhichlayahalf-eatencarcass.
Hebroughtbackwithhimasortofcloverwhichthe
apeseatwithavidity.Thedoctorrecognizedthefruit
ofthe"mbenbu"-treewhichgrowsinprofusion,onthe
westernpartofJihoue-la-Mkoa.Fergusonwaitedfor
Joewithacertainfeelingofimpatience,forevenashort
haltinthisinhospitableregionalwaysinspiresadegree
offear.
Thewaterwasgotaboardwithouttrouble,asthecar
wasnearlyrestingontheground.Joethenfounditeasy
toloosentheanchorandleapedlightlytohisplacebeside
thedoctor.Thelatterthenreplenishedtheflameinthe
cylinder,andtheballoonmajesticallysoaredintotheair.
ltwasthenaboutonehundredmilesfromKazeh,an
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importantestablishmentintheinteriorofAfrica,where,
thankstoasouth-southeasterlycurrent,thetravellers
mighthopetoarriveonthatsameday.Theyweremoving
attherateoffourteenmilesperhour,andtheguidance
oftheballoonwasbecomingdifficult,astheydared
notriseveryhighwithoutextremedilationofthegas,the
countryitselfbeingatanaverageheightofthreethousand
feet.Hence,thedoctorpreferrednottoforcethe
dilation,andsoadroitlyfollowedthesinuositiesofa
prettysharply-inclinedplane,andsweptveryclosetothe
villagesofThemboandTura-Wels.Thelatterforms
partoftheUnyamwezy,amagnificentcountry,wherethe
treesattainenormousdimensions;amongthemthecactus,
whichgrowstogiganticsize.
Abouttwoo'clock,inmagnificentweather,butundera
fierysunthatdevouredtheleastbreathofair,theballoon
wasfloatingoverthetownofKazeh,situatedaboutthree
hundredandfiftymilesfromthecoast.
"WeleftZanzibaratnineo'clockinthemorning,"
saidthedoctor,consultinghisnotes,"and,aftertwo
days'passage,wehave,includingourdeviations,travelled
nearlyfivehundredgeographicalmiles.Captains
BurtonandSpeketookfourmonthsandahalftomake
thesamedistance!"
CHAPTERFlFTEENTH.
Kazeh.--TheNoisyMarket-place.--TheAppearanceoftheBalloon.--The
Wangaga.--TheSonsoftheMoon.--TheDoctor'sWalk.--ThePopulationofthe
Place.--TheRoyalTembe.--TheSultan'sWives.--ARoyalDrunken-Bout.--
JoeanObjectofWorship.--HowtheyDanceintheMoon.--AReaction.--
TwoMoonsinoneSky.--ThelnstabilityofDivineHonors.
Kazeh,animportantpointinCentralAfrica,isnota
city;intruth,therearenocitiesintheinterior.Kazeh
isbutacollectionofsixextensiveexcavations.There
areenclosedafewhousesandslave-huts,withlittlecourtyards
andsmallgardens,carefullycultivatedwithonions,
potatoes,cucumbers,pumpkins,andmushrooms,ofperfect
flavor,growingmostluxuriantly.
TheUnyamwezyisthecountryoftheMoon--above
alltherest,thefertileandmagnificentgarden-spotof
Africa.lnitscentreisthedistrictofUnyanembe--a
deliciousregion,wheresomefamiliesofOmani,whoare
ofverypureArabicorigin,liveinluxuriousidleness.
Theyhave,foralongperiod,heldthecommercebetween
theinteriorofAfricaandArabia:theytradein
gums,ivory,finemuslin,andslaves.Theircaravans
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5wiab10
traversetheseequatorialregionsonallsides;andthey
evenmaketheirwaytothecoastinsearchofthosearticles
ofluxuryandenjoymentwhichthewealthymerchants
covet;whilethelatter,surroundedbytheirwives
andtheirattendants,leadinthischarmingcountrythe
leastdisturbedandmosthorizontaloflives--always
stretchedatfulllength,laughing,smoking,orsleeping.
Aroundtheseexcavationsarenumerousnativedwellings;
wide,openspacesforthemarkets;fieldsofcannabis
anddatura;superbtreesanddepthsoffreshest
shade--suchisKazeh!
There,too,isheldthegeneralrendezvousofthecaravans
--thoseofthesouth,withtheirslavesandtheirfreightage
ofivory;andthoseofthewest,whichexportcotton,
glassware,andtrinkets,tothetribesofthegreatlakes.
Sointhemarket-placetherereignsperpetualexcitement,
anamelesshubbub,madeupofthecriesofmixed-breed
portersandcarriers,thebeatingofdrums,andthe
twangingofhorns,theneighingofmules,thebrayingof
donkeys,thesingingofwomen,thesquallingofchildren,
andthebangingofthehugerattan,wieldedbythejemadar
orleaderofthecaravans,whobeatstimetothispastoral
symphony.
There,spreadforth,withoutregardtoorder--indeed,
wemaysay,incharmingdisorder--aretheshowystuffs,
theglassbeads,theivorytusks,therhinoceros'-teeth,the
shark's-teeth,thehoney,thetobacco,andthecottonof
theseregions,tobepurchasedatthestrangestofbargains
bycustomersinwhoseeyeseacharticlehasapriceonly
inproportiontothedesireitexcitestopossessit.
Allatoncethisagitation,movementandnoisestopped
asthoughbymagic.Theballoonhadjustcomeinsight,
faraloftinthesky,whereithoveredmajesticallyfor
afewmoments,andthendescendedslowly,without
deviatingfromitsperpendicular.Men,women,children,
merchantsandslaves,Arabsandnegroes,assuddenly
disappearedwithinthe"tembes"andthehuts.
"Mydeardoctor,"saidKennedy,"ifwecontinueto
producesuchasensationasthis,weshallfindsome
difficultyinestablishingcommercialrelationswith
thepeoplehereabouts."
"There'sonekindoftradethatwemightcarryon,
though,easilyenough,"saidJoe;"andthatwouldbeto
godowntherequietly,andwalkoffwiththebestofthe
goods,withouttroublingourheadsaboutthemerchants;
we'dgetrichthatway!"
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5wiab10
"Ah!"saidthedoctor,"thesenativesarealittle
scaredatfirst;buttheywon'tbelongincomingback,
eitherthroughsuspicionorthroughcuriosity."
"Doyoureallythinkso,doctor?"
"Well,we'llseeprettysoon.Butitwouldn'tbeprudent
togotooneartothem,fortheballoonisnotiron-clad,
andis,therefore,notproofagainsteitheranarrow
orabullet."
"Thenyouexpecttoholdaparleywiththeseblacks?"
"lfwecandososafely,whyshouldwenot?There
mustbesomeArabmerchantshereatKazeh,whoarebetter
informedthantherest,andnotsobarbarous.lremember
thatBurtonandSpekehadnothingbutpraises
toutterconcerningthehospitalityofthesepeople;sowe
might,atleast,maketheventure."
Theballoonhaving,meanwhile,graduallyapproached
theground,oneoftheanchorslodgedinthetopofatree
nearthemarket-place.
Bythistimethewholepopulationhademergedfrom
theirhiding-placesstealthily,thrustingtheirheadsout
first.Several"waganga,"recognizablebytheirbadges
ofconicalshellwork,cameboldlyforward.Theywere
thesorcerersoftheplace.Theyboreintheirgirdles
smallgourds,coatedwithtallow,andseveralother
articlesofwitchcraft,allofthem,by-the-way,most
professionallyfilthy.
Littlebylittlethecrowdgatheredbesidethem,the
womenandchildrengroupedaroundthem,thedrums
renewedtheirdeafeninguproar,handswereviolently
clappedtogether,andthenraisedtowardthesky.
"That'stheirstyleofpraying,"saidthedoctor;"and,
ifl'mnotmistaken,we'regoingtobecalledupontoplay
agreatpart."
"Well,sir,playit!"
"You,too,mygoodJoe--perhapsyou'retobeagod!"
"Well,master,thatwon'ttroublememuch.llikea
littleflattery!"
Atthismoment,oneofthesorcerers,a"myanga,"
madeasign,andalltheclamordiedawayintothe
profoundestsilence.Hethenaddressedafewwordstothe
strangers,butinanunknowntongue.
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5wiab10
Dr.Ferguson,nothavingunderstoodthem,shouted
somesentencesinArabic,ataventure,andwas
immediatelyansweredinthatlanguage.
Thespeakerbelowthendeliveredhimselfofavery
copiousharangue,whichwasalsoveryfloweryandvery
gravelylistenedtobyhisaudience.Fromitthedoctor
wasnotslowinlearningthattheballoonwasmistakenfor
nothinglessthanthemooninperson,andthattheamiable
goddessinquestionhadcondescendedtoapproachthetown
withherthreesons--anhonorthatwouldneverbeforgotten
inthislandsogreatlylovedbythegodofday.
Thedoctorresponded,withmuchdignity,thatthe
moonmadeherprovincialtoureverythousandyears,
feelingthenecessityofshowingherselfnearerathand
toherworshippers.He,therefore,beggedthemnottobe
disturbedbyherpresence,buttotakeadvantageofitto
makeknownalltheirwantsandlongings.
Thesorcerer,inhisturn,repliedthatthesultan,the
"mwani,"whohadbeensickformanyyears,implored
theaidofheaven,andheinvitedthesonofthemoonto
visithim.
Thedoctoracquaintedhiscompanionswiththeinvitation.
"Andyouaregoingtocalluponthisnegroking?"
askedKennedy.
"Undoubtedlyso;thesepeopleappearwelldisposed;
theairiscalm;thereisnotabreathofwind,andwehave
nothingtofearfortheballoon?"
"But,whatwillyoudo?"
"Bequietonthatscore,mydearDick.Withalittle
medicine,lshallworkmywaythroughtheaffair!"
Then,addressingthecrowd,hesaid:
"Themoon,takingcompassiononthesovereignwho
issodeartothechildrenofUnyamwezy,haschargedus
torestorehimtohealth.Lethimpreparetoreceiveus!"
Theclamor,thesongsanddemonstrationsofallkinds
increasedtwofold,andthewholeimmenseants'nestof
blackheadswasagaininmotion.
"Now,myfriends,"saidDr.Ferguson,"wemust
lookoutforeverythingbeforehand;wemaybeforcedto
leavethisatanymoment,unexpectedly,andbeoffwith
extraspeed.Dickhadbetterremain,therefore,inthe
car,andkeepthecylinderwarmsoastosecureasufficient
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ascensionalforcefortheballoon.Theanchorissolidly
fastened,andthereisnothingtofearinthatrespect.l
shalldescend,andJoewillgowithme,onlythathemust
remainatthefootoftheladder."
"What!areyougoingaloneintothatblackamoor'sden?"
"How!doctor,amlnottogowithyou?"
"No!lshallgoalone;thesegoodfolksimaginethat
thegoddessofthemoonhascometoseethem,andtheir
superstitionprotectsme;sohavenofear,andeachone
remainatthepostthatlhaveassignedtohim."
"Well,sinceyouwishit,"sighedKennedy.
"Lookcloselytothedilationofthegas."
"Agreed!"
Bythistimetheshoutsofthenativeshadswelledto
doublevolumeastheyvehementlyimploredtheaidofthe
heavenlypowers.
"There,there,"saidJoe,"they'reratherroughin
theirorderstotheirgoodmoonandherdivinesons."
Thedoctor,equippedwithhistravellingmedicine-chest,
descendedtotheground,precededbyJoe,whokept
astraightcountenanceandlookedasgraveandknowing
asthecircumstancesofthecaserequired.Hethenseated
himselfatthefootoftheladderintheArabfashion,with
hislegscrossedunderhim,andaportionofthecrowd
collectedaroundhiminacircle,atrespectfuldistances.
lnthemeanwhilethedoctor,escortedtothesoundof
savageinstruments,andwithwildreligiousdances,slowly
proceededtowardtheroyal"tembe,"situatedaconsiderable
distanceoutsideofthetown.ltwasaboutthree
o'clock,andthesunwasshiningbrilliantly.lnfact,what
lesscoulditdouponsograndanoccasion!
Thedoctorsteppedalongwithgreatdignity,thewaganga
surroundinghimandkeepingoffthecrowd.Hewassoon
joinedbythenaturalsonofthesultan,ahandsomely-built
youngfellow,who,accordingtothecustomofthecountry,
wasthesoleheirofthepaternalgoods,totheexclusion
oftheoldman'slegitimatechildren.Heprostratedhimself
beforethesonofthemoon,butthelattergraciouslyraised
himtohisfeet.
Three-quartersofanhourlater,throughshadypaths,
surroundedbyalltheluxurianceoftropicalvegetation,
thisenthusiasticprocessionarrivedatthesultan'spalace,
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5wiab10
asortofsquareedificecalledititenya,andsituatedonthe
slopeofahill.
Akindofveranda,formedbythethatchedroof,adornedthe
outside,supporteduponwoodenpillars,whichhadsome
pretensionstobeingcarved.Longlinesofdark-redclay
decoratedthewallsincharactersthatstrovetoreproduce
theformsofmenandserpents,thelatterbetter
imitated,ofcourse,thantheformer.Theroofingofthis
abodedidnotrestdirectlyuponthewalls,andtheair
could,therefore,circulatefreely,butwindowstherewere
none,andthedoorhardlydeservedthename.
Dr.Fergusonwasreceivedwithallthehonorsbythe
guardsandfavoritesofthesultan;theseweremenofa
finerace,theWanyamweziso-called,apuretypeofthe
centralAfricanpopulations,strong,robust,well-made,and
insplendidcondition.Theirhair,dividedintoagreat
numberofsmalltresses,fellovertheirshoulders,andby
meansofblack-and-blueincisionstheyhadtattooedtheir
cheeksfromthetemplestothemouth.Theirears,frightfully
distended,helddanglingtothemdisksofwoodand
platesofgumcopal.Theywerecladinbrilliantly-painted
cloths,andthesoldierswerearmedwiththesaw-toothed
war-club,thebowandarrowsbarbedandpoisonedwith
thejuiceoftheeuphorbium,thecutlass,the"sima,"along
sabre(alsowithsaw-liketeeth),andsomesmallbattle-axes.
Thedoctoradvancedintothepalace,andthere,notwithstanding
thesultan'sillness,thedin,whichwasterrificbefore,
redoubledtheinstantthathearrived.Henoticed,atthe
lintelsofthedoor,somerabbits'tailsandzebras'manes,
suspendedastalismans.Hewasreceivedbythewholetroop
ofhismajesty'swives,totheharmoniousaccordsofthe
"upatu,"asortofcymbalmadeofthebottomofacopper
kettle,andtotheuproarofthe"kilindo,"adrumfivefeet
high,hollowedoutfromthetrunkofatree,andhammeredby
theponderous,hornyfistsoftwojet-blackvirtuosi.
Mostofthewomenwererathergood-looking,andtheylaughed
andchatteredmerrilyastheysmokedtheirtobaccoand"thang"
inhugeblackpipes.Theyseemedtobewellmade,too,under
thelongrobesthattheyworegracefullyflungabouttheir
persons,andcarriedasortof"kilt"wovenfromthefibres
ofcalabashfastenedaroundtheirgirdles.
Sixofthemwerenottheleastmerryoftheparty,
althoughputasidefromtherest,andreservedforacruel
fate.Onthedeathofthesultan,theyweretobeburied
alivewithhim,soastooccupyanddiverthismindduring
theperiodofeternalsolitude.
Dr.Ferguson,takinginthewholesceneatarapid
glance,approachedthewoodencouchonwhichthesultan
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5wiab10
layreclining.Therehesawamanofaboutforty,completely
brutalizedbyorgiesofeverydescription,andina
conditionthatleftlittleornothingtobedone.The
sicknessthathadafflictedhimforsomanyyearswassimply
perpetualdrunkenness.Theroyalsothadnearlylostall
consciousness,andalltheammoniaintheworldwould
nothavesethimonhisfeetagain.
Hisfavoritesandthewomenkeptonbendedknees
duringthissolemnvisit.Bymeansofafewdropsof
powerfulcordial,thedoctorforamomentreanimatedthe
imbrutedcarcassthatlaybeforehim.Thesultanstirred,
and,foradeadbodythathadgivennosignwhateverof
lifeforseveralhourspreviously,thissymptomwas
receivedwithatremendousrepetitionofshoutsandcries
inthedoctor'shonor.
Thelatter,whohadseenenoughofitbythistime,bya
rapidmotionputasidehistoodemonstrativeadmirers
andwentoutofthepalace,directinghisstepsimmediately
towardtheballoon,foritwasnowsixo'clockintheevening.
Joe,duringhisabsence,hadbeenquietlywaitingat
thefootoftheladder,wherethecrowdpaidhimtheir
mosthumblerespects.Likeagenuinesonofthemoon,
heletthemkeepon.Foradivinity,hehadtheairofa
verycleversortoffellow,bynomeansproud,nay,even
pleasinglyfamiliarwiththeyoungnegresses,whoseemed
nevertotireoflookingathim.Besides,hewentsofar
astochatagreeablywiththem.
"Worshipme,ladies!worshipme!"hesaidtothem.
"l'macleversortofdevil,iflamthesonofagoddess."
Theybroughthimpropitiatorygifts,suchasareusually
depositedinthefetichhutsormzimu.Thesegifts
consistedofstalksofbarleyandof"pombe."Joeconsidered
himselfindutyboundtotastethelatterspecies
ofstrongbeer,buthispalate,althoughaccustomedtogin
andwhiskey,couldnotwithstandthestrengthofthenew
beverage,andhehadtomakeahorriblegrimace,which
hisduskyfriendstooktobeabenevolentsmile.
Thereupon,theyoungdamsels,conjoiningtheirvoices
inadrawlingchant,begantodancearoundhimwiththe
utmostgravity.
"Ah!you'redancing,areyou?"saidhe."Well,l
won'tbebehindyouinpoliteness,andsol'llgiveyouone
ofmycountryreels."
Soatithewent,inoneofthewildestjigsthatever
wasseen,twisting,turning,andjerkinghimselfinall
directions;dancingwithhishands,dancingwithhisbody,
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5wiab10
dancingwithhisknees,dancingwithhisfeet;describing
themostfearfulcontortionsandextravagantevolutions;
throwinghimselfintoincredibleattitudes;grimacingbeyond
allbelief,and,infinegivinghissavageadmirersa
strangeideaofthestyleofballetadoptedbythedeities
inthemoon.
Then,thewholecollectionofblacks,naturallyasimitative
asmonkeys,atoncereproducedallhisairsand
graces,hisleapsandshakesandcontortions;theydid
notloseasinglegesticulation;theydidnotforgetan
attitude;andtheresultwas,suchapandemoniumofmovement,
noise,andexcitement,asitwouldbeoutofthe
questionevenfeeblytodescribe.But,intheverymidst
ofthefun,Joesawthedoctorapproaching.
Thelatterwascomingatfullspeed,surroundedbya
yellinganddisorderlythrong.Thechiefsandsorcerers
seemedtobehighlyexcited.Theywerecloseuponthe
doctor'sheels,crowdingandthreateninghim.
Singularreaction!Whathadhappened?Hadthesultan
unluckilyperishedinthehandsofhiscelestialphysician?
Kennedy,fromhispostofobservation,sawthedanger
withoutknowingwhathadcausedit,andtheballoon,
powerfullyurgedbythedilationofthegas,strainedand
tuggedattheropesthathelditasthoughimpatientto
soaraway.
Thedoctorhadgotasfarasthefootoftheladder.A
superstitiousfearstillheldthecrowdaloofandhindered
themfromcommittinganyviolenceonhisperson.He
rapidlyscaledtheladder,andJoefollowedhimwithhis
usualagility.
"Notamomenttolose!"saidthedoctor."Don't
attempttoletgotheanchor!We'llcutthecord!
Followme!"
"Butwhat'sthematter?"askedJoe,clamberinginto
thecar.
"What'shappened?"questionedKennedy,rifleinhand.
"Look!"repliedthedoctor,pointingtothehorizon.
"Well?"ejaculatedtheScot.
"Well!themoon!"
And,infact,therewasthemoonrisingredandmagnificent,
aglobeoffireinafieldofblue!ltwasshe,indeed--she
andtheballoon!--bothinonesky!
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Eitherthereweretwomoons,then,orthesestrangers
wereimposters,designingscamps,falsedeities!
Suchweretheverynaturalreflectionsofthecrowd,
andhencethereactionintheirfeelings.
Joecouldnot,forthelifeofhim,keepinaroarof
laughter;andthepopulationofKazeh,comprehending
thattheirpreywasslippingthroughtheirclutches,set
upprolongedhowlings,aiming,thewhile,theirbowsand
musketsattheballoon.
Butoneofthesorcerersmadeasign,andallthe
weaponswerelowered.Hethenbegantoclimbintothe
tree,intendingtoseizetheropeandbringthemachineto
theground.
Joeleanedoutwithahatchetready."Shalllcut
away?"saidhe.
"No;waitamoment,"repliedthedoctor.
"Butthisblack?"
"Wemay,perhaps,saveouranchor--andlholda
greatdealbythat.There'llalwaysbetimeenoughto
cutloose."
Thesorcerer,havingclimbedtotherightplace,worked
sovigorouslythathesucceededindetachingtheanchor,
andthelatter,violentlyjerked,atthatmoment,bythe
startoftheballoon,caughttherascalbetweenthelimbs,
andcarriedhimoffastrideofitthroughtheair.
Thestupefactionofthecrowdwasindescribableas
theysawoneoftheirwagangathuswhirledawayinto
space.
"Huzza!"roaredJoe,astheballoon--thankstoits
ascensionalforce--shotuphigherintothesky,with
increasedrapidity.
"Heholdsonwell,"saidKennedy;"alittletripwill
dohimgood."
"Shallweletthisdarkydropallatonce?"inquiredJoe.
"Ohno,"repliedthedoctor,"we'lllethimdown
easily;andlwarrantmethat,aftersuchanadventure,
thepowerofthewizardwillbeenormouslyenhancedin
thesightofhiscomrades."
"Why,lwouldn'tputitpastthemtomakeagodof
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him!"saidJoe,withalaugh.
TheVictoria,bythistime,hadrisentotheheightof
onethousandfeet,andtheblackhungtotheropewith
desperateenergy.Hehadbecomecompletelysilent,and
hiseyeswerefixed,forhisterrorwasblendedwith
amazement.Alightwestwindwassweepingtheballoonright
overthetown,andfarbeyondit.
Halfanhourlater,thedoctor,seeingthecountrydeserted,
moderatedtheflameofhiscylinder,anddescended
towardtheground.Attwentyfeetabovetheturf,the
affrightedsorcerermadeuphismindinatwinkling:he
lethimselfdrop,fellonhisfeet,andscamperedoffata
furiouspacetowardKazeh;whiletheballoon,suddenly
relievedofhisweight,againshotuponhercourse.
CHAPTERSlXTEENTH.
SymptomsofaStorm.--TheCountryoftheMoon.--TheFutureoftheAfrican
Continent.--TheLastMachineofall.--AViewoftheCountryatSunset.--
FloraandFauna.--TheTempest.--TheZoneofFire.--TheStarryHeavens.
"See,"saidJoe,"whatcomesofplayingthesonsof
themoonwithoutherleave!Shecamenearservingus
anuglytrick.Butsay,master,didyoudamageyour
creditasaphysician?"
"Yes,indeed,"chimedinthesportsman."Whatkind
ofadignitarywasthisSultanofKazeh?"
"Anoldhalf-deadsot,"repliedthedoctor,"whose
losswillnotbeveryseverelyfelt.Butthemoralofall
thisisthathonorsarefleeting,andwemustnottaketoo
greatafancytothem."
"Somuchtheworse!"rejoinedJoe."llikedthe
thing--tobeworshipped!--Playthegodasyoulike!
Why,whatwouldanyoneaskmorethanthat?By-the-way,
themoondidcomeup,too,andallred,asifshe
wasinarage."
Whilethethreefriendswentonchattingofthisand
otherthings,andJoeexaminedtheluminaryofnight
fromanentirelynovelpointofview,theheavensbecame
coveredwithheavycloudstothenorthward,andthelowering
massesassumedamostsinisterandthreateninglook.
Quiteasmartbreeze,foundaboutthreehundredfeetfrom
theearth,drovetheballoontowardthenorth-northeast;
andaboveitthebluevaultwasclear;buttheatmosphere
feltcloseanddull.
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Theaeronautsfoundthemselves,atabouteightinthe
evening,inthirty-twodegreesfortyminuteseast
longitude,andfourdegreesseventeenminuteslatitude.The
atmosphericcurrents,undertheinfluenceofatempest
notfaroff,weredrivingthemattherateoffromthirty
tothirty-fivemilesanhour;theundulatingandfertile
plainsofMfutowerepassingswiftlybeneaththem.The
spectaclewasoneworthyofadmiration--andadmireit
theydid.
"WearenowrightinthecountryoftheMoon,"said
Dr.Ferguson;"forithasretainedthenamethatantiquity
gaveit,undoubtedly,becausethemoonhasbeenworshipped
thereinallages.ltis,really,asuperbcountry."
"ltwouldbehardtofindmoresplendidvegetation."
"lfwefoundthelikeofitaroundLondonitwouldnotbe
natural,butitwouldbeverypleasant,"putinJoe."Why
isitthatsuchsavagecountriesgetallthesefinethings?"
"Andwhoknows,"saidthedoctor,"thatthiscountry
maynot,oneday,becomethecentreofcivilization?The
racesofthefuturemayrepairhither,whenEuropeshall
havebecomeexhaustedintheefforttofeedherinhabitants."
"Doyouthinkso,really?"askedKennedy.
"Undoubtedly,mydearDick.Justnotetheprogress
ofevents:considerthemigrationsofraces,andyou
willarriveatthesameconclusionassuredly.Asiawas
thefirstnurseoftheworld,wasshenot?Foraboutfour
thousandyearsshetravailed,shegrewpregnant,sheproduced,
andthen,whenstonesbegantocoverthesoil
wherethegoldenharvestssungbyHomerhadflourished,
herchildrenabandonedherexhaustedandbarrenbosom.
Younextseethemprecipitatingthemselvesuponyoung
andvigorousEurope,whichhasnourishedthemforthe
lasttwothousandyears.Butalreadyherfertilityisbeginning
todieout;herproductivepowersarediminishing
everyday.Thosenewdiseasesthatannuallyattackthe
productsofthesoil,thosedefectivecrops,thoseinsufficient
resources,areallsignsofavitalitythatisrapidly
wearingoutandofanapproachingexhaustion.Thus,we
alreadyseethemillionsrushingtotheluxuriantbosomof
America,asasourceofhelp,notinexhaustibleindeed,but
notyetexhausted.lnitsturn,thatnewcontinentwill
growold;itsvirginforestswillfallbeforetheaxeof
industry,anditssoilwillbecomeweakthroughhavingtoo
fullyproducedwhathadbeendemandedofit.Where
twoharvestsbloomedeveryyear,hardlyonewillbegathered
fromasoilcompletelydrainedofitsstrength.Then,
Africawillbetheretooffertonewracesthetreasures
thatforcenturieshavebeenaccumulatinginherbreast.
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Thoseclimatesnowsofataltostrangerswillbepurifiedby
cultivationandbydrainageofthesoil,andthosescattered
watersupplieswillbegatheredintoonecommonbedto
formanarteryofnavigation.Thenthiscountryover
whichwearenowpassing,morefertile,richer,andfuller
ofvitalitythantherest,willbecomesomegrandrealm
wheremoreastonishingdiscoveriesthansteamandelectricity
willbebroughttolight."
"Ah!sir,"saidJoe,"l'dliketoseeallthat."
"Yougotuptooearlyinthemorning,myboy!"
"Besides,"saidKennedy,"thatmayprovetobea
verydullperiodwhenindustrywillswallowupevery
thingforitsownprofit.Bydintofinventingmachinery,
menwillendinbeingeatenupbyit!lhavealways
fanciedthattheendoftheearthwillbewhensomeenormous
boiler,heatedtothreethousandmillionsofatmospheric
pressure,shallexplodeandblowupourGlobe!"
"AndladdthattheAmericans,"saidJoe,"willnot
havebeenthelasttoworkatthemachine!"
"lnfact,"assentedthedoctor,"theyaregreatboiler-makers!
But,withoutallowingourselvestobecarriedawaybysuch
speculations,letusrestcontentwithenjoyingthe
beautiesofthiscountryoftheMoon,sincewehave
beenpermittedtoseeit."
Thesun,dartinghislastraysbeneaththemassesof
heaped-upcloud,adornedwithacrestofgoldtheslightest
inequalitiesofthegroundbelow;gigantictrees,arborescent
bushes,mossesontheevensurface--allhadtheir
shareofthisluminouseffulgence.Thesoil,slightlyundulating,
hereandthereroseintolittleconicalhills;there
werenomountainsvisibleonthehorizon;immensebrambly
palisades,impenetrablehedgesofthornyjungle,separated
theclearingsdottedwithnumerousvillages,and
immenseeuphorbiaesurroundedthemwithnatural
fortifications,interlacingtheirtrunkswiththecoral-shaped
branchesoftheshrubberyandundergrowth.
Erelong,theMalagazeri,thechieftributaryofLake
Tanganayika,wasseenwindingbetweenheavythickets
ofverdure,offeringanasylumtomanywater-coursesthat
springfromthetorrentsformedintheseasonoffreshets,
orfrompondshollowedintheclayeysoil.Toobservers
lookingfromaheight,itwasachainofwaterfallsthrown
acrossthewholewesternfaceofthecountry.
Animalswithhugehumpswerefeedingintheluxuriant
prairies,andwerehalfhidden,sometimes,inthetall
grass;spreadingforestsinbloomredolentofspicyperfumes
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presentedthemselvestothegazelikeimmensebouquets;
but,inthesebouquets,lions,leopards,hyenas,and
tigers,werethencrouchingforshelterfromthelasthot
raysofthesettingsun.Fromtimetotime,anelephant
madethetalltopsoftheundergrowthswaytoandfro,
andyoucouldhearthecracklingofhugebranchesashis
ponderousivorytusksbroketheminhisway.
"Whatasportingcountry!"exclaimedDick,unable
longertorestrainhisenthusiasm;"why,asingleballfired
atrandomintothoseforestswouldbringdowngame
worthyofit.Supposewetryitonce!"
"No,mydearDick;thenightiscloseathand--a
threateningnightwithatempestinthebackground--and
thestormsareawfulinthiscountry,wheretheheatedsoil
islikeonevastelectricbattery."
"Youareright,sir,"saidJoe,"theheathasgottobe
enoughtochokeone,andthebreezehasdiedaway.One
canfeelthatsomething'scoming."
"Theatmosphereissaturatedwithelectricity,"replied
thedoctor;"everylivingcreatureissensiblethatthis
stateoftheairportendsastruggleoftheelements,andl
confessthatlneverbeforewassofullofthefluidmyself."
"Well,then,"suggestedDick,"woulditnotbeadvisable
toalight?"
"Onthecontrary,Dick,l'drathergoup,onlythatl
amafraidofbeingcarriedoutofmycoursebythese
counter-currentscontendingintheatmosphere."
"Haveyouanyidea,then,ofabandoningtheroute
thatwehavefollowedsinceweleftthecoast?"
"lflcanmanagetodoso,"repliedthedoctor,"lwill
turnmoredirectlynorthward,byfromseventoeight
degrees;lshallthenendeavortoascendtowardthe
presumedlatitudesofthesourcesoftheNile;perhapswe
maydiscoversometracesofCaptainSpeke'sexpedition
orofM.deHeuglin'scaravan.Unlesslammistaken,we
areatthirty-twodegreesfortyminuteseastlongitude,
andlshouldliketoascenddirectlynorthoftheequator."
"Lookthere!"exclaimedKennedy,suddenly,"see
thosehippopotamislidingoutofthepools--thosemasses
ofblood-coloredflesh--andthosecrocodilessnuffingthe
airaloud!"
"They'rechoking!"ejaculatedJoe."Ah!whatafine
waytotravelthisis;andhowonecansnaphisfingersat
allthatvermin!--Doctor!Mr.Kennedy!seethosepacks
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ofwildanimalshurryingalongclosetogether.Thereare
fullytwohundred.Thosearewolves."
"No!Joe,notwolves,butwilddogs;afamousbreed
thatdoesnothesitatetoattackthelionhimself.They
aretheworstcustomersatravellercouldmeet,forthey
wouldinstantlytearhimtopieces."
"Well,itisn'tJoethat'llundertaketomuzzlethem!"
respondedthatamiableyouth."Afterall,though,if
that'sthenatureofthebeast,wemustn'tbetoohardon
themforit!"
Silencegraduallysettleddownundertheinfluenceof
theimpendingstorm:thethickenedairactuallyseemed
nolongeradaptedtothetransmissionofsound;the
atmosphereappearedMUFFLED,and,likearoomhungwith
tapestry,lostallitssonorousreverberation.The"rover
bird"so-called,thecoronetedcrane,theredand
bluejays,themocking-bird,theflycatcher,disappeared
amongthefoliageoftheimmensetrees,andallnature
revealedsymptomsofsomeapproachingcatastrophe.
Atnineo'clocktheVictoriahungmotionlessover
Msene,anextensivegroupofvillagesscarcelydistinguishable
inthegloom.Onceinawhile,thereflectionofa
wanderingrayoflightinthedullwaterdiscloseda
successionofditchesregularlyarranged,and,byonelast
gleam,theeyecouldmakeoutthecalmandsombreforms
ofpalm-trees,sycamores,andgiganticeuphorbiae.
"lamstifling!"saidtheScot,inhaling,withallthe
powerofhislungs,asmuchaspossibleoftherarefiedair.
"Wearenotmovinganinch!Letusdescend!"
"Butthetempest!"saidthedoctor,withmuchuneasiness.
"lfyouareafraidofbeingcarriedawaybythewind,
itseemstomethatthereisnoothercoursetopursue."
"Perhapsthestormwon'tburstto-night,"saidJoe;
"thecloudsareveryhigh."
"Thatisjustthethingthatmakesmehesitateabout
goingbeyondthem;weshouldhavetorisestillhigher,
losesightoftheearth,andnotknowallnightwhether
weweremovingforwardornot,orinwhatdirectionwe
weregoing."
"Makeupyourmind,deardoctor,fortimepresses!"
"lt'sapitythatthewindhasfallen,"saidJoe,again;
"itwouldhavecarriedusclearofthestorm."
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"ltis,indeed,apity,myfriends,"rejoinedthedoctor.
"Thecloudsaredangerousforus;theycontainopposing
currentswhichmightcatchusintheireddies,andlightnings
thatmightsetonfire.Again,thoseperilsavoided,
theforceofthetempestmighthurlustotheground,were
wetocastouranchorinthetree-tops."
"Thenwhatshallwedo?"
"Well,wemusttrytogettheballoonintoamedium
zoneoftheatmosphere,andtherekeephersuspended
betweentheperilsoftheheavensandthoseoftheearth.
Wehaveenoughwaterforthecylinder,andourtwohundred
poundsofballastareuntouched.lncaseofemergencyl
canusethem."
"Wewillkeepwatchwithyou,"saidthehunter.
"No,myfriends,puttheprovisionsundershelter,and
liedown;lwillrouseyou,ifitbecomesnecessary."
"But,master,wouldn'tyoudowelltotakesomerest
yourself,asthere'snodangercloseonusjustnow?"
insistedpoorJoe.
"No,thankyou,mygoodfellow,lprefertokeep
awake.Wearenotmoving,andshouldcircumstances
notchange,we'llfindourselvesto-morrowinexactlythe
sameplace."
"Good-night,then,sir!"
"Good-night,ifyoucanonlyfinditso!"
KennedyandJoestretchedthemselvesoutundertheir
blankets,andthedoctorremainedaloneintheimmensity
ofspace.
However,thehugedomeofcloudsvisiblydescended,
andthedarknessbecameprofound.Theblackvault
closedinupontheearthasiftocrushitinitsembrace.
Allatonceaviolent,rapid,incisiveflashoflightning
piercedthegloom,andtherentitmadehadnotclosed
ereafrightfulclapofthundershookthecelestialdepths.
"Up!up!turnout!"shoutedFerguson.
Thetwosleepers,arousedbytheterribleconcussion,
wereatthedoctor'sordersinamoment.
"Shallwedescend?"saidKennedy.
"No!theballooncouldnotstandit.Letusgoup
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beforethosecloudsdissolveinwater,andthewindislet
loose!"and,sosaying,thedoctoractivelystirredupthe
flameofthecylinder,andturneditonthespiralsofthe
serpentinesiphon.
Thetempestsofthetropicsdevelopwitharapidity
equalledonlybytheirviolence.Asecondflashoflightning
rentthedarkness,andwasfollowedbyascoreof
othersinquicksuccession.Theskywascrossedanddotted,
likethezebra'shide,withelectricsparks,whichdanced
andflickeredbeneaththegreatdropsofrain.
"Wehavedelayedtoolong,"exclaimedthedoctor;
"wemustnowpassthroughazoneoffire,withour
balloonfilledasitiswithinflammablegas!"
"Butletusdescend,then!letusdescend!"urgedKennedy.
"Theriskofbeingstruckwouldbejustabouteven,
andweshouldsoonbetorntopiecesbythebranchesof
thetrees!"
"Wearegoingup,doctor!"
"Quicker,quickerstill!"
lnthispartofAfrica,duringtheequatorialstorms,it
isnotraretocountfromthirtytothirty-fiveflashesof
lightningperminute.Theskyisliterallyonfire,andthe
crashesofthunderarecontinuous.
Thewindburstforthwithfrightfulviolenceinthis
burningatmosphere;ittwistedtheblazingclouds;one
mighthavecomparedittothebreathofsomegigantic
bellows,fanningallthisconflagration.
Dr.Fergusonkepthiscylinderatfullheat,andthe
balloondilatedandwentup,whileKennedy,onhisknees,
heldtogetherthecurtainsoftheawning.Theballoon
whirledroundwildlyenoughtomaketheirheadsturn,
andtheaeronautsgotsomeveryalarmingjolts,indeed,as
theirmachineswungandswayedinalldirections.Huge
cavitieswouldforminthesilkoftheballoonasthewind
fiercelybentitin,andthestufffairlycrackedlikeapistol
asitflewbackfromthepressure.Asortofhail,preceded
byarumblingnoise,hissedthroughtheairand
rattledonthecoveringoftheVictoria.Thelatter,however,
continuedtoascend,whilethelightningdescribed
tangentstotheconvexityofhercircumference;butshe
boreon,rightthroughthemidstofthefire.
"Godprotectus!"saidDr.Ferguson,solemnly,"we
areinHishands;Healonecansaveus--butletusbe
readyforeveryevent,evenforfire--ourfallcouldnotbe
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veryrapid."
Thedoctor'svoicecouldscarcelybeheardbyhiscompanions;
buttheycouldseehiscountenancecalmasever
evenamidtheflashingofthelightnings;hewaswatching
thephenomenaofphosphorescenceproducedbythefires
ofSt.Elmo,thatwerenowskippingtoandfroalongthe
networkoftheballoon.
Thelatterwhirledandswung,butsteadilyascended,
and,erethehourwasover,ithadpassedthestormybelt.
Theelectricdisplaywasgoingonbelowitlikeavast
crownofartificialfireworkssuspendedfromthecar.
Thentheyenjoyedoneofthegrandestspectaclesthat
Naturecanoffertothegazeofman.Belowthem,the
tempest;abovethem,thestarryfirmament,tranquil,
mute,impassible,withthemoonprojectingherpeaceful
raysovertheseangryclouds.
Dr.Fergusonconsultedthebarometer;itannounced
twelvethousandfeetofelevation.ltwastheneleven
o'clockatnight.
"ThankHeaven,alldangerispast;allwehavetodo
now,is,tokeepourselvesatthisheight,"saidthedoctor.
"ltwasfrightful!"remarkedKennedy.
"Oh!"saidJoe,"itgivesalittlevarietytothetrip,
andl'mnotsorrytohaveseenastormfromatrifling
distanceupintheair.lt'safinesight!"
CHAPTERSEVENTEENTH.
TheMountainsoftheMoon.--AnOceanofVerdure.--Theycast
Anchor.--TheTowingElephant.--ARunningFire.--Deathofthe
Monster.--TheField-Oven.--AMealontheGrass.--ANightontheGround.
Aboutfourinthemorning,Monday,thesunreappeared
inthehorizon;thecloudshaddispersed,anda
cheerybreezerefreshedthemorningdawn.
Theearth,allredolentwithfragrantexhalations,
reappearedtothegazeofourtravellers.Theballoon,
whirledaboutbyopposingcurrents,hadhardlybudged
fromitsplace,andthedoctor,lettingthegascontract,
descendedsoastogetamorenortherlydirection.For
alongwhilehisquestwasfruitless;thewindcarriedhim
towardthewestuntilhecameinsightofthefamous
MountainsoftheMoon,whichgroupedthemselvesina
semicirclearoundtheextremityofLakeTanganayika;their
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ridges,butslightlyindented,stoodoutagainstthebluish
horizon,sothattheymighthavebeenmistakenforanatural
fortification,nottobepassedbytheexplorersofthe
centreofAfrica.Amongthemwereafewisolatedcones,
revealingthemarkoftheeternalsnows.
"Hereweareatlast,"saidthedoctor,"inanunexplored
country!CaptainBurtonpushedveryfartothewestward,
buthecouldnotreachthosecelebratedmountains;heeven
deniedtheirexistence,stronglyasitwasaffirmedby
Speke,hiscompanion.Hepretendedthattheywerebornin
thelatter'sfancy;butforus,myfriends,thereisno
furtherdoubtpossible."
"Shallwecrossthem?"askedKennedy.
"Not,ifitpleaseGod.lamlookingforawindthat
willtakemebacktowardtheequator.lwillevenwait
forone,ifnecessary,andwillmaketheballoonlikeaship
thatcastsanchor,untilfavorablebreezescomeup."
Buttheforesightofthedoctorwasnotlonginbringing
itsreward;for,afterhavingtrieddifferentheights,
theVictoriaatlengthbegantosailofftothenortheastward
withmediumspeed.
"Weareintherighttrack,"saidthedoctor,consulting
hiscompass,"andscarcelytwohundredfeetfromthe
surface;luckycircumstancesforus,enablingus,asthey
do,toreconnoitrethesenewregions.WhenCaptain
SpekesetouttodiscoverLakeUkereoue,heascended
moretotheeastwardinastraightlineaboveKazeh."
"Shallwekeeponlonginthisway?"inquiredtheScot.
"Perhaps.Ourobjectistopushapointinthedirection
ofthesourcesoftheNile;andwehavemorethan
sixhundredmilestomakebeforewegettotheextreme
limitreachedbytheexplorerswhocamefromthenorth."
"Andweshan'tsetfootonthesolidground?"murmured
Joe;"it'senoughtocrampafellow'slegs!"
"Oh,yes,indeed,mygoodJoe,"saidthedoctor,reassuring
him;"wehavetoeconomizeourprovisions,youknow;and
ontheway,Dick,youmustgetussomefreshmeat."
"Wheneveryoulike,doctor."
"Weshallalsohavetoreplenishourstockofwater.
Whoknowsbutwemaybecarriedtosomeofthedried-up
regions?Sowecannottaketoomanyprecautions."
AtnoontheVictoriawasattwenty-ninedegreesfifteen
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minuteseastlongitude,andthreedegreesfifteenminutes
southlatitude.ShepassedthevillageofUyofu,thelast
northernlimitoftheUnyamwezi,oppositetotheLake
Ukereoue,whichcouldstillbeseen.
Thetribeslivingneartotheequatorseemtobealittle
morecivilized,andaregovernedbyabsolutemonarchs,whose
controlisanunlimiteddespotism.Theirmostcompactunion
ofpowerconstitutestheprovinceofKaragwah.
ltwasdecidedbytheaeronautsthattheywould
alightatthefirstfavorableplace.Theyfoundthatthey
shouldhavetomakeaprolongedhalt,andtakeacareful
inspectionoftheballoon:sotheflameofthecylinder
wasmoderated,andtheanchors,flungoutfromthecar,
erelongbegantosweepthegrassofanimmenseprairie,
that,fromacertainheight,lookedlikeashavenlawn,
butthegrowthofwhich,inreality,wasfromsevento
eightfeetinheight.
Theballoonskimmedthistallgrasswithoutbending
it,likeagiganticbutterfly:notanobstaclewasinsight;
itwasanoceanofverdurewithoutasinglebreaker.
"Wemightproceedalongtimeinthisstyle,"remarked
Kennedy;"ldon'tseeonetreethatwecould
approach,andl'mafraidthatourhunt'sover."
"Wait,Dick;youcouldnothuntanyhowinthis
grass,thatgrowshigherthanyourhead.We'llfinda
favorableplacepresently."
lntruth,itwasacharmingexcursionthattheywere
makingnow--averitablenavigationonthisgreen,almost
transparentsea,gentlyundulatinginthebreathofthe
wind.Thelittlecarseemedtocleavethewavesofverdure,
and,fromtimetotime,coveysofbirdsofmagnificent
plumagewouldriseflutteringfromthetallherbage,
andspeedawaywithjoyouscries.Theanchorsplunged
intothislakeofflowers,andtracedafurrowthatclosed
behindthem,likethewakeofaship.
Allatonceasharpshockwasfelt--theanchorhadcaught
inthefissureofsomerockhiddeninthehighgrass.
"Wearefast!"exclaimedJoe.
Thesewordshadscarcelybeenutteredwhenashrillcry
rangthroughtheair,andthefollowingphrases,mingled
withexclamations,escapedfromthelipsofourtravellers:
"What'sthat?"
"Astrangecry!"
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"Look!Why,we'removing!"
"Theanchorhasslipped!"
"No;itholds,andholdsfasttoo!"saidJoe,who
wastuggingattherope.
"lt'stherock,then,that'smoving!"
Animmenserustlingwasnoticedinthegrass,andsoon
anelongated,windingshapewasseenrisingaboveit.
"Aserpent!"shoutedJoe.
"Aserpent!"repeatedKennedy,handlinghisrifle.
"No,"saidthedoctor,"it'sanelephant'strunk!"
"Anelephant,Samuel?"
And,asKennedysaidthis,hedrewhisrifletohisshoulder.
"Wait,Dick;wait!"
"That'safact!Theanimal'stowingus!"
"Andintherightdirection,Joe--intherightdirection."
Theelephantwasnowmakingsomeheadway,andsoonreached
aclearingwherehiswholebodycouldbeseen.Byhis
giganticsize,thedoctorrecognizedamaleofasuperb
species.Hehadtwowhitishtusks,beautifullycurved,and
abouteightfeetinlength;andinthesetheshanksofthe
anchorhadfirmlycaught.Theanimalwasvainlytryingwith
histrunktodisengagehimselffromtheropethatattached
himtothecar.
"Getup--goahead,oldfellow!"shoutedJoe,with
delight,doinghisbesttourgethisrathernovelteam.
"Hereisanewstyleoftravelling!--nomorehorsesfor
me.Anelephant,ifyouplease!"
"Butwhereishetakingusto?"saidKennedy,whose
rifleitchedinhisgrasp.
"He'stakingusexactlytowherewewanttogo,my
dearDick.Alittlepatience!"
"'Wig-a-more!wig-a-more!'astheScotchcountryfolkssay,"
shoutedJoe,inhighglee."Gee-up!gee-upthere!"
Thehugeanimalnowbrokeintoaveryrapidgallop.
Heflunghistrunkfromsidetoside,andhismonstrous
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boundsgavethecarseveralratherheavythumps.Meanwhile
thedoctorstoodready,hatchetinhand,tocutthe
rope,shouldneedarise.
"But,"saidhe,"weshallnotgiveupouranchoruntil
thelastmoment."
Thisdrive,withanelephantfortheteam,lastedabout
anhourandahalf;yettheanimaldidnotseeminthe
leastfatigued.Theseimmensecreaturescangoovera
greatdealofground,and,fromonedaytoanother,are
foundatenormousdistancesfromtheretheywerelast
seen,likethewhales,whosemassandspeedtheyrival.
"lnfact,"saidJoe,"it'sawhalethatwehaveharpooned;
andwe'reonlydoingjustwhatwhalemendowhenoutfishing."
Butachangeinthenatureofthegroundcompelled
thedoctortovaryhisstyleoflocomotion.Adensegrove
ofcalmadoreswasdescriedonthehorizon,aboutthree
milesaway,onthenorthoftheprairie.Soitbecame
necessarytodetachtheballoonfromitsdraught-animal
atlast.
Kennedywasintrustedwiththejobofbringingthe
elephanttoahalt.Hedrewhisrifletohisshoulder,but
hispositionwasnotfavorabletoasuccessfulshot;so
thatthefirstballfiredflatteneditselfontheanimal's
skull,asitwouldhavedoneagainstanironplate.The
creaturedidnotseemintheleasttroubledbyit;but,at
thesoundofthedischarge,hehadincreasedhisspeed,
andnowwasgoingasfastasahorseatfullgallop.
"Thedeuce!"ejaculatedKennedy.
"Whatasolidhead!"commentedJoe.
"We'lltrysomeconicalballsbehindtheshoulder-joint,"
saidKennedy,reloadinghisriflewithcare.ln
anothermomenthefired.
Theanimalgaveaterriblecry,butwentonfaster
thanever.
"Come!"saidJoe,takingaimwithanothergun,"l
musthelpyou,orwe'llneverendit."Andnowtwoballs
penetratedthecreature'sside.
Theelephanthalted,liftedhistrunk,andresumedhis
runtowardthewoodwithallhisspeed;heshookhishuge
head,andthebloodbegantogushfromhiswounds.
"Letuskeepupourfire,Mr.Kennedy."
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"Andacontinuousfire,too,"urgedthedoctor,"for
wearecloseonthewoods."
Tenshotsmoreweredischarged.Theelephantmade
afearfulbound;thecarandballooncrackedasthough
everythingweregoingtopieces,andtheshockmadethe
doctordrophishatchetontheground.
Thesituationwasthusrenderedreallyveryalarming;
theanchor-rope,whichhadsecurelycaught,couldnotbe
disengaged,norcouldityetbecutbytheknivesofour
aeronauts,andtheballoonwasrushingheadlongtoward
thewood,whentheanimalreceivedaballintheeyejust
asheliftedhishead.Onthishehalted,faltered,hisknees
bentunderhim,andheuncoveredhiswholeflanktothe
assaultsofhisenemiesintheballoon.
"Abulletinhisheart!"saidKennedy,discharging
onelastrifle-shot.
Theelephantutteredalongbellowofterrorandagony,
thenraisedhimselfupforamoment,twirlinghistrunkin
theair,andfinallyfellwithallhisweightupononeofhis
tusks,whichhebrokeoffshort.Hewasdead.
"Histusk'sbroken!"exclaimedKennedy--"ivorytoo
thatinEnglandwouldbringthirty-fiveguineasper
hundredpounds."
"Asmuchasthat?"saidJoe,scramblingdowntothe
groundbytheanchor-rope.
"What'stheuseofsighingoverit,Dick?"saidthe
doctor."Areweivorymerchants?Didwecomehither
tomakemoney?"
Joeexaminedtheanchorandfounditsolidlyattached
totheunbrokentusk.ThedoctorandDickleapedouton
theground,whiletheballoon,nowhalfemptied,hovered
overthebodyofthehugeanimal.
"Whatasplendidbeast!"saidKennedy,"whatamassof
flesh!lneversawanelephantofthatsizeinlndia!"
"There'snothingsurprisingaboutthat,mydearDick;
theelephantsofCentralAfricaarethefinestintheworld.
TheAndersonsandtheCummingshavehuntedsoincessantly
intheneighborhoodoftheCape,thattheseanimals
havemigratedtotheequator,wheretheyareoftenmet
withinlargeherds."
"lnthemeanwhile,lhope,"addedJoe,"thatwe'll
tasteamorselofthisfellow.l'llundertaketogetyoua
gooddinnerathisexpense.Mr.Kennedywillgooffand
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huntforanhourortwo;thedoctorwillmakeaninspection
oftheballoon,and,whilethey'rebusyinthatway,
l'lldothecooking."
"Agoodarrangement!"saidthedoctor;"sodoas
youlike,Joe."
"Asforme,"saidthehunter,"lshallavailmyselfofthe
twohours'recessthatJoehascondescendedtoletmehave."
"Go,myfriend,butnoimprudence!Don'twander
toofaraway."
"Neverfear,doctor!"and,sosaying,Dick,shouldering
hisgun,plungedintothewoods.
ForthwithJoewenttoworkathisvocation.Atfirst
hemadeaholeinthegroundtwofeetdeep;thishefilled
withthedrywoodthatwassoabundantlyscatteredabout,
whereithadbeenstrewnbytheelephants,whosetracks
couldbeseenwheretheyhadmadetheirwaythroughthe
forest.Thisholefilled,heheapedapileoffagotsonit
afootinheight,andsetfiretoit.
Thenhewentbacktothecarcassoftheelephant,
whichhadfallenonlyaboutahundredfeetfromtheedge
oftheforest;henextproceededadroitlytocutoffthe
trunk,whichmighthavebeentwofeetindiameteratthe
base;ofthisheselectedthemostdelicateportion,and
thentookwithitoneoftheanimal'sspongyfeet.lnfact,
thesearethefinestmorsels,likethehumpofthebison,the
pawsofthebear,andtheheadofthewildboar.
Whenthepileoffagotshadbeenthoroughlyconsumed,
insideandoutside,thehole,clearedofthecinders
andhotcoals,retainedaveryhightemperature.The
piecesofelephant-meat,surroundedwitharomaticleaves,
wereplacedinthisextemporeovenandcoveredwithhot
coals.ThenJoepiledupasecondheapofsticksoverall,
andwhenithadburnedoutthemeatwascookedtoaturn.
ThenJoetooktheviandsfromtheoven,spreadthe
savorymessupongreenleaves,andarrangedhisdinner
uponamagnificentpatchofgreensward.Hefinally
broughtoutsomebiscuit,somecoffee,andsomecognac,
andgotacanofpure,freshwaterfromaneighboring
streamlet.
Therepastthuspreparedwasapleasantsighttobehold,
andJoe,withoutbeingtooproud,thoughtthatit
wouldalsobepleasanttoeat.
"Ajourneywithoutdangerorfatigue,"hesoliloquized;
"yourmealswhenyouplease;aswinginghammockall
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5wiab10
thetime!Whatmorecouldamanask?Andtherewas
Kennedy,whodidn'twanttocome!"
Onhispart,Dr.Fergusonwasengrossedinaserious
andthoroughexaminationoftheballoon.Thelatterdid
notappeartohavesufferedfromthestorm;thesilkand
theguttaperchahadresistedwonderfully,and,uponestimating
theexactheightofthegroundandtheascensional
forceoftheballoon,ouraeronautsaw,withsatisfaction,
thatthehydrogenwasinexactlythesamequantityas
before.Thecoveringhadremainedcompletelywaterproof.
ltwasnowonlyfivedayssinceourtravellershad
quittedZanzibar;theirpemmicanhadnotyetbeen
touched;theirstockofbiscuitandpottedmeatwasenough
foralongtrip,andtherewasnothingtobereplenished
butthewater.
Thepipesandspiralseemedtobeinperfectcondition,
since,thankstotheirindia-rubberjointings,theyhad
yieldedtoalltheoscillationsoftheballoon.Hisexamination
ended,thedoctorbetookhimselftosettinghis
notesinorder.Hemadeaveryaccuratesketchofthe
surroundinglandscape,withitslongprairiestretching
awayoutofsight,theforestofcalmadores,andtheballoon
restingmotionlessoverthebodyofthedeadelephant.
Attheendofhistwohours,Kennedyreturnedwitha
stringoffatpartridgesandthehaunchofanoryx,asort
ofgemsbokbelongingtothemostagilespeciesofantelopes.
Joetookuponhimselftopreparethissurplusstock
ofprovisionsforalaterrepast.
"But,dinner'sready!"heshoutedinhismostmusicalvoice.
Andthethreetravellershadonlytositdownonthe
greenturf.Thetrunkandfeetoftheelephantweredeclared
tobeexquisite.OldEnglandwastoasted,asusual,
anddeliciousHavanasperfumedthischarmingcountry
forthefirsttime.
Kennedyate,drank,andchatted,likefour;hewas
perfectlydelightedwithhisnewlife,andseriously
proposedtothedoctortosettleinthisforest,toconstructa
cabinofboughsandfoliage,and,thereandthen,tolaythe
foundationofaRobinsonCrusoedynastyinAfrica.
Thepropositionwentnofurther,althoughJoehad,at
once,selectedthepartofManFridayforhimself.
Thecountryseemedsoquiet,sodeserted,thatthe
doctorresolvedtopassthenightontheground,andJoe
arrangedacircleofwatch-firesasanindispensablebarrier
againstwildanimals,forthehyenas,cougars,andjackals,
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5wiab10
attractedbythesmellofthedeadelephant,wereprowling
aboutintheneighborhood.Kennedyhadtofirehisrifle
severaltimesattheseunceremoniousvisitors,butthe
nightpassedwithoutanyuntowardoccurrence.
CHAPTERElGHTEENTH.
TheKaragwah.--LakeUkereoue.--ANightonanlsland.--TheEquator.--
CrossingtheLake.--TheCascades.--AViewoftheCountry.--TheSources
oftheNile.--ThelslandofBenga.--TheSignatureofAndreaDebono.--The
FlagwiththeArmsofEngland.
Atfiveo'clockinthemorning,preparationsfordeparture
commenced.Joe,withthehatchetwhichhehad
fortunatelyrecovered,broketheelephant'stusks.The
balloon,restoredtoliberty,spedawaytothenorthwest
withourtravellers,attherateofeighteenmilesperhour.
Thedoctorhadcarefullytakenhispositionbythealtitude
ofthestars,duringtheprecedingnight.Heknew
thathewasinlatitudetwodegreesfortyminutesbelow
theequator,oratadistanceofonehundredandsixty
geographicalmiles.Hesweptalongovermanyvillages
withoutheedingthecriesthattheappearanceoftheballoon
excited;hetooknoteoftheconformationofplaces
withquicksights;hepassedtheslopesoftheRubemhe,
whicharenearlyasabruptasthesummitsoftheOusagara,
and,fartheron,atTenga,encounteredthefirstprojections
oftheKaragwahchains,which,inhisopinion,
aredirectspursoftheMountainsoftheMoon.So,the
ancientlegendwhichmadethesemountainsthecradleof
theNile,cameneartothetruth,sincetheyreallyborder
uponLakeUkereoue,theconjecturedreservoirofthe
watersofthegreatriver.
FromKafuro,themaindistrictofthemerchantsofthat
country,hedescried,atlength,onthehorizon,thelake
somuchdesiredandsolongsoughtfor,ofwhichCaptain
Spekecaughtaglimpseonthe3dofAugust,1858.
SamuelFergusonfeltrealemotion:hewasalmostin
contactwithoneoftheprincipalpointsofhisexpedition,
and,withhisspy-glassconstantlyraised,hekeptevery
nookandcornerofthemysteriousregioninsight.His
gazewanderedoverdetailsthatmighthavebeenthus
described:
"Beneathhimextendedacountrygenerallydestitute
ofcultivation;onlyhereandtheresomeravinesseemed
undertillage;thesurface,dottedwithpeaksofmedium
height,grewflatasitapproachedthelake;barley-fields
tooktheplaceofrice-plantations,andthere,too,couldbe
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seengrowingthespeciesofplantainfromwhichthewine
ofthecountryisdrawn,andmwani,thewildplantwhich
suppliesasubstituteforcoffee.Acollectionofsomefifty
ormorecircularhuts,coveredwithafloweringthatch,
constitutedthecapitaloftheKaragwahcountry."
Hecouldeasilydistinguishtheastonishedcountenances
ofaratherfine-lookingraceofnativesofyellowish-brown
complexion.Womenofincrediblecorpulence
weredawdlingaboutthroughthecultivatedgrounds,and
thedoctorgreatlysurprisedhiscompanionsbyinforming
themthatthisrotundity,whichishighlyesteemedinthat
region,wasobtainedbyanobligatorydietofcurdledmilk.
Atnoon,theVictoriawasinonedegreeforty-five
minutessouthlatitude,andatoneo'clockthewindwas
drivingherdirectlytowardthelake.
ThissheetofwaterwaschristenedUyanzaVictoria,
orVictoriaLake,byCaptainSpeke.Attheplacenow
mentioneditmightmeasureaboutninetymilesinbreadth,
andatitssouthernextremitythecaptainfoundagroup
ofislets,whichhenamedtheArchipelagoofBengal.He
pushedhissurveyasfarasMuanza,ontheeasterncoast,
wherehewasreceivedbythesultan.Hemadeatriangulation
ofthispartofthelake,buthecouldnotprocurea
boat,eithertocrossitortovisitthegreatislandof
Ukereouewhichisverypopulous,isgovernedbythree
sultans,andappearstobeonlyapromontoryatlowtide.
Theballoonapproachedthelakemoretothenorthward,
tothedoctor'sgreatregret,forithadbeenhiswish
todetermineitsloweroutlines.ltsshoresseemedtobe
thicklysetwithbramblesandthornyplants,growingtogether
inwildconfusion,andwereliterallyhidden,sometimes,
fromthegaze,bymyriadsofmosquitoesofalight-brown
hue.Thecountrywasevidentlyhabitableandinhabited.
Troopsofhippopotamicouldbeseendisporting
themselvesintheforestsofreeds,orplungingbeneaththe
whitishwatersofthelake.
Thelatter,seenfromabove,presented,towardthe
west,sobroadanhorizonthatitmighthavebeencalleda
sea;thedistancebetweenthetwoshoresissogreatthat
communicationcannotbeestablished,andstormsarefrequent
andviolent,forthewindssweepwithfuryoverthis
elevatedandunshelteredbasin.
Thedoctorexperiencedsomedifficultyinguidinghis
course;hewasafraidofbeingcarriedtowardtheeast,
but,fortunately,acurrentborehimdirectlytowardthe
north,andatsixo'clockintheeveningtheballoon
alightedonasmalldesertislandinthirtyminutessouth
latitude,andthirty-twodegreesfifty-twominuteseast
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longitude,abouttwentymilesfromtheshore.
Thetravellerssucceededinmakingfasttoatree,and,
thewindhavingfallencalmtowardevening,theyremained
quietlyatanchor.Theydarednotdreamoftakingthe
ground,sincehere,asontheshoresoftheUyanza,legions
ofmosquitoescoveredthesoilindenseclouds.Joeeven
cameback,fromsecuringtheanchorinthetree,speckled
withbites,buthekepthistemper,becausehefoundit
quitethenaturalthingformosquitoestotreathimasthey
haddone.
Nevertheless,thedoctor,whowaslessofanoptimist,
letoutasmuchropeashecould,soastoescapethese
pitilessinsects,thatbegantorisetowardhimwitha
threateninghum.
Thedoctorascertainedtheheightofthelakeabove
thelevelofthesea,asithadbeendeterminedbyCaptain
Speke,saythreethousandsevenhundredandfiftyfeet.
"Hereweare,then,onanisland!"saidJoe,scratching
asthoughhe'dtearhisnailsout.
"Wecouldmakethetourofitinajiffy,"addedKennedy,
"and,exceptingtheseconfoundedmosquitoes,there's
notalivingbeingtobeseenonit."
"Theislandswithwhichthelakeisdotted,"replied
thedoctor,"arenothing,afterall,butthetopsofsubmerged
hills;butweareluckytohavefoundaretreat
amongthem,fortheshoresofthelakeareinhabitedby
ferocioustribes.Takeyoursleep,then,sinceProvidence
hasgrantedusatranquilnight."
"Won'tyoudothesame,doctor?"
"No,lcouldnotclosemyeyes.Mythoughtswould
banishsleep.To-morrow,myfriends,shouldthewind
provefavorable,weshallgoduenorth,andweshall,perhaps,
discoverthesourcesoftheNile,thatgrandsecret
whichhassolongremainedimpenetrable.Nearaswe
aretothesourcesoftherenownedriver,lcouldnot
sleep."
KennedyandJoe,whomscientificspeculationsfailed
todisturbtothatextent,werenotlonginfallinginto
soundslumber,whilethedoctorheldhispost.
OnWednesday,April23d,theballoonstartedatfour
o'clockinthemorning,withagrayishskyoverhead;night
wasslowinquittingthesurfaceofthelake,whichwas
envelopedinadensefog,butpresentlyaviolentbreeze
scatteredallthemists,and,aftertheballoonhadbeen
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swungtoandfroforamoment,inoppositedirections,it
atlengthveeredinastraightlinetowardthenorth.
Dr.Fergusonfairlyclappedhishandsforjoy.
"Weareontherighttrack!"heexclaimed."To-day
orneverweshallseetheNile!Look,myfriends,weare
crossingtheequator!Weareenteringourownhemisphere!"
"Ah!"saidJoe,"doyouthink,doctor,thattheequator
passeshere?"
"Justhere,myboy!"
"Well,then,withallrespecttoyou,sir,itseemsto
methatthisistheverytimetomoistenit."
"Good!"saidthedoctor,laughing."Letushaveaglass
ofpunch.Youhaveawayofcomprehendingcosmography
thatisanythingbutdull."
AndthuswasthepassageoftheVictoriaoverthe
equatordulycelebrated.
Theballoonmaderapidheadway.lnthewestcould
beseenalowandbutslightly-diversifiedcoast,and,
fartherawayinthebackground,theelevatedplainsofthe
UgandaandtheUsoga.Atlength,therapidityofthe
windbecameexcessive,approachingthirtymilesperhour.
ThewatersoftheNyanza,violentlyagitated,were
foaminglikethebillowsofasea.Bytheappearanceof
certainlongswellsthatfollowedthesinkingofthewaves,
thedoctorwasenabledtoconcludethatthelakemust
havegreatdepthofwater.Onlyoneortworudeboats
wereseenduringthisrapidpassage.
"Thislakeisevidently,fromitselevatedposition,
thenaturalreservoiroftheriversintheeasternpartof
Africa,andtheskygivesbacktoitinrainwhatittakes
invaporfromthestreamsthatflowoutofit.lamcertain
thattheNilemustheretakeitsrise."
"Well,weshallsee!"saidKennedy.
Aboutnineo'clocktheydrewnearertothewestern
coast.ltseemeddeserted,andcoveredwithwoods;the
windfreshenedalittletowardtheeast,andtheother
shoreofthelakecouldbeseen.ltbentaroundinsucha
curveastoendinawideangletowardtwodegreesforty
minutesnorthlatitude.Loftymountainsupliftedtheir
aridpeaksatthisextremityofNyanza;but,between
them,adeepandwindinggorgegaveexittoaturbulent
andfoamingriver.
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5wiab10
Whilebusymanagingtheballoon,Dr.Fergusonnever
ceasedreconnoitringthecountrywitheagereyes.
"Look!"heexclaimed,"look,myfriends!thestatements
oftheArabswerecorrect!Theyspokeofariver
bywhichLakeUkereouedischargeditswaterstoward
thenorth,andthisriverexists,andwearedescendingit,
anditflowswithaspeedanalogoustoourown!Andthis
dropofwaternowglidingawaybeneathourfeetis,beyond
allquestion,rushingon,tominglewiththeMediterranean!
ltistheNile!"
"ltistheNile!"reeechoedKennedy,carriedawayby
theenthusiasmofhisfriend.
"HurrahfortheNile!"shoutedJoe,glad,andalways
readytocheerforsomething.
Enormousrocks,hereandthere,embarrassedthe
courseofthismysteriousriver.Thewaterfoamedasit
fellinrapidsandcataracts,whichconfirmedthedoctor
inhispreconceivedideasonthesubject.Fromtheenvironing
mountainsnumeroustorrentscameplungingand
seethingdown,andtheeyecouldtaketheminbyhundreds.
Therecouldbeseen,startingfromthesoil,delicate
jetsofwaterscatteringinalldirections,crossingand
recrossingeachother,mingling,contendingintheswiftness
oftheirprogress,andallrushingtowardthatnascent
streamwhichbecameariverafterhavingdrunkthemin.
"Hereis,indeed,theNile!"reiteratedthedoctor,with
thetoneofprofoundconviction."Theoriginofitsname,
liketheoriginofitswaters,hasfiredtheimaginationof
thelearned;theyhavesoughttotraceitfromthe
Greek,theCoptic,theSanscrit;butallthatmatterslittle
now,sincewehavemadeitsurrenderthesecretofits
source!"
"But,"saidtheScotchman,"howareyoutomake
sureoftheidentityofthisriverwiththeonerecognized
bythetravellersfromthenorth?"
"Weshallhavecertain,irrefutable,convincing,and
infallibleproof,"repliedFerguson,"shouldthewindhold
anotherhourinourfavor!"
Themountainsdrewfartherapart,revealingintheir
placenumerousvillages,andfieldsofwhitelndiancorn,
doura,andsugar-cane.Thetribesinhabitingtheregion
seemedexcitedandhostile;theymanifestedmoreanger
thanadoration,andevidentlysawintheaeronautsonly
obtrusivestrangers,andnotcondescendingdeities.lt
appearedasthough,inapproachingthesourcesofthe
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Nile,thesemencametorobthemofsomething,andso
theVictoriahadtokeepoutofrangeoftheirmuskets.
"Tolandherewouldbeaticklishmatter!"saidtheScot.
"Well!"saidJoe,"somuchtheworseforthesenatives.
They'llhavetodowithoutthepleasureofourconversation."
"Nevertheless,descendlmust,"saidthedoctor,
"wereitonlyforaquarterofanhour.Withoutdoing
solcannotverifytheresultsofourexpedition."
"ltisindispensable,then,doctor?"
"lndispensable;andwewilldescend,evenifwehave
todosowithavolleyofmusketry."
"Thethingsuitsme,"saidKennedy,toyingwithhis
petrifle.
"Andl'mready,master,wheneveryousaytheword!"
addedJoe,preparingforthefight.
"ltwouldnotbethefirsttime,"remarkedthedoctor,
"thatsciencehasbeenfollowedup,swordinhand.The
samethinghappenedtoaFrenchsavantamongthemountains
ofSpain,whenhewasmeasuringtheterrestrialmeridian."
"Beeasyonthatscore,doctor,andtrusttoyourtwo
body-guards."
"Arewethere,master?"
"Notyet.lnfact,lshallgoupalittle,first,inorder
togetanexactideaoftheconfigurationofthecountry."
Thehydrogenexpanded,andinlessthantenminutesthe
balloonwassoaringataheightoftwenty-fivehundred
feetabovetheground.
Fromthatelevationcouldbedistinguishedaninextricable
networkofsmallerstreamswhichtheriverreceivedinto
itsbosom;otherscamefromthewest,frombetweennumerous
hills,inthemidstoffertileplains.
"WearenotninetymilesfromGondokoro,"saidthe
doctor,measuringoffthedistanceonhismap,"andless
thanfivemilesfromthepointreachedbytheexplorers
fromthenorth.Letusdescendwithgreatcare."
And,uponthis,theballoonwasloweredabouttwo
thousandfeet.
"Now,myfriends,letusbeready,comewhatmay."
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"Readyitis!"saidDickandJoe,withonevoice.
"Good!"
lnafewmomentstheballoonwasadvancingalong
thebedoftheriver,andscarcelyonehundredfeetabove
theground.TheNilemeasuredbutfiftyfathomsinwidth
atthispoint,andthenativeswereingreatexcitement,
rushingtoandfro,tumultuously,inthevillages
thatlinedthebanksofthestream.Attheseconddegree
itformsaperpendicularcascadeoftenfeetinheight,and
consequentlyimpassablebyboats.
"Here,then,isthecascadementionedbyDebono!"
exclaimedthedoctor.
Thebasinoftheriverspreadout,dottedwithnumerous
islands,whichDr.Fergusondevouredwithhiseyes.
Heseemedtobeseekingforapointofreferencewhichhe
hadnotyetfound.
Bythistime,someblacks,havingventuredinaboat
justundertheballoon,Kennedysalutedthemwithashot
fromhisrifle,thatmadethemregainthebankattheir
utmostspeed.
"Agoodjourneytoyou,"bawledJoe,"andiflwerein
yourplace,lwouldn'ttrycomingbackagain.lshould
bemightilyafraidofamonsterthatcanhurlthunderbolts
whenhepleases."
But,allatonce,thedoctorsnatcheduphisspy-glass,
anddirectedittowardanislandreposinginthemiddle
oftheriver.
"Fourtrees!"heexclaimed;"look,downthere!"Sure
enough,therewerefourtreesstandingaloneatone
endofit.
"ltisBengallsland!ltistheverysame,"repeated
thedoctor,exultingly.
"Andwhatofthat?"askedDick.
"ltistherethatweshallalight,ifGodpermits."
"But,itseemstobeinhabited,doctor."
"Joeisright;and,unlessl'mmistaken,thereisa
groupofaboutascoreofnativesonitnow."
"We'llmakethemscatter;there'llbenogreattrouble
inthat,"respondedFerguson.
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5wiab10
"Sobeit,"chimedinthehunter.
Thesunwasatthezenithastheballoonapproached
theisland.
Theblacks,whoweremembersoftheMakadotribe,
werehowlinglustily,andoneofthemwavedhisbarkhat
intheair.Kennedytookaimathim,fired,andhishat
flewabouthiminpieces.Thereupontherewasageneral
scamper.Thenativesplungedheadlongintotheriver,
andswamtotheoppositebank.lmmediately,therecame
ashowerofballsfrombothbanks,alongwithaperfect
cloudofarrows,butwithoutdoingtheballoonanydamage,
whereitrestedwithitsanchorsnuglysecuredinthe
fissureofarock.Joelostnotimeinslidingtotheground.
"Theladder!"criedthedoctor."Followme,Kennedy."
"Whatdoyouwish,sir?"
"Letusalight.lwantawitness."
"Herelam!"
"Mindyourpost,Joe,andkeepagoodlookout."
"Neverfear,doctor;l'llanswerforallthat."
"Come,Dick,"saidthedoctor,ashetouchedtheground.
Sosaying,hedrewhiscompanionalongtowarda
groupofrocksthatroseupononepointoftheisland;
there,aftersearchingforsometime,hebegantorummage
amongthebrambles,and,insodoing,scratchedhishands
untiltheybled.
SuddenlyhegraspedKennedy'sarm,exclaiming:
"Look!look!"
"Letters!"
Yes;there,indeed,couldbedescried,withperfect
precisionofoutline,someletterscarvedontherock.lt
wasquiteeasytomakethemout:
"A.D."
"A.D.!"repeatedDr.Ferguson."AndreaDebono--
theverysignatureofthetravellerwhofarthestascended
thecurrentoftheNile."
"Nodoubtofthat,friendSamuel,"assentedKennedy.
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5wiab10
"Areyounowconvinced?"
"ltistheNile!Wecannotentertainadoubtonthat
scorenow,"wasthereply.
Thedoctor,forthelasttime,examinedthoseprecious
initials,theexactformandsizeofwhichhecarefullynoted.
"Andnow,"saidhe--"nowfortheballoon!"
"Quickly,then,forlseesomeofthenativesgetting
readytorecrosstheriver."
"Thatmatterslittletousnow.Letthewindbut
sendusnorthwardforafewhours,andweshallreach
Gondokoro,andpressthehandsofsomeofourcountrymen."
Tenminutesmore,andtheballoonwasmajestically
ascending,whileDr.Ferguson,intokenofsuccess,waved
theEnglishflagtriumphantlyfromhiscar.
CHAPTERNlNETEENTH.
TheNile.--TheTremblingMountain.--ARemembranceoftheCountry.--The
NarrativesoftheArabs.--TheNyam-Nyams.--Joe'sShrewdCogitations.--The
BalloonrunstheGantlet.--AerostaticAscensions.--MadameBlanchard.
"Whichwaydowehead?"askedKennedy,ashe
sawhisfriendconsultingthecompass.
"North-northeast."
"Thedeuce!butthat'snotthenorth?"
"No,Dick;andl'mafraidthatweshallhavesome
troubleingettingtoGondokoro.lamsorryforit;but,
atlast,wehavesucceededinconnectingtheexplorations
fromtheeastwiththosefromthenorth;andwemust
notcomplain."
TheballoonwasnowrecedinggraduallyfromtheNile.
"Onelastlook,"saidthedoctor,"atthisimpassable
latitude,beyondwhichthemostintrepidtravellerscould
notmaketheirway.Therearethoseintractabletribes,
ofwhomPetherick,Arnaud,Miuni,andtheyoungtraveller
Lejean,towhomweareindebtedforthebestwork
ontheUpperNile,havespoken."
"Thus,then,"addedKennedy,inquiringly,"ourdiscoveries
agreewiththespeculationsofscience."
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5wiab10
"Absolutelyso.ThesourcesoftheWhiteNile,of
theBahr-el-Abiad,areimmersedinalakeaslargeasa
sea;itistherethatittakesitsrise.Poesy,undoubtedly,
losessomethingthereby.Peoplewerefondofascribing
acelestialorigintothiskingofrivers.Theancientsgave
itthenameofanocean,andwerenotfarfrombelieving
thatitfloweddirectlyfromthesun;butwemustcome
downfromtheseflightsfromtimetotime,andaccept
whatscienceteachesus.Therewillnotalwaysbescientific
men,perhaps;buttherealwayswillbepoets."
"Wecanstillseecataracts,"saidJoe.
"ThosearethecataractsofMakedo,inthethirddegree
oflatitude.Nothingcouldbemoreaccurate.Oh,ifwecould
onlyhavefollowedthecourseoftheNileforafewhours!"
"Anddownyonder,belowus,lseethetopofamountain,"
saidthehunter.
"ThatisMountLongwek,theTremblingMountainof
theArabs.ThiswholecountrywasvisitedbyDebono,
whowentthroughitunderthenameofLatif-Effendi.
ThetribeslivingneartheNilearehostiletoeachother,
andarecontinuallywagingawarofextermination.You
mayformsomeidea,then,ofthedifficultieshehadto
encounter."
Thewindwascarryingtheballoontowardthenorthwest,
and,inordertoavoidMountLongwek,itwasnecessary
toseekamoreslantingcurrent.
"Myfriends,"saidthedoctor,"hereiswhereOURpassage
oftheAfricanContinentreallycommences;uptothistime
wehavebeenfollowingthetracesofourpredecessors.
Henceforthwearetolaunchourselvesupontheunknown.
Weshallnotlackthecourage,shallwe?"
"Never!"saidDickandJoetogether,almostinashout.
"Onward,then,andmaywehavethehelpofHeaven!"
Atteno'clockatnight,afterpassingoverravines,
forests,andscatteredvillages,theaeronautsreachedthe
sideoftheTremblingMountain,alongwhosegentleslopes
theywentquietlygliding.lnthatmemorableday,the23dof
April,theyhad,infifteenhours,impelledbyarapid
breeze,traversedadistanceofmorethanthreehundredand
fifteenmiles.
Butthislatterpartofthejourneyhadleftthemin
dullspirits,andcompletesilencereignedinthecar.Was
Dr.Fergusonabsorbedinthethoughtofhisdiscoveries?
Werehistwocompanionsthinkingoftheirtripthrough
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5wiab10
thoseunknownregions?Therewere,nodoubt,mingled
withthesereflections,thekeenestreminiscencesofhome
anddistantfriends.Joealonecontinuedtomanifestthe
samecarelessphilosophy,findingitQUlTENATURALthat
homeshouldnotbethere,fromthemomentthatheleft
it;butherespectedthesilentmoodofhisfriends,the
doctorandKennedy.
Abouttentheballoonanchoredonthesideofthe
TremblingMountain,socalled,because,inArabtradition,
itissaidtotrembletheinstantthataMussulmansets
footuponit.Thetravellersthenpartookofasubstantial
meal,andallquietlypassedthenightasusual,keeping
theregularwatches.
Onawakingthenextmorning,theyallhadpleasanter
feelings.Theweatherwasfine,andthewindwasblowing
fromtherightquarter;sothatagoodbreakfast,
seasonedwithJoe'smerrypranks,puttheminhighgood-humor.
Theregiontheywerenowcrossingisveryextensive.
ltbordersontheMountainsoftheMoonononeside,
andthoseofDarfurontheother--aspaceaboutas
broadasEurope.
"Weare,nodoubt,crossingwhatissupposedtobe
thekingdomofUsoga.Geographershavepretendedthat
thereexisted,inthecentreofAfrica,avastdepression,
animmensecentrallake.Weshallseewhetherthereis
anytruthinthatidea,"saidthedoctor.
"Buthowdidtheycometothinkso?"askedKennedy.
"FromtherecitalsoftheArabs.Thosefellowsare
greatnarrators--toomuchso,probably.Sometravellers,
whohadgotasfarasKazeh,orthegreatlakes,saw
slavesthathadbeenbroughtfromthisregion;interrogated
themconcerningit,and,fromtheirdifferentnarratives,
madeupajumbleofnotions,anddeducedsystems
fromthem.Downatthebottomofitallthereissome
appearanceoftruth;andyouseethattheywereright
aboutthesourcesoftheNile."
"Nothingcouldbemorecorrect,"saidKennedy."lt
wasbytheaidofthesedocumentsthatsomeattemptsat
mapsweremade,andsolamgoingtotrytofollowour
routebyoneofthem,rectifyingitwhenneedbe."
"lsallthisregioninhabited?"askedJoe.
"Undoubtedly;anddisagreeablyinhabited,too."
"lthoughtso."
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5wiab10
"Thesescatteredtribescome,oneandall,underthe
titleofNyam-Nyams,andthiscompoundwordisonlya
sortofnickname.ltimitatesthesoundofchewing."
"That'sit!Excellent!"saidJoe,champinghisteeth
asthoughhewereeating;"Nyam-Nyam."
"MygoodJoe,ifyouweretheimmediateobjectof
thischewing,youwouldn'tfinditsoexcellent."
"Why,what'sthereason,sir?"
"Thesetribesareconsideredman-eaters."
"lsthatreallythecase?"
"Notadoubtofit!lthasalsobeenassertedthat
thesenativeshadtails,likemerequadrupeds;butitwas
soondiscoveredthattheseappendagesbelongedtothe
skinsofanimalsthattheyworeforclothing."
"More'sthepity!atail'sanicethingtochaseaway
mosquitoes."
"Thatmaybe,Joe;butwemustconsignthestoryto
thedomainoffable,likethedogs'headswhichthe
traveller,Brun-Rollet,attributedtoothertribes."
"Dogs'heads,eh?Quiteconvenientforbarking,and
evenforman-eating!"
"Butonethingthathasbeen,unfortunately,proven
true,is,theferocityofthesetribes,whoarereallyvery
fondofhumanflesh,anddevouritwithavidity."
"lonlyhopethattheywon'ttakesuchaparticular
fancytomine!"saidJoe,withcomicsolemnity.
"Seethat!"saidKennedy.
"Yes,indeed,sir;iflhavetobeeaten,inamoment
offamine,lwantittobeforyourbenefitandmymaster's;
buttheideaoffeedingthoseblackfellows--gracious!l'd
dieofshame!"
"Well,then,Joe,"saidKennedy,"that'sunderstood;
wecountuponyouincaseofneed!"
"Atyourservice,gentlemen!"
"Joetalksinthiswaysoastomakeustakegoodcare
ofhim,andfattenhimup."
"Maybeso!"saidJoe."Everymanforhimself."
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5wiab10
lntheafternoon,theskybecamecoveredwithawarm
mist,thatoozedfromthesoil;thebrownishvaporscarcely
allowedthebeholdertodistinguishobjects,andso,fearing
collisionwithsomeunexpectedmountain-peak,thedoctor,
aboutfiveo'clock,gavethesignaltohalt.
Thenightpassedwithoutaccident,butinsuchprofound
obscurity,thatitwasnecessarytouseredoubledvigilance.
Themonsoonblewwithextremeviolenceduringall
thenextmorning.Thewindburieditselfinthelower
cavitiesoftheballoonandshooktheappendagebywhich
thedilating-pipesenteredthemainapparatus.Theyhad,
atlast,tobetiedupwithcords,Joeacquittinghimself
veryskilfullyinperformingthatoperation.
Hehadoccasiontoobserve,atthesametime,thatthe
orificeoftheballoonstillremainedhermeticallysealed.
"Thatisamatterofdoubleimportanceforus,"said
thedoctor;"inthefirstplace,weavoidtheescapeof
preciousgas,andthen,again,wedonotleavebehindus
aninflammabletrain,whichweshouldatlastinevitably
setfireto,andsobeconsumed."
"Thatwouldbeadisagreeabletravellingincident!"
saidJoe.
"Shouldwebehurledtotheground?"askedKennedy.
"Hurled!No,notquitethat.Thegaswouldburn
quietly,andweshoulddescendlittlebylittle.Asimilar
accidenthappenedtoaFrenchaeronaut,MadameBlanchard.
Sheignitedherballoonwhilesendingofffireworks,
butshedidnotfall,andshewouldnothavebeenkilled,
probably,hadnothercardashedagainstachimneyand
precipitatedhertotheground."
"Letushopethatnothingofthekindmayhappento
us,"saidthehunter."Uptothistimeourtriphasnot
seemedtomeverydangerous,andlcanseenothingto
preventusreachingourdestination."
"Norcanleither,mydearDick;accidentsaregenerally
causedbytheimprudenceoftheaeronauts,orthe
defectiveconstructionoftheirapparatus.However,in
thousandsofaerialascensions,therehavenotbeentwenty
fatalaccidents.Usually,thedangerisinthemomentof
leavingtheground,orofalighting,andthereforeatthose
juncturesweshouldneveromittheutmostprecaution."
"lt'sbreakfast-time,"saidJoe;"we'llhavetoputup
withpreservedmeatandcoffeeuntilMr.Kennedyhashad
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5wiab10
anotherchancetogetusagoodsliceofvenison."
CHAPTERTWENTlETH.
TheCelestialBottle.--TheFig-Palms.--TheMammothTrees.--TheTreeof
War.--TheWingedTeam.--TwoNativeTribesinBattle.--AMassacre.--An
lnterventionfromabove.
Thewindhadbecomeviolentandirregular;theballoon
wasrunningthegantletthroughtheair.Tossed
atonemomenttowardthenorth,atanothertowardthe
south,itcouldnotfindonesteadycurrent.
"Wearemovingveryswiftlywithoutadvancing
much,"saidKennedy,remarkingthefrequentoscillations
oftheneedleofthecompass.
"Theballoonisrushingattherateofatleastthirty
milesanhour.Leanover,andseehowthecountryis
glidingawaybeneathus!"saidthedoctor.
"See!thatforestlooksasthoughitwereprecipitating
itselfuponus!"
"Theforesthasbecomeaclearing!"addedtheother.
"Andtheclearingavillage!"continuedJoe,amomentortwo
later."Lookatthefacesofthoseastonisheddarkys!"
"Oh!it'snaturalenoughthattheyshouldbeastonished,"
saidthedoctor."TheFrenchpeasants,whenthey
firstsawaballoon,firedatit,thinkingthatitwasanaerial
monster.ASoudannegromaybeexcused,then,foropeninghis
eyesVERYwide!"
"Faith!"saidJoe,astheVictoriaskimmedclosely
alongtheground,atscarcelytheelevationofonehundred
feet,andimmediatelyoveravillage,"l'llthrowthem
anemptybottle,withyourleave,doctor,andifitreaches
themsafeandsound,they'llworshipit;ifitbreaks,they'll
maketalismansofthepieces."
Sosaying,heflungoutabottle,which,ofcourse,was
brokenintoathousandfragments,whilethenegroes
scamperedintotheirroundhuts,utteringshrillcries.
Alittlefartheron,Kennedycalledout:"Lookatthat
strangetree!Theupperpartisofonekindandthe
lowerpartofanother!"
"Well!"saidJoe,"here'sacountrywherethetrees
growontopofeachother."
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5wiab10
"lt'ssimplythetrunkofafig-tree,"repliedthedoctor,
"onwhichthereisalittlevegetatingearth.Somefine
day,thewindlefttheseedofapalmonit,andthe
seedhastakenrootandgrownasthoughitwereonthe
plainground."
"Afinenewstyleofgardening,"saidJoe,"andl'll
importtheideatoEngland.ltwouldbejustthething
intheLondonparks;withoutcountingthatitwouldbe
anotherwaytoincreasethenumberoffruit-trees.We
couldhavegardensupintheair;andthesmallhouse-owners
wouldlikethat!"
Atthismoment,theyhadtoraisetheballoonsoasto
passoveraforestoftreesthatweremorethanthree
hundredfeetinheight--akindofancientbanyan.
"Whatmagnificenttrees!"exclaimedKennedy."l
neversawanythingsofineastheappearanceofthese
venerableforests.Look,doctor!"
"Theheightofthesebanyansisreallyremarkable,
mydearDick;andyet,theywouldbenothingastonishing
intheNewWorld."
"Why,aretherestillloftiertreesinexistence?"
"Undoubtedly;amongthe'mammothtrees'ofCalifornia,
thereisacedarfourhundredandeightyfeetin
height.ltwouldovertoptheHousesofParliament,and
eventheGreatPyramidofEgypt.Thetrunkatthe
surfaceofthegroundwasonehundredandtwentyfeetin
circumference,andtheconcentriclayersofthewood
disclosedanageofmorethanfourthousandyears."
"Butthen,sir,therewasnothingwonderfulinit!
Whenonehaslivedfourthousandyears,oneoughttobe
prettytall!"wasJoe'sremark.
Meanwhile,duringthedoctor'srecitalandJoe'sresponse,
theforesthadgivenplacetoalargecollectionof
hutssurroundinganopenspace.lnthemiddleofthis
grewasolitarytree,andJoeexclaimed,ashecaught
sightofit:
"Well!ifthattreehasproducedsuchflowersas
those,forthelastfourthousandyears,lhavetooffer
itmycompliments,anyhow,"andhepointedtoagigantic
sycamore,whosewholetrunkwascoveredwithhuman
bones.TheflowersofwhichJoespokewereheadsfreshly
severedfromthebodies,andsuspendedbydaggersthrust
intothebarkofthetree.
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5wiab10
"Thewar-treeofthesecannibals!"saidthedoctor;
"thelndiansmerelycarryoffthescalp,butthesenegroes
takethewholehead."
"Amerematteroffashion!"saidJoe.But,already,
thevillageandthebleedingheadsweredisappearingon
thehorizon.Anotherplaceofferedastillmorerevolting
spectacle--half-devouredcorpses;skeletonsmouldering
todust;humanlimbsscatteredhereandthere,andleft
tofeedthejackalsandhyenas.
"Nodoubt,thesearethebodiesofcriminals;according
tothecustominAbyssinia,thesepeoplehaveleftthema
preytothewildbeasts,whokillthemwiththeirterrible
teethandclaws,andthendevourthemattheirleisure.
"Notawhitmorecruelthanhanging!"saidthe
Scot;"filthier,that'sall!"
"lnthesouthernregionsofAfrica,theycontentthemselves,"
resumedthedoctor,"withshuttingupthecriminal
inhisownhutwithhiscattle,andsometimeswithhis
family.Theythensetfiretothehut,andthewhole
partyareburnedtogether.lcallthatcruel;but,like
friendKennedy,lthinkthatthegallowsisquiteascruel,
quiteasbarbarous."
Joe,bytheaidofhiskeensight,whichhedidnotfail
tousecontinually,noticedsomeflocksofbirdsofprey
flittingaboutthehorizon.
"Theyareeagles!"exclaimedKennedy,afterreconnoitring
themthroughtheglass,"magnificentbirds,whoseflight
isasrapidasours."
"Heavenpreserveusfromtheirattacks!"saidthe
doctor,"theyaremoretobefearedbyusthanwild
beastsorsavagetribes."
"Bah!"saidthehunter,"wecandrivethemoffwith
afewrifle-shots."
"Nevertheless,lwouldprefer,dearDick,nothaving
torelyuponyourskill,thistime,forthesilkofour
ballooncouldnotresisttheirsharpbeaks;fortunately,the
hugebirdswill,lbelieve,bemorefrightenedthanattracted
byourmachine."
"Yes!butanewidea,andlhavedozensofthem,"
saidJoe;"ifwecouldonlymanagetocaptureateamof
liveeagles,wecouldhitchthemtotheballoon,andthey'd
haulusthroughtheair!"
"Thethinghasbeenseriouslyproposed,"repliedthe
Page115
5wiab10
doctor,"butlthinkithardlypracticablewithcreatures
naturallysorestive."
"Oh!we'dtamethem,"saidJoe."lnsteadofdriving
themwithbits,we'ddoitwitheye-blinkersthatwould
covertheireyes.Halfblindedinthatway,they'dgoto
therightortotheleft,aswedesired;whenblinded
completely,theywouldstop."
"Allowme,Joe,topreferafavorablewindtoyour
teamofeagles.ltcostslessforfodder,andismore
reliable."
"Well,youmayhaveyourchoice,master,butlstick
tomyidea."
ltnowwasnoon.TheVictoriahadbeengoingat
amoremoderatespeedforsometime;thecountrymerely
passedbelowit;itnolongerflew.
Suddenly,shoutsandwhistlingswereheardbyour
aeronauts,and,leaningovertheedgeofthecar,theysaw
ontheopenplainbelowthemanexcitingspectacle.
Twohostiletribeswerefightingfuriously,andtheair
wasdottedwithvolleysofarrows.Thecombatantswere
sointentupontheirmurderousworkthattheydidnot
noticethearrivaloftheballoon;therewereaboutthree
hundredmingledconfusedlyinthedeadlystruggle:most
ofthem,redwiththebloodofthewounded,inwhichthey
fairlywallowed,werehorribletobehold.
Astheyatlastcaughtsightoftheballoon,therewas
amomentarypause;buttheiryellsredoubled,andsome
arrowswereshotattheVictoria,oneofthemcoming
closeenoughforJoetocatchitwithhishand.
"Letusriseoutofrange,"exclaimedthedoctor;"there
mustbenorashness!Weareforbiddenanyrisk."
Meanwhile,themassacrecontinuedonbothsides,with
battle-axesandwar-clubs;asquicklyasoneofthecombatants
fell,ahostilewarriorranuptocutoffhishead,
whilethewomen,minglinginthefray,gatheredupthese
bloodytrophies,andpiledthemtogetherateitherextremity
ofthebattle-field.Often,too,theyevenfought
forthesehideousspoils.
"Whatafrightfulscene!"saidKennedy,withprofounddisgust.
"They'reuglyacquaintances!"addedJoe;"butthen,
iftheyhaduniformsthey'dbejustlikethefightersofall
therestoftheworld!"
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5wiab10
"lhaveakeenhankeringtotakeahandinatthat
fight,"saidthehunter,brandishinghisrifle.
"No!no!"objectedthedoctor,vehemently;"no,
letusnotmeddlewithwhatdon'tconcernus.Doyou
knowwhichisrightorwhichiswrong,thatyouwould
assumethepartoftheAlmighty?Letus,rather,hurry
awayfromthisrevoltingspectacle.Couldthegreat
captainsoftheworldfloatthusabovethescenesoftheir
exploits,theywouldatlast,perhaps,conceiveadisgust
forbloodandconquest."
Thechieftainofoneofthecontendingpartieswas
remarkableforhisathleticproportions,hisgreatheight,
andherculeanstrength.Withonehandheplungedhis
spearintothecompactranksofhisenemies,andwiththe
othermowedlargespacesinthemwithhisbattle-axe.
Suddenlyheflungawayhiswar-club,redwithblood,
rusheduponawoundedwarrior,and,choppingoffhisarm
atasinglestroke,carriedthedisseveredmembertohis
mouth,andbititagainandagain.
"Ah!"ejaculatedKennedy,"thehorriblebrute!l
canholdbacknolonger,"and,ashespoke,thehuge
savage,struckfullintheforeheadwitharifle-ball,fell
headlongtotheground.
Uponthissuddenmishapoftheirleader,hiswarriors
seemedstruckdumbwithamazement;hissupernatural
deathawedthem,whileitreanimatedthecourageand
ardoroftheiradversaries,and,inatwinkling,thefield
wasabandonedbyhalfthecombatants.
"Come,letuslookhigherupforacurrenttobearus
away.lamsickofthisspectacle,"saidthedoctor.
Buttheycouldnotgetawaysorapidlyastoavoid
thesightofthevictorioustriberushinguponthedead
andthewounded,scramblinganddisputingforthestill
warmandreekingflesh,andeagerlydevouringit.
"Faugh!"utteredJoe,"it'ssickening."
Theballoonroseasitexpanded;thehowlingsofthe
brutalhorde,inthedeliriumoftheirorgy,pursuedthem
forafewminutes;but,atlength,borneawaytowardthe
south,theywerecarriedoutofsightandhearingofthis
horriblespectacleofcannibalism.
Thesurfaceofthecountrywasnowgreatlyvaried,
withnumerousstreamsofwater,bearingtowardtheeast.
Thelatter,undoubtedly,ranintothoseaffluentsofLake
Nu,oroftheRiveroftheGazelles,concerningwhichM.
GuillaumeLejeanhasgivensuchcuriousdetails.
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5wiab10
Atnightfall,theballooncastanchorintwenty-seven
degreeseastlongitude,andfourdegreestwentyminutes
northlatitude,afteraday'stripofonehundredandfifty
miles.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FlRST.
StrangeSounds.--ANightAttack.--KennedyandJoeintheTree.--Two
Shots.--"Help!help!"--ReplyinFrench.--TheMorning.--TheMissionary.
--ThePlanofRescue.
Thenightcameonverydark.Thedoctorhadnot
beenabletoreconnoitrethecountry.Hehadmadefast
toaverytalltree,fromwhichhecoulddistinguishonlya
confusedmassthroughthegloom.
Asusual,hetookthenine-o'clockwatch,andatmidnight
Dickrelievedhim.
"Keepasharplookout,Dick!"wasthedoctor'sgood-nightinjunction.
"lsthereanythingnewonthecarpet?"
"No;butlthoughtthatlheardvaguesoundsbelow
us,and,asldon'texactlyknowwherethewindhas
carriedusto,evenanexcessofcautionwoulddonoharm."
"You'veprobablyheardthecriesofwildbeasts."
"No!thesoundsseemedtomesomethingaltogether
differentfromthat;atallevents,ontheleastalarm
don'tfailtowakenus."
"l'lldoso,doctor;resteasy."
Afterlisteningattentivelyforamomentortwolonger,
thedoctor,hearingnothingmore,threwhimselfonhis
blanketsandwentasleep.
Theskywascoveredwithdenseclouds,butnota
breathofairwasstirring;andtheballoon,keptin
itsplacebyonlyasingleanchor,experiencednot
theslightestoscillation.
Kennedy,leaninghiselbowontheedgeofthecar,so
astokeepaneyeonthecylinder,whichwasactivelyat
work,gazedoutuponthecalmobscurity;heeagerly
scannedthehorizon,and,asoftenhappenstomindsthat
areuneasyorpossessedwithpreconceivednotions,he
fanciedthathesometimesdetectedvaguegleamsoflight
inthedistance.
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5wiab10
Atonemomentheeventhoughtthathesawthemonly
twohundredpacesaway,quitedistinctly,butitwasa
mereflashthatwasgoneasquicklyasitcame,andhe
noticednothingmore.ltwas,nodoubt,oneofthose
luminousillusionsthatsometimesimpresstheeyeinthe
midstofveryprofounddarkness.
Kennedywasgettingoverhisnervousnessandfalling
intohiswanderingmeditationsagain,whenasharpwhistle
piercedhisear.
Wasthatthecryofananimalorofanight-bird,or
diditcomefromhumanlips?
Kennedy,perfectlycomprehendingthegravityofthe
situation,wasonthepointofwakinghiscompanions,but
hereflectedthat,inanycase,menoranimals,thecreatures
thathehadheardmustbeoutofreach.Sohemerely
sawthathisweaponswereallright,andthen,withhis
night-glass,againplungedhisgazeintospace.
ltwasnotlongbeforehethoughthecouldperceive
belowhimvagueformsthatseemedtobeglidingtoward
thetree,andthen,bytheaidofarayofmoonlightthat
shotlikeanelectricflashbetweentwomassesofcloud,he
distinctlymadeoutagroupofhumanfiguresmovingin
theshadow.
Theadventurewiththedog-facedbaboonsreturned
tohismemory,andheplacedhishandonthedoctor's
shoulder.
Thelatterwasawakeinamoment.
"Silence!"saidDick."Letusspeakbelowourbreath."
"Hasanythinghappened?"
"Yes,letuswakenJoe."
TheinstantthatJoewasaroused,Kennedytoldhim
whathehadseen.
"Thoseconfoundedmonkeysagain!"saidJoe.
"Possibly,butwemustbeonourguard."
"Joeandl,"saidKennedy,"willclimbdownthetree
bytheladder."
"And,inthemeanwhile,"addedthedoctor,"lwill
takemymeasuressothatwecanascendrapidlyata
moment'swarning."
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"Agreed!"
"Letusgodown,then!"saidJoe.
"Don'tuseyourweapons,exceptingatthelastextremity!
ltwouldbeauselessrisktomakethenatives
awareofourpresenceinsuchaplaceasthis."
DickandJoerepliedwithsignsofassent,andthen
lettingthemselvesslidenoiselesslytowardthetree,took
theirpositioninaforkamongthestrongbrancheswhere
theanchorhadcaught.
Forsomemomentstheylistenedminutelyandmotionlessly
amongthefoliage,anderelongJoeseizedKenedy'shand
asheheardasortofrubbingsoundagainstthebarkof
thetree.
"Don'tyouhearthat?"hewhispered.
"Yes,andit'scomingnearer."
"Supposeitshouldbeaserpent?Thathissingor
whistlingthatyouheardbefore--"
"No!therewassomethinghumaninit."
"l'dpreferthesavages,forlhaveahorrorofthose
snakes."
"Thenoiseisincreasing,"saidKennedy,again,after
alapseofafewmoments.
"Yes!something'scominguptowardus--climbing."
"Keepwatchonthisside,andl'lltakecareoftheother."
"Verygood!"
Theretheywere,isolatedatthetopofoneofthe
largerbranchesshootingoutinthemidstofoneof
thoseminiatureforestscalledbaobab-trees.Thedarkness,
heightenedbythedensityofthefoliage,wasprofound;
however,Joe,leaningovertoKennedy'searandpointing
downthetree,whispered:
"Theblacks!They'reclimbingtowardus."
Thetwofriendscouldevencatchthesoundofafew
wordsutteredinthelowestpossibletones.
Joegentlybroughthisrifletohisshoulderashespoke.
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5wiab10
"Wait!"saidKennedy.
Someofthenativeshadreallyclimbedthebaobab,
andnowtheywereseenrisingonallsides,windingalong
theboughslikereptiles,andadvancingslowlybutsurely,
allthetimeplainlyenoughdiscernible,notmerelytothe
eyebuttothenostrils,bythehorribleodorsoftherancid
greasewithwhichtheybedaubtheirbodies.
Erelong,twoheadsappearedtothegazeofKennedy
andJoe,onalevelwiththeverybranchtowhichthey
wereclinging.
"Attention!"saidKennedy."Fire!"
Thedoubleconcussionresoundedlikeathunderbolt
anddiedawayintocriesofrageandpain,andina
momentthewholehordehaddisappeared.
But,inthemidstoftheseyellsandhowls,astrange,
unexpected--naywhatseemedanimpossible--cryhad
beenheard!Ahumanvoicehad,distinctly,calledaloud
intheFrenchlanguage--
"Help!help!"
KennedyandJoe,dumbwithamazement,hadregained
thecarimmediately.
"Didyouhearthat?"thedoctoraskedthem.
"Undoubtedly,thatsupernaturalcry,'Amoi!amoi!'
comesfromaFrenchmaninthehandsofthesebarbarians!"
"Atraveller."
"Amissionary,perhaps."
"Poorwretch!"saidKennedy,"they'reassassinating
him--makingamartyrofhim!"
Thedoctorthenspoke,anditwasimpossibleforhim
toconcealhisemotions.
"Therecanbenodoubtofit,"hesaid;"someunfortunate
Frenchmanhasfallenintothehandsofthese
savages.Wemustnotleavethisplacewithoutdoingall
inourpowertosavehim.Whenheheardthesoundof
ourguns,herecognizedanunhoped-forassistance,a
providentialinterposition.Weshallnotdisappoint
hislasthope.Aresuchyourviews?"
"Theyare,doctor,andwearereadytoobeyyou."
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5wiab10
"Letus,then,layourheadstogethertodevisesome
plan,andinthemorningwe'lltrytorescuehim."
"Buthowshallwedriveoffthoseabominableblacks?"
askedKennedy.
"lt'squitecleartome,fromthewayinwhichthey
madeoff,thattheyareunacquaintedwithfire-arms.We
must,therefore,profitbytheirfears;butweshallawait
daylightbeforeacting,andthenwecanformourplansof
rescueaccordingtocircumstances."
"Thepoorcaptivecannotbefaroff,"saidJoe,"because--"
"Help!help!"repeatedthevoice,butmuchmore
feeblythistime.
"Thesavagewretches!"exclaimedJoe,trembling
withindignation."Supposetheyshouldkillhim
to-night!"
"Doyouhear,doctor,"resumedKennedy,seizingthe
doctor'shand."Supposetheyshouldkillhimto-night!"
"ltisnotatalllikely,myfriends.Thesesavage
tribeskilltheircaptivesinbroaddaylight;theymust
havethesunshine."
"Now,iflweretotakeadvantageofthedarknessto
slipdowntothepoorfellow?"saidKennedy.
"Andl'llgowithyou,"saidJoe,warmly.
"Pause,myfriends--pause!Thesuggestiondoes
honortoyourheartsandtoyourcourage;butyouwould
exposeusalltogreatperil,anddostillgreaterharmto
theunfortunatemanwhomyouwishtoaid."
"Whyso?"askedKennedy."Thesesavagesare
frightenedanddispersed:theywillnotreturn."
"Dick,limploreyou,heedwhatlsay.lamacting
forthecommongood;andifbyanyaccidentyoushould
betakenbysurprise,allwouldbelost."
"But,thinkofthatpoorwretch,hopingforaid,waiting
there,praying,callingaloud.lsnoonetogotohis
assistance?Hemustthinkthathissensesdeceivedhim;
thatheheardnothing!"
"Wecanreassurehim,onthatscore,"saidDr.Ferguson
--and,standingerect,makingaspeaking-trumpet
ofhishands,heshoutedatthetopofhisvoice,inFrench:
"Whoeveryouare,beofgoodcheer!Threefriendsare
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watchingoveryou."
Aterrifichowlfromthesavagesrespondedtothese
words--nodoubtdrowningtheprisoner'sreply.
"Theyaremurderinghim!theyaremurderinghim!"
exclaimedKennedy."Ourinterferencewillhaveserved
nootherpurposethantohastenthehourofhisdoom.
Wemustact!"
"Buthow,Dick?Whatdoyouexpecttodointhe
midstofthisdarkness?"
"Oh,ifitwasonlydaylight!"sighedJoe.
"Well,andsupposeitweredaylight?"saidthedoctor,
inasingulartone.
"Nothingmoresimple,doctor,"saidKennedy."l'd
godownandscatterallthesesavagevillainswithpowder
andball!"
"Andyou,Joe,whatwouldyoudo?"
"l,master?why,l'dactmoreprudently,maybe,by
tellingtheprisonertomakehisescapeinacertain
directionthatwe'dagreeupon."
"Andhowwouldyougethimtoknowthat?"
"Bymeansofthisarrowthatlcaughtflyingtheother
day.l'dtieanotetoit,orl'djustcallouttohimina
loudvoicewhatyouwanthimtodo,becausetheseblack
fellowsdon'tunderstandthelanguagethatyou'dspeak
in!"
"Yourplansareimpracticable,mydearfriends.The
greatestdifficultywouldbeforthispoorfellowtoescape
atall--evenadmittingthatheshouldmanagetoelude
thevigilanceofhiscaptors.Asforyou,mydearDick,
withdetermineddaring,andprofitingbytheiralarmat
ourfire-arms,yourprojectmightpossiblysucceed;but,
wereittofail,youwouldbelost,andweshouldhavetwo
personstosaveinsteadofone.No!wemustputALLthe
chancesonOURside,andgotoworkdifferently."
"Butletusactatonce!"saidthehunter.
"Perhapswemay,"saidthedoctor,throwingconsiderable
stressuponthewords.
"Why,doctor,canyoulightupsuchdarknessasthis?"
"Whoknows,Joe?"
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5wiab10
"Ah!ifyoucandothat,you'rethegreatestlearned
manintheworld!"
Thedoctorkeptsilentforafewmoments;hewas
thinking.Histwocompanionslookedathimwithmuch
emotion,fortheyweregreatlyexcitedbythestrangeness
ofthesituation.Fergusonatlastresumed:
"Hereismyplan:Wehavetwohundredpoundsof
ballastleft,sincethebagswebroughtwithusarestill
untouched.l'llsupposethatthisprisoner,whoisevidently
exhaustedbysuffering,weighsasmuchasoneof
us;therewillstillremainsixtypoundsofballasttothrow
out,incaseweshouldwanttoascendsuddenly."
"Howdoyouexpecttomanagetheballoon?"askedKennedy.
"Thisistheidea,Dick:youwilladmitthatiflcan
gettotheprisoner,andthrowoutaquantityofballast,
equaltohisweight,lshallhaveinnowisealteredthe
equilibriumoftheballoon.But,then,iflwanttogeta
rapidascension,soastoescapethesesavages,lmust
employmeansmoreenergeticthanthecylinder.Well,
then,inthrowingoutthisoverplusofballastatagiven
moment,lamcertaintorisewithgreatrapidity."
"That'splainenough."
"Yes;butthereisonedrawback:itconsistsinthefactthat,
inordertodescendafterthat,lshouldhavetopartwitha
quantityofgasproportionatetothesurplusballastthatl
hadthrownout.Now,thegasisprecious;butwemustnot
haggleoveritwhenthelifeofafellow-creatureisatstake."
"Youareright,sir;wemustdoeverythinginour
powertosavehim."
"Letuswork,then,andgetthesebagsallarrangedon
therimofthecar,sothattheymaybethrownoverboard
atonemovement."
"Butthisdarkness?"
"lthidesourpreparations,andwillbedispersedonly
whentheyarefinished.Takecaretohaveallourweapons
closeathand.Perhapswemayhavetofire;sowe
haveoneshotintherifle;fourforthetwomuskets;
twelveinthetworevolvers;orseventeeninall,which
mightbefiredinaquarterofaminute.Butperhapswe
shallnothavetoresorttoallthisnoisywork.Areyou
ready?"
"We'reready,"respondedJoe.
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5wiab10
Thesackswereplacedasrequested,andthearms
wereputingoodorder.
"Verygood!"saidthedoctor."Haveaneyeto
everything.Joewillseetothrowingouttheballast,
andDickwillcarryofftheprisoner;butletnothingbe
doneuntillgivetheword.Joewillfirstdetachthe
anchor,andthenquicklymakehiswaybacktothecar."
Joelethimselfslidedownbytherope;and,inafew
moments,reappearedathispost;whiletheballoon,thus
liberated,hungalmostmotionlessintheair.
lnthemeantimethedoctorassuredhimselfofthe
presenceofasufficientquantityofgasinthemixing-tank
tofeedthecylinder,ifnecessary,withouttherebeingany
needofresortingforsometimetotheBuntzenbattery.
Hethentookoutthetwoperfectly-isolatedconducting-wires,
whichservedforthedecompositionofthewater,and,
searchinginhistravelling-sack,broughtforthtwopieces
ofcharcoal,cutdowntoasharppoint,andfixedoneat
theendofeachwire.
Histwofriendslookedon,withoutknowingwhathe
wasabout,buttheykeptperfectlysilent.Whenthedoctor
hadfinished,hestooduperectinthecar,and,taking
thetwopiecesofcharcoal,oneineachhand,drewtheir
pointsnearlytogether.
lnatwinkling,anintenseanddazzlinglightwas
produced,withaninsupportableglowbetweenthetwo
pointedendsofcharcoal,andahugejetofelectric
radianceliterallybrokethedarknessofthenight.
"Oh!"ejaculatedtheastonishedfriends.
"Notaword!"cautionedthedoctor.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SECOND.
TheJetofLight.--TheMissionary.--TheRescueinaRayofElectricity.--A
LazaristPriest.--ButlittleHope.--TheDoctor'sCare.--ALifeofSelf-Denial.
--PassingaVolcano.
Dr.Fergusondartedhispowerfulelectricjettoward
variouspointsofspace,andcausedittorestonaspot
fromwhichshoutsofterrorwereheard.Hiscompanions
fixedtheirgazeeagerlyontheplace.
Thebaobab,overwhichtheballoonwashangingalmost
motionless,stoodinthecentreofaclearing,where,
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5wiab10
betweenfieldsoflndian-cornandsugar-cane,wereseen
somefiftylow,conicalhuts,aroundwhichswarmeda
numeroustribe.
Ahundredfeetbelowtheballoonstoodalargepost,
orstake,andatitsfootlayahumanbeing--ayoungman
ofthirtyyearsormore,withlongblackhair,halfnaked,
wastedandwan,bleeding,coveredwithwounds,hishead
bowedoveruponhisbreast,asChrist'swas,whenHe
hunguponthecross.
Thehair,cutshorteronthetopofhisskull,still
indicatedtheplaceofahalf-effacedtonsure.
"Amissionary!apriest!"exclaimedJoe.
"Poor,unfortunateman!"saidKennedy.
"Wemustsavehim,Dick!"respondedthedoctor;
"wemustsavehim!"
Thecrowdofblacks,whentheysawtheballoonover
theirheads,likeahugecometwithatrainofdazzling
light,wereseizedwithaterrorthatmaybereadilyimagined.
Uponhearingtheircries,theprisonerraisedhis
head.Hiseyesgleamedwithsuddenhope,and,without
toothoroughlycomprehendingwhatwastakingplace,he
stretchedouthishandstohisunexpecteddeliverers.
"Heisalive!"exclaimedFerguson."Godbepraised!
Thesavageshavegotafinescare,andweshallsavehim!
Areyouready,friends?"
"Ready,doctor,attheword."
"Joe,shutoffthecylinder!"
Thedoctor'sorderwasexecuted.Analmostimperceptible
breathofairimpelledtheballoondirectlyover
theprisoner,atthesametimethatitgentlyloweredwith
thecontractionofthegas.Forabouttenminutesitremained
floatinginthemidstofluminouswaves,forFerguson
continuedtoflashrightdownuponthethronghis
glowingsheafofrays,which,hereandthere,markedout
swiftandvividsheetsoflight.Thetribe,underthe
influenceofanindescribableterror,disappearedlittleby
littleinthehuts,andtherewascompletesolitudearound
thestake.Thedoctorhad,therefore,beenrightincounting
uponthefantasticappearanceoftheballoonthrowing
outrays,asvividasthesun's,throughthisintensegloom.
Thecarwasapproachingtheground;butafewofthe
savages,moreaudaciousthantherest,guessingthattheir
victimwasabouttoescapefromtheirclutches,cameback
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5wiab10
withloudyells,andKennedyseizedhisrifle.Thedoctor,
however,besoughthimnottofire.
Thepriest,onhisknees,forhehadnotthestrengthto
standerect,wasnotevenfastenedtothestake,hisweakness
renderingthatprecautionsuperfluous.Attheinstant
whenthecarwasclosetotheground,thebrawnyScot,
layingasidehisrifle,andseizingthepriestaroundthe
waist,liftedhimintothecar,while,atthesamemoment,
Joetossedoverthetwohundredpoundsofballast.
Thedoctorhadexpectedtoascendrapidly,but,contrary
tohiscalculations,theballoon,aftergoingupsome
threeorfourfeet,remainedthereperfectlymotionless.
"Whatholdsus?"heasked,withanaccentofterror.
Someofthesavageswererunningtowardthem,uttering
ferociouscries.
"Ah,ha!"saidJoe,"oneofthosecursedblacksis
hangingtothecar!"
"Dick!Dick!"criedthedoctor,"thewater-tank!"
Kennedycaughthisfriend'sideaontheinstant,and,
snatchingupwithdesperatestrengthoneofthewater-tanks
weighingaboutonehundredpounds,hetossedit
overboard.Theballoon,thussuddenlylightened,madea
leapofthreehundredfeetintotheair,amidthehowlings
ofthetribewhoseprisonerthusescapedtheminablaze
ofdazzlinglight.
"Hurrah!"shoutedthedoctor'scomrades.
Suddenly,theballoontookafreshleap,whichcarried
ituptoanelevationofathousandfeet.
"What'sthat?"saidKennedy,whohadnearlylost
hisbalance.
"Oh!nothing;onlythatblackvillainleavingus!"
repliedthedoctor,tranquilly,andJoe,leaningover,saw
thesavagethathadclungtothecarwhirlingoverand
over,withhisarmsoutstretchedintheair,andpresently
dashedtopiecesontheground.Thedoctorthenseparated
hiselectricwires,andeverythingwasagainburied
inprofoundobscurity.ltwasnowoneo'clockinthe
morning.
TheFrenchman,whohadswoonedaway,atlength
openedhiseyes.
"Youaresaved!"werethedoctor'sfirstwords.
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5wiab10
"Saved!"hewithasadsmilerepliedinEnglish,
"savedfromacrueldeath!Mybrethren,lthankyou,
butmydaysarenumbered,nay,evenmyhours,andl
havebutlittlelongertolive."
Withthis,themissionary,againyieldingtoexhaustion,
relapsedintohisfainting-fit.
"Heisdying!"saidKennedy.
"No,"repliedthedoctor,bendingoverhim,"buthe
isveryweak;soletuslayhimundertheawning."
Andtheydidgentlydepositontheirblanketsthat
poor,wastedbody,coveredwithscarsandwounds,still
bleedingwherefireandsteelhad,intwentyplaces,left
theiragonizingmarks.Thedoctor,takinganoldhandkerchief,
quicklypreparedalittlelint,whichhespread
overthewounds,afterhavingwashedthem.Theserapid
attentionswerebestowedwiththecelerityandskillofa
practisedsurgeon,and,whentheywerecomplete,thedoctor,
takingacordialfromhismedicine-chest,pouredafew
dropsuponhispatient'slips.
Thelatterfeeblypressedhiskindhands,andscarcely
hadthestrengthtosay,"Thankyou!thankyou!"
Thedoctorcomprehendedthathemustbeleftperfectly
quiet;soheclosedthefoldsoftheawningandresumed
theguidanceoftheballoon.
Thelatter,aftertakingintoaccounttheweightofthe
newpassenger,hadbeenlightenedofonehundredand
eightypounds,andthereforekeptaloftwithouttheaidof
thecylinder.Atthefirstdawnofday,acurrentdroveit
gentlytowardthewest-northwest.Thedoctorwentin
undertheawningforamomentortwo,tolookathisstill
sleepingpatient.
"MayHeavensparethelifeofournewcompanion!
Haveyouanyhope?"saidtheScot.
"Yes,Dick,withcare,inthispure,freshatmosphere."
"Howthatmanhassuffered!"saidJoe,withfeeling.
"Hedidbolderthingsthanwe'vedone,inventuringall
aloneamongthosesavagetribes!"
"Thatcannotbequestioned,"assentedthehunter.
Duringtheentiredaythedoctorwouldnotallowthe
sleepofhispatienttobedisturbed.ltwasreallyalong
stupor,brokenonlybyanoccasionalmurmurofpainthat
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5wiab10
continuedtodisquietandagitatethedoctorgreatly.
Towardeveningtheballoonremainedstationaryinthe
midstofthegloom,andduringthenight,whileKennedy
andJoerelievedeachotherincarefullytendingthesick
man,Fergusonkeptwatchoverthesafetyofall.
Bythemorningofthenextday,theballoonhadmoved,
butveryslightly,tothewestward.Thedawncameup
pureandmagnificent.Thesickmanwasabletocallhis
friendswithastrongervoice.Theyraisedthecurtains
oftheawning,andheinhaledwithdelightthekeen
morningair.
"Howdoyoufeelto-day?"askedthedoctor.
"Better,perhaps,"hereplied."Butyou,myfriends,
lhavenotseenyouyet,exceptinginadream!lcan,
indeed,scarcelyrecallwhathasoccurred.Whoareyou
--thatyournamesmaynotbeforgotteninmydying
prayers?"
"WeareEnglishtravellers,"repliedFerguson."We
aretryingtocrossAfricainaballoon,and,onourway,
wehavehadthegoodfortunetorescueyou."
"Sciencehasitsheroes,"saidthemissionary.
"Butreligionitsmartyrs!"rejoinedtheScot.
"Areyouamissionary?"askedthedoctor.
"lamapriestoftheLazaristmission.Heavensent
youtome--Heavenbepraised!Thesacrificeofmylife
hadbeenaccomplished!ButyoucomefromEurope;
tellmeaboutEurope,aboutFrance!lhavebeenwithout
newsforthelastfiveyears!"
"Fiveyears!alone!andamongthesesavages!"exclaimed
Kennedywithamazement.
"Theyaresoulstoredeem!ignorantandbarbarous
brethren,whomreligionalonecaninstructandcivilize."
Dr.Ferguson,yieldingtothepriest'srequest,talked
tohimlongandfullyaboutFrance.Helistenedeagerly,
andhiseyesfilledwithtears.HeseizedKennedy'sand
Joe'shandsbyturnsinhisown,whichwereburningwith
fever.Thedoctorpreparedhimsometea,andhedrank
itwithsatisfaction.Afterthat,hehadstrengthenough
toraisehimselfupalittle,andsmiledwithpleasureat
seeinghimselfbornealongthroughsopureasky.
"Youaredaringtravellers!"hesaid,"andyouwill
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5wiab10
succeedinyourboldenterprise.Youwillagainbehold
yourrelatives,yourfriends,yourcountry--you--"
Atthismoment,theweaknessoftheyoungmissionary
becamesoextremethattheyhadtolayhimagainonthe
bed,whereaprostration,lastingforseveralhours,held
himlikeadeadmanundertheeyeofDr.Ferguson.The
lattercouldnotsuppresshisemotion,forhefeltthatthis
lifenowinhischargewasebbingaway.Weretheythen
sosoontolosehimwhomtheyhadsnatchedfroman
agonizingdeath?Thedoctoragainwashedanddressed
theyoungmartyr'sfrightfulwounds,andhadtosacrifice
nearlyhiswholestockofwatertorefreshhisburning
limbs.Hesurroundedhimwiththetenderestandmost
intelligentcare,until,atlength,thesickmanrevived,
littlebylittle,inhisarms,andrecoveredhisconsciousness
ifnothisstrength.
Thedoctorwasabletogathersomethingofhishistory
fromhisbrokenmurmurs.
"Speakinyournativelanguage,"hesaidtothesufferer;
"lunderstandit,anditwillfatigueyouless."
Themissionarywasapooryoungmanfromthevillage
ofAradon,inBrittany,intheMorbihancountry.His
earliestinstinctshaddrawnhimtowardanecclesiastical
career,buttothislifeofself-sacrificehewasalsodesirous
ofjoiningalifeofdanger,byenteringthemissionofthe
orderofpriesthoodofwhichSt.VincentdePaulwasthe
founder,and,attwenty,hequittedhiscountryforthe
inhospitableshoresofAfrica.Fromthesea-coast,overcoming
obstacles,littlebylittle,bravingallprivations,
pushingonward,afoot,andpraying,hehadadvancedto
theverycentreofthosetribesthatdwellamongthetributary
streamsoftheUpperNile.Fortwoyearshisfaith
wasspurned,hiszealdeniedrecognition,hischarities
takeninillpart,andheremainedaprisonertooneofthe
cruelesttribesoftheNyambarra,theobjectofevery
speciesofmaltreatment.Butstillhewentonteaching,
instructing,andpraying.Thetribehavingbeendispersed
andheleftfordead,inoneofthosecombatswhich
aresofrequentbetweenthetribes,insteadofretracinghis
steps,hepersistedinhisevangelicalmission.Hismost
tranquiltimewaswhenhewastakenforamadman.
Meanwhile,hehadmadehimselffamiliarwiththeidioms
ofthecountry,andhecatechisedinthem.Atlength,
duringtwomorelongyears,hetraversedthesebarbarous
regions,impelledbythatsuperhumanenergythatcomes
fromGod.Forayearpasthehadbeenresidingwith
thattribeoftheNyam-NyamsknownastheBarafri,
oneofthewildestandmostferociousofthemall.The
chiefhavingdiedafewdaysbeforeourtravellersappeared,
hissuddendeathwasattributedtothemissionary,and
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5wiab10
thetriberesolvedtoimmolatehim.Hissufferingshad
alreadycontinuedforthespaceoffortyhours,and,asthe
doctorhadsupposed,hewastohaveperishedintheblaze
ofthenoondaysun.Whenheheardthesoundoffire-arms,
naturegotthebestofhim,andhehadcriedout,"Help!
help!"Hethenthoughtthathemusthavebeendreaming,
whenavoice,thatseemedtocomefromthesky,had
utteredwordsofconsolation.
"lhavenoregrets,"hesaid,"forthelifethatispassing
awayfromme;mylifebelongstoGod!"
"Hopestill!"saidthedoctor;"wearenearyou,and
wewillsaveyounow,aswesavedyoufromthetortures
ofthestake."
"ldonotasksomuchofHeaven,"saidthepriest,
withresignation."BlessedbeGodforhavingvouchsafed
tomethejoybeforeldieofhavingpressedyourfriendly
hands,andhavingheard,oncemore,thelanguageofmy
country!"
Themissionaryheregrewweakagain,andthewhole
daywentbybetweenhopeandfear,Kennedydeeply
moved,andJoedrawinghishandoverhiseyesmore
thanoncewhenhethoughtthatnoonesawhim.
Theballoonmadelittleprogress,andthewindseemed
asthoughunwillingtojostleitspreciousburden.
Towardevening,Joediscoveredagreatlightinthe
west.Undermoreelevatedlatitudes,itmighthavebeen
mistakenforanimmenseauroraborealis,forthesky
appearedonfire.Thedoctorveryattentivelyexamined
thephenomenon.
"ltis,perhaps,onlyavolcanoinfullactivity,"saidhe.
"Butthewindiscarryingusdirectlyoverit,"replied
Kennedy.
"Verywell,weshallcrossitthenatasafeheight!"
saidthedoctor.
Threehourslater,theVictoriawasrightamongthe
mountains.Herexactpositionwastwenty-fourdegrees
fifteenminuteseastlongitude,andfourdegreesforty-two
minutesnorthlatitude,andfourdegreesforty-two
minutesnorthlatitude.lnfrontofheravolcaniccrater
waspouringforthtorrentsofmeltedlava,andhurling
massesofrocktoanenormousheight.Therewerejets,
too,ofliquidfirethatfellbackindazzlingcascades--a
superbbutdangerousspectacle,forthewindwithunswerving
certaintywascarryingtheballoondirectlytowardthis
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blazingatmosphere.
Thisobstacle,whichcouldnotbeturned,hadtobe
crossed,sothecylinderwasputtoitsutmostpower,and
theballoonrosetotheheightofsixthousandfeet,leaving
betweenitandthevolcanoaspaceofmorethanthree
hundredfathoms.
Fromhisbedofsuffering,thedyingmissionarycould
contemplatethatfierycraterfromwhichathousandjets
ofdazzlingflamewerethatmomentescaping.
"Howgranditis!"saidhe,"andhowinfiniteisthe
powerofGodeveninitsmostterriblemanifestations!"
Thisoverflowofblazinglavawrappedthesidesofthe
mountainwithaveritabledraperyofflame;thelower
halfoftheballoonglowedredlyintheuppernight;a
torridheatascendedtothecar,andDr.Fergusonmade
allpossiblehastetoescapefromthisperiloussituation.
Byteno'clockthevolcanocouldbeseenonlyasared
pointonthehorizon,andtheballoontranquillypursued
hercourseinalesselevatedzoneoftheatmosphere.
CHAPTERTWENTY-THlRD.
JoeinaFitofRage.--TheDeathofaGoodMan.--TheNightofwatching
bytheBody.--BarrennessandDrought.--TheBurial.--TheQuartzRocks.
--Joe'sHallucinations.--APreciousBallast.--ASurveyoftheGold-bearing
Mountains.--TheBeginningofJoe'sDespair.
Amagnificentnightoverspreadtheearth,andthe
missionarylayquietlyasleepinutterexhaustion.
"He'llnotgetoverit!"sighedJoe."Pooryoung
fellow--scarcelythirtyyearsofage!"
"He'lldieinourarms.Hisbreathing,whichwasso
feeblebefore,isgrowingweakerstill,andlcandonothing
tosavehim,"saidthedoctor,despairingly.
"Theinfamousscoundrels!"exclaimedJoe,grinding
histeeth,inoneofthosefitsofragethatcameoverhim
atlongintervals;"andtothinkthat,inspiteofall,this
goodmancouldfindwordsonlytopitythem,toexcuse,
topardonthem!"
"Heavenhasgivenhimalovelynight,Joe--hislast
onearth,perhaps!Hewillsufferbutlittlemoreafter
this,andhisdyingwillbeonlyapeacefulfallingasleep."
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5wiab10
Thedyingmanutteredsomebrokenwords,andthe
doctoratoncewenttohim.Hisbreathingbecamedifficult,
andheaskedforair.Thecurtainsweredrawn
entirelyback,andheinhaledwithrapturethelight
breezesofthatclear,beautifulnight.Thestarssent
himtheirtremblingrays,andthemoonwrappedhimin
thewhitewinding-sheetofitseffulgence.
"Myfriends,"saidhe,inanenfeebledvoice,"lam
going.MayGodrequiteyou,andbringyoutoyoursafe
harbor!Mayhepayformethedebtofgratitudethatl
owetoyou!"
"Youmuststillhope,"repliedKennedy."Thisis
butapassingfitofweakness.Youwillnotdie.How
couldanyonedieonthisbeautifulsummernight?"
"Deathisathand,"repliedthemissionary,"lknow
it!Letmelookitintheface!Death,thecommencement
ofthingseternal,isbuttheendofearthlycares.
Placemeuponmyknees,mybrethren,lbeseechyou!"
Kennedyliftedhimup,anditwasdistressingtosee
hisweakenedlimbsbendunderhim.
"MyGod!myGod!"exclaimedthedyingapostle,
"havepityonme!"
Hiscountenanceshone.Farabovethatearthon
whichhehadknownnojoys;inthemidstofthatnight
whichsenttohimitssoftestradiance;onthewayto
thatheaventowardwhichheupliftedhisspirit,asthough
inamiraculousassumption,heseemedalreadytoliveand
breatheinthenewexistence.
Hislastgesturewasasupremeblessingonhisnew
friendsofonlyoneday.Thenhefellbackintothearms
ofKennedy,whosecountenancewasbathedinhottears.
"Dead!"saidthedoctor,bendingoverhim,"dead!"
Andwithonecommonaccord,thethreefriendsknelt
togetherinsilentprayer.
"To-morrow,"resumedthedoctor,"weshallburyhiminthe
Africansoilwhichhehasbesprinkledwithhisblood."
Duringtherestofthenightthebodywaswatched,
turnbyturn,bythethreetravellers,andnotaword
disturbedthesolemnsilence.Eachofthemwasweeping.
Thenextdaythewindcamefromthesouth,andthe
balloonmovedslowlyoveravastplateauofmountains:
there,wereextinctcraters;here,barrenravines;nota
dropofwateronthoseparchedcrests;pilesofbroken
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5wiab10
rocks;hugestonymassesscatteredhitherandthither,
and,interspersedwithwhitishmarl,allindicatedthemost
completesterility.
Towardnoon,thedoctor,forthepurposeofburying
thebody,decidedtodescendintoaravine,inthemidst
ofsomeplutonicrocksofprimitiveformation.Thesurrounding
mountainswouldshelterhim,andenablehimto
bringhiscartotheground,fortherewasnotreeinsight
towhichhecouldmakeitfast.
But,ashehadexplainedtoKennedy,itwasnowimpossible
forhimtodescend,exceptbyreleasingaquantity
ofgasproportionatetohislossofballastatthetimewhen
hehadrescuedthemissionary.Hethereforeopenedthe
valveoftheoutsideballoon.Thehydrogenescaped,and
theVictoriaquietlydescendedintotheravine.
Assoonasthecartouchedtheground,thedoctor
shutthevalve.Joeleapedout,holdingonthewhileto
therimofthecarwithonehand,andwiththeother
gatheringupaquantityofstonesequaltohisownweight.
Hecouldthenusebothhands,andhadsoonheapedinto
thecarmorethanfivehundredpoundsofstones,which
enabledboththedoctorandKennedy,intheirturn,to
getout.ThustheVictoriafoundherselfbalanced,and
herascensionalforceinsufficienttoraiseher.
Moreover,itwasnotnecessarytogathermanyof
thesestones,fortheblockswereextremelyheavy,somuch
so,indeed,thatthedoctor'sattentionwasattractedby
thecircumstance.Thesoil,infact,wasbestrewnwith
quartzandporphyriticrocks.
"Thisisasingulardiscovery!"saidthedoctor,mentally.
lnthemeanwhile,KennedyandJoehadstrolledaway
afewpaces,lookingupaproperspotforthegrave.The
heatwasextremeinthisravine,shutinasitwaslikea
sortoffurnace.Thenoondaysunpoureddownitsrays
perpendicularlyintoit.
Thefirstthingtobedonewastoclearthesurfaceof
thefragmentsofrockthatencumberedit,andthena
quitedeepgravehadtobedug,sothatthewildanimals
shouldnotbeabletodisinterthecorpse.
Thebodyofthemartyredmissionarywasthen
solemnlyplacedinit.Theearthwasthrowninover
hisremains,andaboveitmassesofrockweredeposited,
inruderesemblancetoatomb.
Thedoctor,however,remainedmotionless,andlostin
hisreflections.Hedidnotevenheedthecallofhis
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5wiab10
companions,nordidhereturnwiththemtoseekashelter
fromtheheatoftheday.
"Whatareyouthinkingabout,doctor?"askedKennedy.
"AboutasingularfreakofNature,acuriouseffectof
chance.Doyouknow,now,inwhatkindofsoilthat
manofself-denial,thatpooroneinspirit,hasjustbeen
buried?"
"No!whatdoyoumean,doctor?"
"Thatpriest,whotooktheoathofperpetualpoverty,
nowreposesinagold-mine!"
"Agold-mine!"exclaimedKennedyandJoeinonebreath.
"Yes,agold-mine,"saidthedoctor,quietly."Those
blockswhichyouaretramplingunderfoot,likeworthless
stones,containgold-oreofgreatpurity."
"lmpossible!impossible!"repeatedJoe.
"Youwouldnothavetolooklongamongthose
fissuresofslatyschistwithoutfindingpeptites
ofconsiderablevalue."
Joeatoncerushedlikeacrazymanamongthescattered
fragments,andKennedywasnotlonginfollowing
hisexample.
"Keepcool,Joe,"saidhismaster.
"Why,doctor,youspeakofthethingquiteatyourease."
"What!aphilosopherofyourmettle--"
"Ah,master,nophilosophyholdsgoodinthiscase!"
"Come!come!Letusreflectalittle.Whatgood
wouldallthiswealthdoyou?Wecannotcarryanyof
itawaywithus."
"Wecan'ttakeanyofitwithus,indeed?"
"lt'srathertooheavyforourcar!levenhesitated
totellyouanythingaboutit,forfearofexcitingyour
regret!"
"What!"saidJoe,again,"abandonthesetreasures
--afortuneforus!--reallyforus--ourown--leaveit
behind!"
"Takecare,myfriend!Wouldyouyieldtothethirst
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5wiab10
forgold?Hasnotthisdeadmanwhomyouhavejust
helpedtobury,taughtyouthevanityofhumanaffairs?"
"Allthatistrue,"repliedJoe,"butgold!Mr.Kennedy,
won'tyouhelptogatherupatrifleofallthese
millions?"
"Whatcouldwedowiththem,Joe?"saidthehunter,
unabletorepressasmile."Wedidnotcomehitherin
searchoffortune,andwecannottakeonehomewithus."
"Themillionsareratherheavy,youknow,"resumed
thedoctor,"andcannotveryeasilybeputintoone's
pocket."
"But,atleast,"saidJoe,driventohislastdefences,
"couldn'twetakesomeofthatoreforballast,insteadof
sand?"
"Verygood!lconsent,"saidthedoctor,"butyou
mustnotmaketoomanywryfaceswhenwecometo
throwsomethousandsofcrowns'worthoverboard."
"Thousandsofcrowns!"echoedJoe;"isitpossible
thatthereissomuchgoldinthem,andthatallthisis
thesame?"
"Yes,myfriend,thisisareservoirinwhichNature
hasbeenheapingupherwealthforcenturies!Thereis
enoughheretoenrichwholenations!AnAustraliaand
aCaliforniabothtogetherinthemidstofthewilderness!"
"Andthewholeofitistoremainuseless!"
"Perhaps!butatallevents,here'swhatl'lldoto
consoleyou."
"Thatwouldberatherdifficulttodo!"saidJoe,with
acontriteair.
"Listen!lwilltaketheexactbearingsofthisspot,
andgivethemtoyou,sothat,uponyourreturntoEngland,
youcantellourcountrymenaboutit,andletthemhavea
share,ifyouthinkthatsomuchgoldwouldmakethem
happy."
"Ah!master,lgiveup;lseethatyouareright,and
thatthereisnothingelsetobedone.Letusfillourcar
withthepreciousmineral,andwhatremainsattheendof
thetripwillbesomuchmade."
AndJoewenttowork.Hedidso,too,withallhis
might,andsoonhadcollectedmorethanathousandpieces
ofquartz,whichcontainedgoldenclosedasthoughinan
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5wiab10
extremelyhardcrystalcasket.
Thedoctorwatchedhimwithasmile;and,whileJoe
wenton,hetookthebearings,andfoundthatthemissionary's
gravelayintwenty-twodegreestwenty-threeminuteseast
longitude,andfourdegreesfifty-fiveminutes
northlatitude.
Then,castingoneglanceattheswellingofthesoil,
beneathwhichthebodyofthepoorFrenchmanreposed,
hewentbacktohiscar.
Hewouldhaveerectedaplain,rudecrossoverthe
tomb,leftsolitarythusinthemidstoftheAfricandeserts,
butnotatreewastobeseenintheenvirons.
"Godwillrecognizeit!"saidKennedy.
Ananxietyofanothersortnowbegantostealover
thedoctor'smind.Hewouldhavegivenmuchofthe
goldbeforehimforalittlewater--forhehadtoreplace
whathadbeenthrownoverboardwhenthenegrowas
carriedupintotheair.Butitwasimpossibletofindit
inthesearidregions;andthisreflectiongavehimgreat
uneasiness.Hehadtofeedhiscylindercontinually;and
heevenbegantofindthathehadnotenoughtoquench
thethirstofhisparty.Thereforehedeterminedtolose
noopportunityofreplenishinghissupply.
Upongettingbacktothecar,hefounditburdened
withthequartz-blocksthatJoe'sgreedhadheapedinit.
Hegotin,however,withoutsayinganything.Kennedy
tookhiscustomaryplace,andJoefollowed,butnotwithout
castingacovetousglanceatthetreasuresintheravine.
Thedoctorrekindledthelightinthecylinder;the
spiralbecameheated;thecurrentofhydrogencameina
fewminutes,andthegasdilated;buttheballoondidnot
stiraninch.
Joelookedonuneasily,butkeptsilent.
"Joe!"saidthedoctor.
Joemadenoreply.
"Joe!Don'tyouhearme?"
Joemadeasignthatheheard;buthewouldnotunderstand.
"Domethekindnesstothrowoutsomeofthatquartz!"
"But,doctor,yougavemeleave--"
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5wiab10
"lgaveyouleavetoreplacetheballast;thatwasall!"
"But--"
"Doyouwanttostayforeverinthisdesert?"
JoecastadespairinglookatKennedy;butthehunter
putontheairofamanwhocoulddonothinginthe
matter.
"Well,Joe?"
"Thenyourcylinderdon'twork,"saidtheobstinate
fellow.
"Mycylinder?ltislit,asyouperceive.Butthe
balloonwillnotriseuntilyouhavethrownoffalittle
ballast."
Joescratchedhisear,pickedupapieceofquartz,the
smallestinthelot,weighedandreweighedit,andtossed
itupanddowninhishand.ltwasafragmentofabout
threeorfourpounds.Atlasthethrewitout.
Buttheballoondidnotbudge.
"Humph!"saidhe;"we'renotgoingupyet."
"Notyet,"saidthedoctor."Keeponthrowing."
Kennedylaughed.Joenowthrewoutsometenpounds,
buttheballoonstoodstill.
Joegotverypale.
"Poorfellow!"saidthedoctor."Mr.Kennedy,you
andlweigh,unlesslammistaken,aboutfourhundred
pounds--sothatyou'llhavetogetridofatleastthat
weight,sinceitwasputinheretomakeupforus."
"Throwawayfourhundredpounds!"saidJoe,piteously.
"Andsomemorewithit,orwecan'trise.Come,
courage,Joe!"
Thebravefellow,heavingdeepsighs,beganatlastto
lightentheballoon;but,fromtimetotime,hewouldstop,
andask:
"Areyougoingup?"
"No,notyet,"wastheinvariableresponse.
"ltmoves!"saidhe,atlast.
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5wiab10
"Keepon!"repliedthedoctor.
"lt'sgoingup;l'msure."
"Keeponyet,"saidKennedy.
AndJoe,pickinguponemoreblock,desperatelytosseditout
ofthecar.Theballoonroseahundredfeetorso,and,aided
bythecylinder,soonpassedabovethesurroundingsummits.
"Now,Joe,"resumedthedoctor,"therestillremains
ahandsomefortuneforyou;and,ifwecanonlykeepthe
restofthiswithusuntiltheendofourtrip,thereyou
are--richforthebalanceofyourdays!"
Joemadenoanswer,butstretchedhimselfoutluxuriously
onhisheapofquartz.
"See,mydearDick!"thedoctorwenton."Justsee
thepowerofthismetaloverthecleverestladintheworld!
Whatpassions,whatgreed,whatcrimes,theknowledge
ofsuchamineasthatwouldcause!ltissadtothink
ofit!"
Byeveningtheballoonhadmadeninetymilestothe
westward,andwas,inadirectline,fourteenhundredmiles
fromZanzibar.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOURTH.
TheWinddiesaway.--TheVicinityoftheDesert.--TheMistakeinthe
Water-Supply.--TheNightsoftheEquator.--Dr.Ferguson'sAnxieties.
--TheSituationflatlystated.--EnergeticRepliesofKennedyandJoe.
--OneNightmore.
Theballoon,havingbeenmadefasttoasolitarytree,
almostcompletelydriedupbythearidityoftheregion
inwhichitstood,passedthenightinperfectquietness;
andthetravellerswereenabledtoenjoyalittleofthe
reposewhichtheysogreatlyneeded.Theemotionsof
thedayhadleftsadimpressionsontheirminds.
Towardmorning,theskyhadresumeditsbrilliant
purityanditsheat.Theballoonascended,and,after
severalineffectualattempts,fellintoacurrentthat,
althoughnotrapid,borethemtowardthenorthwest.
"Wearenotmakingprogress,"saidthedoctor."lf
lamnotmistaken,wehaveaccomplishednearlyhalfof
ourjourneyintendays;but,attherateatwhichweare
going,itwouldtakemonthstoendit;andthatisallthe
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5wiab10
morevexatious,thatwearethreatenedwithalackof
water."
"Butwe'llfindsome,"saidJoe."ltisnottobe
thoughtofthatweshouldn'tdiscoversomeriver,some
stream,orpond,inallthisvastextentofcountry."
"lhopeso."
"Nowdon'tyouthinkthatit'sJoe'scargoofstone
thatiskeepingusback?"
KennedyaskedthisquestiononlytoteaseJoe;and
hedidsothemorewillinglybecausehehad,foramoment,
sharedthepoorlad'shallucinations;but,notfindingany
thinginthem,hehadfallenbackintotheattitudeofa
strong-mindedlooker-on,andturnedtheaffairoffwitha
laugh.
Joecastamournfulglanceathim;butthedoctor
madenoreply.Hewasthinking,notwithoutsecretterror,
probably,ofthevastsolitudesofSahara--forthere
wholeweekssometimespasswithoutthecaravansmeeting
withasinglespringofwater.Occupiedwiththese
thoughts,hescrutinizedeverydepressionofthesoilwith
theclosestattention.
Theseanxieties,andtheincidentsrecentlyoccurring,
hadnotbeenwithouttheireffectuponthespiritsofour
threetravellers.Theyconversedless,andweremore
wraptintheirownthoughts.
Joe,cleverladashewas,seemednolongerthesame
personsincehisgazehadplungedintothatoceanofgold.
Hekeptentirelysilent,andgazedincessantlyuponthe
stonyfragmentsheapedupinthecar--worthlessto-day,
butofinestimablevalueto-morrow.
TheappearanceofthispartofAfricawas,moreover,
quitecalculatedtoinspirealarm:thedesertwasgradually
expandingaroundthem;notanothervillagewas
tobeseen--notevenacollectionofafewhuts;and
vegetationalsowasdisappearing.Barelyafewdwarf
plantscouldnowbenoticed,likethoseonthewildheaths
ofScotland;thencamethefirsttractofgrayishsandand
flint,withhereandtherealentisktreeandbrambles.
lnthemidstofthissterility,therudimentalcarcassofthe
Globeappearedinridgesofsharply-juttingrock.These
symptomsofatotallydryandbarrenregiongreatly
disquietedDr.Ferguson.
ltseemedasthoughnocaravanhadeverbravedthis
desertexpanse,oritwouldhaveleftvisibletracesofits
encampments,orthewhitenedbonesofmenandanimals.
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5wiab10
Butnothingofthekindwastobeseen,andtheaeronauts
feltthat,erelong,animmensityofsandwouldcoverthe
wholeofthisdesolateregion.
However,therewasnogoingback;theymustgoforward;
and,indeed,thedoctoraskedfornothingbetter;
hewouldevenhavewelcomedatempesttocarryhimbeyond
thiscountry.But,therewasnotacloudinthesky.
Atthecloseoftheday,theballoonhadnotmadethirty
miles.
lftherehadbeennolackofwater!But,thereremained
onlythreegallonsinall!Thedoctorputaside
onegallon,destinedtoquenchtheburningthirstthata
heatofninetydegreesrenderedintolerable.Twogallons
onlythenremainedtosupplythecylinder.Hence,they
couldproducenomorethanfourhundredandeightycubic
feetofgas;yetthecylinderconsumedaboutninecubic
feetperhour.Consequently,theycouldnotkeepon
longerthanfifty-fourhours--andallthiswasa
mathematicalcalculation!
"Fifty-fourhours!"saidthedoctortohiscompanions.
"Therefore,aslamdeterminednottotravelbynight,for
fearofpassingsomestreamorpool,wehavebutthree
daysandahalfofjourneyingduringwhichwemustfind
water,atallhazards.lhavethoughtitmydutytomake
youawareoftherealstateofthecase,aslhaveretained
onlyonegallonfordrinking,andweshallhavetoput
ourselvesontheshortestallowance."
"Putusonshortallowance,then,doctor,"responded
Kennedy,"butwemustnotdespair.Wehavethreedays
left,yousay?"
"Yes,mydearDick!"
"Well,asgrievingoverthematterwon'thelpus,in
threedaystherewillbetimeenoughtodecideuponwhat
istobedone;inthemeanwhile,letusredoubleour
vigilance!"
Attheireveningmeal,thewaterwasstrictlymeasured
out,andthebrandywasincreasedinquantityinthepunch
theydrank.Buttheyhadtobecarefulwiththespirits,
thelatterbeingmorelikelytoproducethantoquench
thirst.
Thecarrested,duringthenight,uponanimmense
plateau,inwhichtherewasadeephollow;itsheightwas
scarcelyeighthundredfeetabovethelevelofthesea.
Thiscircumstancegavethedoctorsomehope,sinceitrecalled
tohismindtheconjecturesofgeographersconcerning
theexistenceofavaststretchofwaterinthecentre
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5wiab10
ofAfrica.But,ifsuchalakereallyexisted,thepointwas
toreachit,andnotasignofchangewasvisibleinthe
motionlesssky.
Tothetranquilnightanditsstarrymagnificencesucceeded
theunchangingdaylightandtheblazingraysof
thesun;and,fromtheearliestdawn,thetemperaturebecame
scorching.Atfiveo'clockinthemorning,thedoctor
gavethesignalfordeparture,and,foraconsiderable
time,theballoonremainedimmovableintheleaden
atmosphere.
Thedoctormighthaveescapedthisintenseheatby
risingintoahigherrange,but,inordertodoso,hewould
havehadtoconsumealargequantityofwater,athing
thathadnowbecomeimpossible.Hecontentedhimself,
therefore,withkeepingtheballoonatonehundredfeet
fromtheground,and,atthatelevation,afeeblecurrent
droveittowardthewesternhorizon.
Thebreakfastconsistedofalittledriedmeatandpemmican.
Bynoon,theVictoriahadadvancedonlyafewmiles.
"Wecannotgoanyfaster,"saidthedoctor;"weno
longercommand--wehavetoobey."
"Ah!doctor,hereisoneofthoseoccasionswhena
propellerwouldnotbeathingtobedespised."
"Undoubtedlyso,Dick,provideditwouldnotrequire
anexpenditureofwatertoputitinmotion,for,inthat
case,thesituationwouldbepreciselythesame;moreover,
uptothistime,nothingpracticalofthesorthasbeen
invented.Balloonsarestillatthatpointwhereshipswere
beforetheinventionofsteam.lttooksixthousandyears
toinventpropellersandscrews;sowehavetimeenoughyet."
"Confoundedheat!"saidJoe,wipingawaytheperspiration
thatwasstreamingfromhisforehead.
"lfwehadwater,thisheatwouldbeofservicetous,
foritdilatesthehydrogenintheballoon,anddiminishes
theamountrequiredinthespiral,althoughitistruethat,
ifwewerenotshortoftheusefulliquid,weshouldnot
havetoeconomizeit.Ah!thatrascallysavagewhocost
usthetank!"*
*Thewater-tankhadbeenthrownoverboardwhenthenative
clungtothecar.
"Youdon'tregret,though,whatyoudid,doctor?"
"No,Dick,sinceitwasinourpowertosavethatunfortunate
missionaryfromahorribledeath.But,thehundredpoundsof
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5wiab10
waterthatwethrewoverboardwouldbeveryusefultousnow;
itwouldbethirteenorfourteendaysmoreofprogresssecured,
orquiteenoughtocarryusoverthisdesert."
"We'vemadeatleasthalfthejourney,haven'twe?"
askedJoe.
"lndistance,yes;butinduration,no,shouldthewind
leaveus;andit,evennow,hasatendencytodieaway
altogether."
"Come,sir,"saidJoe,again,"wemustnotcomplain;
we'vegotalongprettywell,thusfar,andwhatever
happenstome,lcan'tgetdesperate.We'llfindwater;
mind,ltellyouso."
Thesoil,however,ranlowerfrommiletomile;the
undulationsofthegold-bearingmountainstheyhadleft
diedawayintotheplain,likethelastthroesofexhausted
Nature.Scantygrasstooktheplaceofthefinetreesof
theeast;onlyafewbeltsofhalf-scorchedherbagestill
contendedagainsttheinvasionofthesand,andthehuge
rocks,thathadrolleddownfromthedistantsummits,
crushedintheirfall,hadscatteredinsharp-edgedpebbles
whichsoonagainbecamecoarsesand,andfinallyimpalpabledust.
"Here,atlast,isAfrica,suchasyoupictureditto
yourself,Joe!Waslnotrightinsaying,'Waita
little?'eh?"
"Well,master,it'sallnatural,atleast--heatanddust.
ltwouldbefoolishtolookforanythingelseinsucha
country.Doyousee,"headded,laughing,"lhadno
confidence,formypart,inyourforestsandyourprairies;
theywereoutofreason.Whatwastheuseofcoming
sofartofindsceneryjustlikeEngland?Here'sthefirst
timethatlbelieveinAfrica,andl'mnotsorrytogeta
tasteofit."
Towardevening,thedoctorcalculatedthattheballoon
hadnotmadetwentymilesduringthatwholeburningday,
andaheatedgloomclosedinuponit,assoonasthesun
haddisappearedbehindthehorizon,whichwastraced
againsttheskywithalltheprecisionofastraightline.
ThenextdaywasThursday,the1stofMay,butthe
daysfollowedeachotherwithdesperatemonotony.Each
morningwasliketheonethathadprecededit;noon
poureddownthesameexhaustlessrays,andnightcondensed
initsshadowthescatteredheatwhichtheensuing
daywouldagainbequeathtothesucceedingnight.The
wind,nowscarcelyobservable,wasratheragaspthana
breath,andthemorningcouldalmostbeforeseenwhen
eventhatgaspwouldcease.
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5wiab10
Thedoctorreactedagainstthegloominessofthesituation
andretainedallthecoolnessandself-possessionofa
disciplinedheart.Withhisglasshescrutinizedevery
quarterofthehorizon;hesawthelastrisingground
graduallymeltingtothedeadlevel,andthelastvegetation
disappearing,while,beforehim,stretchedtheimmensity
ofthedesert.
Theresponsibilityrestinguponhimpressedsorely,but
hedidnotallowhisdisquiettoappear.Thosetwomen,
DickandJoe,friendsofhis,bothofthem,hehadinduced
tocomewithhimalmostbytheforcealoneoffriendship
andofduty.Hadhedonewellinthat?Wasitnotlike
attemptingtotreadforbiddenpaths?Washenot,in
thistrip,tryingtopassthebordersoftheimpossible?
HadnottheAlmightyreservedforlateragestheknowledge
ofthisinhospitablecontinent?
Allthesethoughts,ofthekindthatariseinhoursof
discouragement,succeededeachotherandmultipliedin
hismind,and,byanirresistibleassociationofideas,the
doctorallowedhimselftobecarriedbeyondthebounds
oflogicandofreason.Afterhavingestablishedinhis
ownmindwhatheshouldNOThavedone,thenext
questionwas,whatheshoulddo,then.Woulditbeimpossible
toretracehissteps?Weretherenotcurrentshigherup
thatwouldwafthimtolessaridregions?Wellinformed
withregardtothecountriesoverwhichhehadpassed,he
wasutterlyignorantofthosetocome,andthushisconscience
speakingaloudtohim,heresolved,inhisturn,to
speakfranklytohistwocompanions.Hethereupon
laidthewholestateofthecaseplainlybeforethem;he
showedthemwhathadbeendone,andwhattherewas
yettodo;attheworst,theycouldreturn,orattemptit,at
least.--Whatdidtheythinkaboutit?
"lhavenootheropinionthanthatofmyexcellent
master,"saidJoe;"whathemayhavetosuffer,lcan
suffer,andthatbetterthanhecan,perhaps.Wherehe
goes,therel'llgo!"
"Andyou,Kennedy?"
"l,doctor,l'mnotthemantodespair;noonewas
lessignorantthanloftheperilsoftheenterprise,butl
didnotwanttoseethem,fromthemomentthatyou
determinedtobravethem.Underpresentcircumstances,
myopinionis,thatweshouldpersevere--gocleartothe
end.Besides,toreturnlookstomequiteasperilousas
theothercourse.Soonward,then!youmaycountuponus!"
"Thanks,mygallantfriends!"repliedthedoctor,
withmuchrealfeeling,"lexpectedsuchdevotionasthis;
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5wiab10
butlneededtheseencouragingwords.Yet,onceagain,
thankyou,fromthebottomofmyheart!"
And,withthis,thethreefriendswarmlygraspedeach
otherbythehand.
"Now,hearme!"saidthedoctor."Accordingto
mysolarobservations,wearenotmorethanthreehundred
milesfromtheGulfofGuinea;thedesert,therefore,
cannotextendindefinitely,sincethecoastisinhabited,and
thecountryhasbeenexploredforsomedistancebackinto
theinterior.lfneedsbe,wecandirectourcoursetothat
quarter,anditseemsoutofthequestionthatweshould
notcomeacrosssomeoasis,orsomewell,wherewecould
replenishourstockofwater.But,whatwewantnow,is
thewind,forwithoutitweareheldheresuspendedinthe
airatadeadcalm.
"Letuswaitwithresignation,"saidthehunter.
But,eachoftheparty,inhisturn,vainlyscannedthe
spacearoundhimduringthatlongwearisomeday.Nothing
couldbeseentoformthebasisofahope.Thevery
lastinequalitiesofthesoildisappearedwiththesetting
sun,whosehorizontalraysstretchedinlonglinesoffire
overtheflatimmensity.ltwastheDesert!
Ouraeronautshadscarcelygoneadistanceoffifteen
miles,havingexpended,asontheprecedingday,one
hundredandthirty-fivecubicfeetofgastofeedthe
cylinder,andtwopintsofwateroutoftheremaining
eighthadbeensacrificedtothedemandsofintensethirst.
Thenightpassedquietly--tooquietly,indeed,butthe
doctordidnotsleep!
CHAPTERTWENTY-FlFTH.
ALittlePhilosophy.--ACloudontheHorizon.--lntheMidstofaFog.--The
StrangeBalloon.--AnExactViewoftheVictoria.--ThePalm-Trees.--Traces
ofaCaravan.--TheWellintheMidstoftheDesert.
Onthemorrow,therewasthesamepurityofsky,the
samestillnessoftheatmosphere.Theballoonrosetoan
elevationoffivehundredfeet,butithadscarcelychanged
itspositiontothewestwardinanyperceptibledegree.
"Wearerightintheopendesert,"saidthedoctor.
"Lookatthatvastreachofsand!Whatastrangespectacle!
Whatasingulararrangementofnature!Whyshouldtherebe,
inoneplace,suchextremeluxurianceofvegetationyonder,
andhere,thisextremearidity,andthatinthesamelatitude,
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5wiab10
andunderthesameraysofthesun?"
"Thewhyconcernsmebutlittle,"answeredKennedy,
"thereasoninterestsmelessthanthefact.Thethingis
so;that'stheimportantpartofit!"
"Oh,itiswelltophilosophizealittle,Dick;itdoes
noharm."
"Letusphilosophize,then,ifyouwill;wehavetime
enoughbeforeus;wearehardlymoving;thewindis
afraidtoblow;itsleeps."
"Thatwillnotlastforever,"putinJoe;"lthinkl
seesomebanksofcloudsintheeast."
"Joe'sright!"saidthedoctor,afterhehadtakenalook.
"Good!"saidKennedy;"nowforourclouds,witha
finerain,andafreshwindtodashitintoourfaces!"
"Well,we'llsee,Dick,we'llsee!"
"ButthisisFriday,master,andl'mafraidofFridays!"
"Well,lhopethatthisverydayyou'llgetoverthose
notions."
"lhopeso,master,too.Whew!"headded,moppinghis
face,"heat'sagoodthing,especiallyinwinter,
butinsummeritdon'tdototaketoomuchofit."
"Don'tyoufeartheeffectofthesun'sheatonour
balloon?"askedKennedy,addressingthedoctor.
"No!thegutta-perchacoatingresistsmuchhigher
temperaturesthaneventhis.Withmyspirallhave
subjecteditinsidetoasmuchasonehundredand
fifty-eightdegreessometimes,andthecoveringdoes
notappeartohavesuffered."
"Acloud!arealcloud!"shoutedJoeatthismoment,
forthatpiercingeyesightofhisbeatalltheglasses.
And,infact,athickbankofvapor,nowquitedistinct,
couldbeseenslowlyemergingabovethehorizon.
ltappearedtobeverydeep,and,asitwere,puffedout.
ltwas,inreality,aconglomerationofsmallerclouds.
Thelatterinvariablyretainedtheiroriginalformation,
andfromthiscircumstancethedoctorconcludedthat
therewasnocurrentofairintheircollectedmass.
Thiscompactbodyofvaporhadappearedabouteight
o'clockinthemorning,and,byeleven,ithadalready
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5wiab10
reachedtheheightofthesun'sdisk.Thelatterthen
disappearedentirelybehindthemurkyveil,andthelower
beltofcloud,atthesamemoment,liftedabovetheline
ofthehorizon,whichwasagaindisclosedinafullblaze
ofdaylight.
"lt'sonlyanisolatedcloud,"remarkedthedoctor.
"ltwon'tdotocountmuchuponthat."
"Look,Dick,itsshapeisjustthesameaswhenwe
sawitthismorning!"
"Then,doctor,there'stobeneitherrainnorwind,at
leastforus!"
"lfearso;thecloudkeepsatagreatheight."
"Well,doctor,supposeweweretogoinpursuitof
thiscloud,sinceitrefusestoburstuponus?"
"lfancythattodosowouldn'thelpusmuch;it
wouldbeaconsumptionofgas,and,consequently,of
water,tolittlepurpose;but,inoursituation,wemust
notleaveanythinguntried;therefore,letusascend!"
Andwiththis,thedoctorputonafullheadofflame
fromthecylinder,andthedilationofthehydrogen,
occasionedbysuchsuddenandintenseheat,sentthe
balloonrapidlyaloft.
Aboutfifteenhundredfeetfromtheground,itencountered
anopaquemassofcloud,andenteredadense
fog,suspendedatthatelevation;butitdidnotmeetwith
theleastbreathofwind.Thisfogseemedevendestitute
ofhumidity,andthearticlesbroughtincontactwithit
werescarcelydampenedintheslightestdegree.The
balloon,completelyenvelopedinthevapor,gainedalittle
increaseofspeed,perhaps,andthatwasall.
Thedoctorgloomilyrecognizedwhattriflingsuccess
hehadobtainedfromhismanoeuvre,andwasrelapsing
intodeepmeditation,whenheheardJoeexclaim,intones
ofmostintenseastonishment:
"Ah!byallthat'sbeautiful!"
"What'sthematter,Joe?"
"Doctor!Mr.Kennedy!Here'ssomethingcurious!"
"Whatisit,then?"
"Wearenotalone,uphere!Thereareroguesabout!
They'vestolenourinvention!"
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5wiab10
"Hashegonecrazy?"askedKennedy.
Joestoodthere,perfectlymotionless,theverypicture
ofamazement.
"Canthehotsunhavereallyaffectedthepoorfellow's
brain?"saidthedoctor,turningtowardhim.
"Willyoutellme?--"
"Look!"saidJoe,pointingtoacertainquarterof
thesky.
"BySt.James!"exclaimedKennedy,inturn,"why,
whowouldhavebelievedit?Look,look!doctor!"
"lseeit!"saidthedoctor,veryquietly.
"Anotherballoon!andotherpassengers,likeourselves!"
And,sureenough,therewasanotherballoonabout
twohundredpacesfromthem,floatingintheairwithits
caranditsaeronauts.ltwasfollowingexactlythesame
routeastheVictoria.
"Well,"saidthedoctor,"nothingremainsforusbut
tomakesignals;taketheflag,Kennedy,andshowthem
ourcolors."
ltseemedthatthetravellersbytheotherballoon
hadjustthesameidea,atthesamemoment,forthesame
kindofflagrepeatedpreciselythesamesalutewitha
handthatmovedinjustthesamemanner.
"Whatdoesthatmean?"askedKennedy.
"Theyareapes,"saidJoe,"imitatingus."
"ltmeans,"saidthedoctor,laughing,"thatitisyou,
Dick,yourself,makingthatsignaltoyourself;or,inother
words,thatweseeourselvesinthesecondballoon,which
isnootherthantheVictoria."
"Astothat,master,withallrespecttoyou,"saidJoe,
"you'llnevermakemebelieveit."
"Climbupontheedgeofthecar,Joe;waveyour
arms,andthenyou'llsee."
Joeobeyed,andallhisgestureswereinstantaneously
andexactlyrepeated.
"ltismerelytheeffectoftheMlRAGE,"saidthedoctor,
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5wiab10
"andnothingelse--asimpleopticalphenomenondueto
theunequalrefractionoflightbydifferentlayersofthe
atmosphere,andthatisall.
"lt'swonderful,"saidJoe,whocouldnotmakeup
hismindtosurrender,butwentonrepeatinghis
gesticulations.
"Whatacurioussight!Doyouknow,"saidKennedy,
"thatit'sarealpleasuretohaveaviewofour
nobleballooninthatstyle?She'sabeauty,isn'tshe?--
andhowstatelyhermovementsasshesweepsalong!"
"Youmayexplainthematterasyoulike,"continued
Joe,"it'sastrangething,anyhow!"
Buterelongthispicturebegantofadeaway;the
cloudsrosehigher,leavingtheballoon,whichmadeno
furtherattempttofollowthem,andinaboutanhour
theydisappearedintheopensky.
Thewind,whichhadbeenscarcelyperceptible,seemed
stilltodiminish,andthedoctorinperfectdesperation
descendedtowardtheground,andallthreeofthetravellers,
whomtheincidentjustrecordedhad,forafewmoments,
divertedfromtheiranxieties,relapsedintogloomy
meditation,swelteringthewhilebeneaththescorching
heat.
Aboutfouro'clock,Joedescriedsomeobjectstanding
outagainstthevastbackgroundofsand,andsoonwas
abletodeclarepositivelythatthereweretwopalm-trees
atnogreatdistance.
"Palm-trees!"exclaimedFerguson;"why,then
there'saspring--awell!"
HetookuphisglassandsatisfiedhimselfthatJoe's
eyeshadnotbeenmistaken.
"Atlength!"hesaid,overandoveragain,"water!
water!andwearesaved;forifwedomoveslowly,still
wemove,andweshallarriveatlast!"
"Good,master!butsupposeweweretodrinkamouthful
inthemeantime,forthisairisstifling?"
"Letusdrinkthen,myboy!"
Noonewaitedtobecoaxed.Awholepintwasswallowed
thenandthere,reducingthetotalremainingsupply
tothreepintsandahalf.
"Ah!thatdoesonegood!"saidJoe;"wasn'tit
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5wiab10
fine?BarclayandPerkinsneverturnedoutaleequalto
that!"
"Seetheadvantageofbeingputonshortallowance!"
moralizedthedoctor.
"ltisnotgreat,afterall,"retortedKennedy;"andif
lwereneveragaintohavethepleasureofdrinkingwater,
lshouldagreeonconditionthatlshouldneverbedeprived
ofit."
Atsixo'clocktheballoonwasfloatingoverthepalm-trees.
Theyweretwoshrivelled,stunted,dried-upspecimens
oftrees--twoghostsofpalms--withoutfoliage,andmore
deadthanalive.Fergusonexaminedthemwithterror.
Attheirfeetcouldbeseenthehalf-wornstonesofa
spring,butthesestones,pulverizedbythebakingheat
ofthesun,seemedtobenothingnowbutimpalpabledust.
Therewasnottheslightestsignofmoisture.Thedoctor's
heartshrankwithinhim,andhewasabouttocommunicate
histhoughtstohiscompanions,whentheirexclamations
attractedhisattention.Asfarastheeyecould
reachtotheeastward,extendedalonglineofwhitened
bones;piecesofskeletonssurroundedthefountain;acaravan
hadevidentlymadeitswaytothatpoint,markingits
progressbyitsbleachingremains;theweakerhadfallen
onebyoneuponthesand;thestronger,havingatlength
reachedthisspringforwhichtheypanted,hadtherefound
ahorribledeath.
Ourtravellerslookedateachotherandturnedpale.
"Letusnotalight!"saidKennedy,"letusflyfrom
thishideousspectacle!There'snotadropofwater
here!"
"No,Dick,aswellpassthenighthereaselsewhere;
letushaveaclearconscienceinthematter.We'lldig
downtotheverybottomofthewell.Therehasbeena
springhere,andperhapsthere'ssomethingleftinit!"
TheVictoriatouchedtheground;JoeandKennedy
putintothecaraquantityofsandequaltotheirweight,
andleapedout.Theythenhastenedtothewell,and
penetratedtotheinteriorbyaflightofstepsthatwasnow
nothingbutdust.Thespringappearedtohavebeendry
foryears.Theydugdownintoaparchedandpowdery
sand--theverydryestofallsand,indeed--therewasnot
onetraceofmoisture!
Thedoctorsawthemcomeuptothesurfaceofthe
desert,saturatedwithperspiration,wornout,coveredwith
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5wiab10
finedust,exhausted,discouragedanddespairing.
Hethencomprehendedthattheirsearchhadbeen
fruitless.Hehadexpectedasmuch,andhekeptsilent,
forhefeltthat,fromthismomentforth,hemusthave
courageandenergyenoughforthree.
Joebroughtupwithhimsomepiecesofaleathern
bottlethathadgrownhardandhorn-likewithage,and
angrilyflungthemawayamongthebleachingbonesof
thecaravan.
Atsupper,notawordwasspokenbyourtravellers,
andtheyevenatewithoutappetite.Yettheyhadnot,
uptothismoment,enduredtherealagoniesofthirst,and
wereinnodespondingmood,exceptingforthefuture.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SlXTH.
OneHundredandThirteenDegrees.--TheDoctor'sReflections.--ADesperate
Search.--TheCylindergoesout.--OneHundredandTwenty-twoDegrees.--
ContemplationoftheDesert.--ANightWalk.--Solitude.--Debility.--Joe's
Prospects.--HegiveshimselfOneDaymore.
Thedistancemadebytheballoonduringthepreceding
daydidnotexceedtenmiles,and,tokeepitafloat,
onehundredandsixty-twocubicfeetofgashadbeen
consumed.
OnSaturdaymorningthedoctoragaingavethesignal
fordeparture.
"Thecylindercanworkonlysixhourslonger;and,
ifinthattimeweshallnothavefoundeitherawellora
springofwater,Godaloneknowswhatwillbecomeofus!"
"Notmuchwindthismorning,master,"saidJoe;"but
itwillcomeup,perhaps,"headded,suddenlyremarking
thedoctor'sill-concealeddepression.
Vainhope!Theatmospherewasinadeadcalm--one
ofthosecalmswhichholdvesselscaptiveintropicalseas.
Theheathadbecomeintolerable;andthethermometer,
intheshadeundertheawning,indicatedonehundred
andthirteendegrees.
JoeandKennedy,recliningatfulllengthneareach
other,tried,ifnotinslumber,atleastintorpor,toforget
theirsituation,fortheirforcedinactivitygavethem
periodsofleisurefarfrompleasant.Thatmanistobe
pitiedthemostwhocannotweanhimselffromgloomy
reflectionsbyactualwork,orsomepracticalpursuit.But
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5wiab10
heretherewasnothingtolookafter,nothingtoundertake,
andtheyhadtosubmittothesituation,without
havingitintheirpowertoameliorateit.
Thepangsofthirstbegantobeseverelyfelt;brandy,
farfromappeasingthisimperiousnecessity,augmented
it,andrichlymeritedthenameof"tiger'smilk"applied
toitbytheAfricannatives.Scarcelytwopintsofwater
remained,andthatwasheated.Eachofthepartydevoured
thefewpreciousdropswithhisgaze,yetneither
ofthemdaredtomoistenhislipswiththem.Twopints
ofwaterinthemidstofthedesert!
ThenitwasthatDr.Ferguson,buriedinmeditation,
askedhimselfwhetherhehadactedwithprudence.
Wouldhenothavedonebettertohavekeptthewater
thathehaddecomposedinpureloss,inordertosustain
himintheair?Hehadgainedalittledistance,tobe
sure;butwasheanynearertohisjourney'send?What
differencedidsixtymilestotherearmakeinthisregion,
whentherewasnowatertobehadwheretheywere?
Thewind,shoulditrise,wouldblowthereasitdidhere,
onlylessstronglyatthispoint,ifitcamefromtheeast.
Buthopeurgedhimonward.Andyetthosetwogallons
ofwater,expendedinvain,wouldhavesufficedfornine
days'haltinthedesert.Andwhatchangesmightnot
haveoccurredinninedays!Perhaps,too,whileretaining
thewater,hemighthaveascendedbythrowingout
ballast,atthecostmerelyofdischargingsomegas,when
hehadagaintodescend.Butthegasinhisballoonwas
hisblood,hisverylife!
Athousandonesuchreflectionswhirledinsuccession
throughhisbrain;and,restinghisheadbetweenhis
hands,hesatthereforhourswithoutraisingit.
"Wemustmakeonefinaleffort,"hesaid,atlast,
aboutteno'clockinthemorning."Wemustendeavor,
justoncemore,tofindanatmosphericcurrenttobearus
awayfromhere,and,tothatend,mustriskourlast
resources."
Therefore,whilehiscompanionsslept,thedoctorraised
thehydrogenintheballoontoanelevatedtemperature,
andthehugeglobe,fillingoutbythedilationofthegas,
rosestraightupintheperpendicularraysofthesun.
Thedoctorsearchedvainlyforabreathofwind,fromthe
heightofonehundredfeettothatoffivemiles;his
starting-pointremainedfatallyrightbelowhim,andabsolute
calmseemedtoreign,uptotheextremelimitsofthe
breathingatmosphere.
Atlengththefeeding-supplyofwatergaveout;the
cylinderwasextinguishedforlackofgas;theBuntzen
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5wiab10
batteryceasedtowork,andtheballoon,shrinkingtogether,
gentlydescendedtothesand,intheveryplace
thatthecarhadhollowedoutthere.
ltwasnoon;andsolarobservationsgavenineteen
degreesthirty-fiveminuteseastlongitude,andsixdegrees
fifty-oneminutesnorthlatitude,ornearlyfivehundred
milesfromLakeTchad,andmorethanfourhundredmiles
fromthewesterncoastofAfrica.
Ontheballoontakingground,KennedyandJoeawoke
fromtheirstupor.
"Wehavehalted,"saidtheScot.
"Wehadtodoso,"repliedthedoctor,gravely.
Hiscompanionsunderstoodhim.Thelevelofthesoilat
thatpointcorrespondedwiththelevelofthesea,and,
consequently,theballoonremainedinperfectequilibrium,
andabsolutelymotionless.
Theweightofthethreetravellerswasreplacedwith
anequivalentquantityofsand,andtheygotoutofthe
car.Eachwasabsorbedinhisownthoughts;andfor
manyhoursneitherofthemspoke.Joepreparedtheir
eveningmeal,whichconsistedofbiscuitandpemmican,
andwashardlytastedbyeitheroftheparty.Amouthful
ofscaldingwaterfromtheirlittlestorecompletedthis
gloomyrepast.
Duringthenightnoneofthemkeptawake;yetnone
couldbepreciselysaidtohaveslept.Onthemorrow
thereremainedonlyhalfapintofwater,andthisthe
doctorputaway,allthreehavingresolvednottotouchit
untilthelastextremity.
ltwasnotlong,however,beforeJoeexclaimed:
"l'mchoking,andtheheatisgettingworse!l'm
notsurprisedatthat,though,"headded,consultingthe
thermometer;"onehundredandfortydegrees!"
"Thesandscorchesme,"saidthehunter,"asthough
ithadjustcomeoutofafurnace;andnotacloudinthis
skyoffire.lt'senoughtodriveonemad!"
"Letusnotdespair,"respondedthedoctor."lnthis
latitudetheseintenseheatsareinvariablyfollowedby
storms,andthelattercomewiththesuddennessoflightning.
Notwithstandingthisdishearteningclearnessof
thesky,greatatmosphericchangesmaytakeplaceinless
thananhour."
Page153
5wiab10
"But,"askedKennedy,"isthereanysignwhatever
ofthat?"
"Well,"repliedthedoctor,"lthinkthatthereis
someslightsymptomofafallinthebarometer."
"MayHeavenhearkentoyou,Samuel!forhereweare
pinnedtotheground,likeabirdwithbrokenwings."
"Withthisdifference,however,mydearDick,that
ourwingsareunhurt,andlhopethatweshallbeableto
usethemagain."
"Ah!wind!wind!"exclaimedJoe;"enoughto
carryustoastreamorawell,andwe'llbeallright.
Wehaveprovisionsenough,and,withwater,wecould
waitamonthwithoutsuffering;butthirstisacruel
thing!"
ltwasnotthirstalone,buttheunchangingsightofthe
desert,thatfatiguedthemind.Therewasnotavariation
inthesurfaceofthesoil,notahillockofsand,nota
pebble,torelievethegaze.Thisunbrokenleveldiscouraged
thebeholder,andgavehimthatkindofmalady
calledthe"desert-sickness."Theimpassiblemonotony
ofthearidbluesky,andthevastyellowexpanseofthe
desert-sand,atlengthproducedasensationofterror.ln
thisinflamedatmospheretheheatappearedtovibrate
asitdoesaboveablazinghearth,whilethemindgrew
desperateincontemplatingthelimitlesscalm,andcould
seenoreasonwhythethingshouldeverend,sinceimmensity
isaspeciesofeternity.
Thus,atlast,ourhaplesstravellers,deprivedofwater
inthistorridheat,begantofeelsymptomsofmentaldisorder.
Theireyesswelledintheirsockets,andtheirgaze
becameconfused.
Whennightcameon,thedoctordeterminedtocombat
thisalarmingtendencybyrapidwalking.Hisidea
wastopacethesandyplainforafewhours,notinsearch
ofanything,butsimplyforexercise.
"Comealong!"hesaidtohiscompanions;"believe
me,itwilldoyougood."
"Outofthequestion!"saidKennedy;"lcouldnot
walkastep."
"Andl,"saidJoe,"wouldrathersleep!"
"Butsleep,orevenrest,wouldbedangeroustoyou,
myfriends;youmustreactagainstthistendencyto
stupor.Comewithme!"
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5wiab10
Butthedoctorcoulddonothingwiththem,and,therefore,
setoffalone,amidthestarryclearnessofthenight.
Thefirstfewstepshetookwerepainful,fortheywere
thestepsofanenfeebledmanquiteoutofpracticein
walking.However,hequicklysawthattheexercise
wouldbebeneficialtohim,andpushedonseveralmiles
tothewestward.Onceinrapidmotion,hefelthisspirits
greatlycheered,when,suddenly,avertigocameoverhim;
heseemedtobepoisedontheedgeofanabyss;hisknees
bentunderhim;thevastsolitudestruckterrortohis
heart;hefoundhimselftheminutemathematicalpoint,
thecentreofaninfinitecircumference,thatistosay--a
nothing!Theballoonhaddisappearedentirelyinthe
deepeninggloom.Thedoctor,cool,impassible,reckless
explorerthathewas,felthimselfatlastseizedwitha
namelessdread.Hestrovetoretracehissteps,butin
vain.Hecalledaloud.Notevenanechoreplied,and
hisvoicediedoutintheemptyvastnessofsurrounding
space,likeapebblecastintoabottomlessgulf;then,
downhesank,fainting,onthesand,alone,amidtheeternal
silenceofthedesert.
Atmidnighthecameto,inthearmsofhisfaithful
follower,Joe.Thelatter,uneasyathismaster'sprolonged
absence,hadsetoutafterhim,easilytracinghim
bytheclearimprintofhisfeetinthesand,andhadfound
himlyinginaswoon.
"Whathasbeenthematter,sir?"wasthefirstinquiry.
"Nothing,Joe,nothing!Onlyatouchofweakness,
that'sall.lt'sovernow."
"Oh!itwon'tamounttoanything,sir,l'msureof
that;butgetuponyourfeet,ifyoucan.There!lean
uponme,andletusgetbacktotheballoon."
Andthedoctor,leaningonJoe'sarm,returnedalong
thetrackbywhichhehadcome.
"Youweretoobold,sir;itwon'tdotorunsuch
risks.Youmighthavebeenrobbed,"headded,laughing.
"But,sir,comenow,letustalkseriously."
"Speak!lamlisteningtoyou."
"Wemustpositivelymakeupourmindstodosomething.
Ourpresentsituationcannotlastmorethanafew
dayslonger,andifwegetnowind,wearelost."
Thedoctormadenoreply.
"Well,then,oneofusmustsacrificehimselfforthe
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5wiab10
goodofall,anditismostnaturalthatitshouldfalltome
todoso."
"Whathaveyoutopropose?Whatisyourplan?"
"Averysimpleone!ltistotakeprovisionsenough,
andtowalkrightonuntillcometosomeplace,aslmust
do,soonerorlater.lnthemeantime,ifHeavensends
youagoodwind,youneednotwait,butcanstartagain.
Formypart,iflcometoavillage,l'llworkmyway
throughwithafewArabicwordsthatyoucanwritefor
meonaslipofpaper,andl'llbringyouhelporlosemy
hide.Whatdoyouthinkofmyplan?"
"ltisabsolutefolly,Joe,butworthyofyournoble
heart.Thethingisimpossible.Youwillnotleaveus."
"But,sir,wemustdosomething,andthisplancan't
doyouanyharm,for,lsayagain,youneednotwait;
andthen,afterall,lmaysucceed."
"No,Joe,no!Wewillnotseparate.Thatwould
onlybeaddingsorrowtotrouble.ltwaswrittenthat
mattersshouldbeastheyare;anditisveryprobably
writtenthatitshallbequiteotherwiseby-and-by.Let
uswait,then,withresignation."
"Sobeit,master;buttakenoticeofonething:l
giveyouadaylonger,andl'llnotwaitafterthat.To-day
isSunday;wemightsayMonday,asitisoneo'clock
inthemorning,andifwedon'tgetoffbyTuesday,l'll
runtherisk.l'vemadeupmymindtothat!"
Thedoctormadenoanswer,andinafewminutesthey
gotbacktothecar,wherehetookhisplacebesideKennedy,
wholaythereplungedinsilencesocompletethat
itcouldnotbeconsideredsleep.
CHAPTERTWENTY-SEVENTH.
TerrificHeat.--Hallucinations.--TheLastDropsofWater.--Nights
ofDespair.--AnAttemptatSuicide.--TheSimoom.--TheOasis.--The
LionandLioness.
Thedoctor'sfirstcare,onthemorrow,wastoconsult
thebarometer.Hefoundthatthemercuryhadscarcely
undergoneanyperceptibledepression.
"Nothing!"hemurmured,"nothing!"
Hegotoutofthecarandscrutinizedtheweather;
therewasonlythesameheat,thesamecloudlesssky,the
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5wiab10
samemercilessdrought.
"Mustwe,then,giveuptodespair?"heexclaimed,
inagony.
Joedidnotopenhislips.Hewasburiedinhisown
thoughts,andplanningtheexpeditionhehadproposed.
Kennedygotup,feelingveryill,andapreytonervous
agitation.Hewassufferinghorriblywiththirst,andhis
swollentongueandlipscouldhardlyarticulateasyllable.
Therestillremainedafewdropsofwater.Eachof
themknewthis,andeachwasthinkingofit,andfelt
himselfdrawntowardthem;butneitherofthethreedared
totakeastep.
Thosethreemen,friendsandcompanionsastheywere,
fixedtheirhaggardeyesuponeachotherwithaninstinct
offerociouslonging,whichwasmostplainlyrevealedin
thehardyScot,whosevigorousconstitutionyieldedthe
soonesttotheseunnaturalprivations.
Throughoutthedayhewasdelirious,pacingupand
down,utteringhoarsecries,gnawinghisclinchedfists,
andreadytoopenhisveinsanddrinkhisownhotblood.
"Ah!"hecried,"landofthirst!Wellmightyoube
calledthelandofdespair!"
Atlengthhesankdowninutterprostration,andhis
friendsheardnoothersoundfromhimthanthehissingof
hisbreathbetweenhisparchedandswollenlips.
Towardevening,Joehadhisturnofdelirium.The
vastexpanseofsandappearedtohimanimmensepond,
fullofclearandlimpidwater;and,morethanonce,he
dashedhimselfuponthescorchingwastetodrinklong
draughts,androseagainwithhismouthcloggedwithhot
dust.
"Cursesonit!"heyelled,inhismadness,"it'snothing
butsaltwater!"
Then,whileFergusonandKennedylaytheremotionless,
theresistlesslongingcameoverhimtodrainthelast
fewdropsofwaterthathadbeenkeptinreserve.The
naturalinstinctprovedtoostrong.Hedraggedhimself
towardthecar,onhisknees;heglaredatthebottle
containingthepreciousfluid;hegaveonewild,eager
glance,seizedthetreasuredstore,andboreittohislips.
Atthatinstantheheardaheart-rendingcryclose
besidehim--"Water!water!"
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5wiab10
ltwasKennedy,whohadcrawledupclosetohim,and
wasbeggingthere,uponhisknees,andweepingpiteously.
Joe,himselfintears,gavethepoorwretchthebottle,
andKennedydrainedthelastdropwithsavagehaste.
"Thanks!"hemurmuredhoarsely,butJoedidnot
hearhim,forbothalikehaddroppedfaintingonthesand.
Whattookplaceduringthatfearfulnightneitherof
themknew,but,onTuesdaymorning,underthoseshowers
ofheatwhichthesunpoureddownuponthem,the
unfortunatemenfelttheirlimbsgraduallydryingup,and
whenJoeattemptedtorisehefounditimpossible.
Helookedaroundhim.lnthecar,thedoctor,completely
overwhelmed,satwithhisarmsfoldedonhis
breast,gazingwithidioticfixednessuponsomeimaginary
pointinspace.Kennedywasfrightfultobehold.He
wasrollinghisheadfromrighttoleftlikeawildbeastin
acage.
Allatonce,hiseyesrestedonthebuttofhisrifle,
whichjuttedabovetherimofthecar.
"Ah!"hescreamed,raisinghimselfwithasuperhumaneffort.
Desperate,mad,hesnatchedattheweapon,andturned
thebarreltowardhismouth.
"Kennedy!"shoutedJoe,throwinghimselfuponhisfriend.
"Letgo!handsoff!"moanedtheScot,inahoarse,
gratingvoice--andthenthetwostruggleddesperatelyfor
therifle.
"Letgo,orl'llkillyou!"repeatedKennedy.But
Joeclungtohimonlythemorefiercely,andtheyhad
beencontendingthuswithoutthedoctorseeingthemfor
manyseconds,when,suddenlytheriflewentoff.Atthe
soundofitsdischarge,thedoctorroseuperect,likea
spectre,andglaredaroundhim.
Butallatoncehisglancegrewmoreanimated;heextended
hishandtowardthehorizon,andinavoiceno
longerhumanshrieked:
"There!there--offthere!"
TherewassuchfearfulforceinthecrythatKennedy
andJoereleasedeachother,andbothlookedwherethe
doctorpointed.
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5wiab10
Theplainwasagitatedliketheseashakenbythefury
ofatempest;billowsofsandwenttossingovereachother
amidblindingcloudsofdust;animmensepillarwasseen
whirlingtowardthemthroughtheairfromthesoutheast,
withterrificvelocity;thesunwasdisappearingbehindan
opaqueveilofcloudwhoseenormousbarrierextended
cleartothehorizon,whilethegrainsoffinesandwent
glidingtogetherwithallthesuppleeaseofliquidparticles,
andtherisingdust-tidegainedmoreandmorewith
everysecond.
Ferguson'seyesgleamedwitharayofenergetichope.
"Thesimoom!"heexclaimed.
"Thesimoom!"repeatedJoe,withoutexactlyknowingwhatitmeant.
"Somuchthebetter!"saidKennedy,withthebitternessof
despair."Somuchthebetter--weshalldie!"
"Somuchthebetter!"echoedthedoctor,"forwe
shalllive!"and,sosaying,hebeganrapidlytothrowout
thesandthatencumberedthecar.
Atlengthhiscompanionsunderstoodhim,andtook
theirplacesathisside.
"Andnow,Joe,"saidthedoctor,"throwoutsome
fiftypoundsofyourore,there!"
Joenolongerhesitated,althoughhestillfeltafleeting
pangofregret.Theballoonatoncebegantoascend.
"ltwashightime!"saidthedoctor.
Thesimoom,infact,camerushingonlikeathunderbolt,
andamomentlatertheballoonwouldhavebeen
crushed,torntoatoms,annihilated.Theawfulwhirlwind
wasalmostuponit,anditwasalreadypeltedwithshowers
ofsanddrivenlikehailbythestorm.
"Outwithmoreballast!"shoutedthedoctor.
"There!"respondedJoe,tossingoverahugefragment
ofquartz.
Withthis,theVictoriaroseswiftlyabovetherange
ofthewhirlingcolumn,but,caughtinthevastdisplacement
oftheatmospheretherebyoccasioned,itwasborne
alongwithincalculablerapidityawayabovethisfoaming
sea.
Thethreetravellersdidnotspeak.Theygazed,and
hoped,andevenfeltrefreshedbythebreathofthetempest.
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5wiab10
Aboutthreeo'clock,thewhirlwindceased;thesand,
fallingagainuponthedesert,formednumberlesslittle
hillocks,andtheskyresumeditsformertranquillity.
Theballoon,whichhadagainlostitsmomentum,was
floatinginsightofanoasis,asortofisletstuddedwith
greentrees,thrownupuponthesurfaceofthissandy
ocean.
"Water!we'llfindwaterthere!"saidthedoctor.
And,instantly,openingtheuppervalve,heletsome
hydrogenescape,andslowlydescended,takingtheground
atabouttwohundredfeetfromtheedgeoftheoasis.
lnfourhoursthetravellershadsweptoveradistance
oftwohundredandfortymiles!
Thecarwasatonceballasted,andKennedy,closely
followedbyJoe,leapedout.
"Takeyourgunswithyou!"saidthedoctor;"take
yourguns,andbecareful!"
Dickgraspedhisrifle,andJoetookoneofthefowling-pieces.
Theythenrapidlymadeforthetrees,anddisappearedunder
thefreshverdure,whichannouncedthepresenceofabundant
springs.Astheyhurriedon,theyhadnottakennoticeof
certainlargefootprintsandfreshtracksofsomeliving
creaturemarkedhereandthereinthedampsoil.
Suddenly,adullroarwasheardnottwentypacesfromthem.
"Theroarofalion!"saidJoe.
"Goodforthat!"saidtheexcitedhunter;"we'll
fighthim.Amanfeelsstrongwhenonlyafight'sin
question."
"Butbecareful,Mr.Kennedy;becareful!Thelives
ofalldependuponthelifeofone."
ButKennedynolongerheardhim;hewaspushing
on,hiseyeblazing;hisriflecocked;fearfultobeholdin
hisdaringrashness.There,underapalm-tree,stoodan
enormousblack-manedlion,crouchingforaspringonhis
antagonist.Scarcelyhadhecaughtaglimpseofthe
hunter,whenheboundedthroughtheair;buthehadnot
touchedthegroundereabulletpiercedhisheart,andhe
felltotheearthdead.
"Hurrah!hurrah!"shoutedJoe,withwildexultation.
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5wiab10
Kennedyrushedtowardthewell,sliddownthedampened
steps,andflunghimselfatfulllengthbythesideof
afreshspring,inwhichheplungedhisparchedlips.Joe
followedsuit,andforsomeminutesnothingwasheardbut
thesoundtheymadewiththeirmouths,drinkingmore
likemaddenedbeaststhanmen.
"Takecare,Mr.Kennedy,"saidJoeatlast;"letus
notoverdothething!"andhepantedforbreath.
ButKennedy,withoutaword,drankon.Heeven
plungedhishands,andthenhishead,intothedelicious
tide--hefairlyrevelledinitscoolness.
"Butthedoctor?"saidJoe;"ourfriend,Dr.Ferguson?"
ThatonewordrecalledKennedytohimself,and,hastily
fillingaflaskthathehadbroughtwithhim,hestartedon
arunupthestepsofthewell.
Butwhatwashisamazementwhenhesawanopaque
bodyofenormousdimensionsblockingupthepassage!
Joe,whowascloseuponKennedy'sheels,recoiledwith
him.
"Weareblockedin--entrapped!"
"lmpossible!Whatdoesthatmean?--"
Dickhadnotimetofinish;aterrificroarmadehim
onlytooquicklyawarewhatfoeconfrontedhim.
"Anotherlion!"exclaimedJoe.
"Alioness,rather,"saidKennedy."Ah!ferocious
brute!"headded,"l'llsettleyouinamomentmore!"
andswiftlyreloadedhisrifle.
lnanotherinstanthefired,buttheanimalhaddisappeared.
"Onward!"shoutedKennedy.
"No!"interposedtheother,"thatshotdidnotkill
her;herbodywouldhaverolleddownthesteps;she's
upthere,readytospringuponthefirstofuswhoappears,
andhewouldbealostman!"
"Butwhatarewetodo?Wemustgetoutofthis,
andthedoctorisexpectingus."
"Letusdecoytheanimal.Takemypiece,andgive
meyourrifle."
"Whatisyourplan?"
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5wiab10
"You'llsee."
AndJoe,takingoffhislinenjacket,hungitontheend
oftherifle,andthrustitabovethetopofthesteps.The
lionessflungherselffuriouslyuponit.Kennedywason
thealertforher,andhisbulletbrokehershoulder.The
lioness,withafrightfulhowlofagony,rolleddownthe
steps,overturningJoeinherfall.Thepoorfellowimagined
thathecouldalreadyfeeltheenormouspawsofthe
savagebeastinhisflesh,whenaseconddetonation
resoundedinthenarrowpassage,andDr.Fergusonappeared
attheopeningabovewithhisguninhand,andstillsmoking
fromthedischarge.
Joeleapedtohisfeet,clamberedoverthebodyofthe
deadlioness,andhandeduptheflaskfullofsparkling
watertohismaster.
Tocarryittohislips,andtohalfemptyitatadraught,
wastheworkofaninstant,andthethreetravellersoffered
upthanksfromthedepthsoftheirheartstothatProvidence
whohadsomiraculouslysavedthem.
CHAPTERTWENTY-ElGHTH.
AnEveningofDelight.--Joe'sCulinaryPerformance.--ADissertationonRaw
Meat.--TheNarrativeofJamesBruce.--Campingout.--Joe'sDreams.--The
Barometerbeginstofall.--TheBarometerrisesagain.--Preparationsfor
Departure.--TheTempest.
Theeveningwaslovely,andourthreefriendsenjoyed
itinthecoolshadeofthemimosas,afterasubstantial
repast,atwhichtheteaandthepunchweredealtoutwith
noniggardlyhand.
Kennedyhadtraversedthelittledomaininalldirections.
Hehadransackedeverythicketandsatisfiedhimself
thattheballoonpartyweretheonlylivingcreatures
inthisterrestrialparadise;sotheystretchedthemselves
upontheirblanketsandpassedapeacefulnightthat
broughtthemforgetfulnessoftheirpastsufferings.
Onthemorrow,May7th,thesunshonewithallhis
splendor,buthisrayscouldnotpenetratethedensescreen
ofthepalm-treefoliage,andastherewasnolackofprovisions,
thedoctorresolvedtoremainwherehewaswhile
waitingforafavorablewind.
Joehadconveyedhisportablekitchentotheoasis,andproceeded
toindulgeinanynumberofculinarycombinations,usingwater
allthetimewiththemostprofuseextravagance.
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5wiab10
"Whatastrangesuccessionofannoyancesandenjoyments!"
moralizedKennedy."Suchabundanceasthisaftersuch
privations;suchluxuryaftersuchwant!Ah!lnearlywentmad!"
"MydearDick,"repliedthedoctor,"haditnotbeen
forJoe,youwouldnotbesittinghere,to-day,discoursing
ontheinstabilityofhumanaffairs."
"Whole-heartedfriend!"saidKennedy,extending
hishandtoJoe.
"There'snooccasionforallthat,"respondedthelatter;
"butyoucantakeyourrevengesometime,Mr.Kennedy,
alwayshopingthoughthatyoumayneverhaveoccasion
todothesameforme!"
"lt'sapoorconstitutionthisofourstosuccumbtoso
little,"philosophizedDr.Ferguson.
"Solittlewater,youmean,doctor,"interposedJoe;
"thatelementmustbeverynecessarytolife."
"Undoubtedly,andpersonsdeprivedoffoodholdout
longerthanthosedeprivedofwater."
"lbelieveit.Besides,whenneedsmust,onecaneat
anythinghecomesacross,evenhisfellow-creatures,
althoughthatmustbeakindoffoodthat'sprettyhard
todigest."
"Thesavagesdon'tbogglemuchaboutit!"said
Kennedy.
"Yes;butthentheyaresavages,andaccustomedto
devouringrawmeat;it'ssomethingthatl'dfindvery
disgusting,formypart."
"ltisdisgustingenough,"saidthedoctor,"that'sa
fact;andsomuchso,indeed,thatnobodybelievedthe
narrativesoftheearliesttravellersinAfricawhobrought
backwordthatmanytribesonthatcontinentsubsisted
uponrawmeat,andpeoplegenerallyrefusedtocreditthe
statement.ltwasundersuchcircumstancesthatavery
singularadventurebefellJamesBruce."
"Tellittous,doctor;we'vetimeenoughtohearit,"
saidJoe,stretchinghimselfvoluptuouslyonthecool
greensward.
"Byallmeans.--JamesBrucewasaScotchman,of
Stirlingshire,who,between1768and1772,traversedall
Abyssinia,asfarasLakeTyana,insearchofthesources
oftheNile.HeafterwardreturnedtoEngland,butdid
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5wiab10
notpublishanaccountofhisjourneysuntil1790.His
statementswerereceivedwithextremeincredulity,and
suchmaybethereceptionaccordedtoourown.The
mannersandcustomsoftheAbyssiniansseemedsodifferent
fromthoseoftheEnglish,thatnoonewouldcreditthe
descriptionofthem.Amongotherdetails,Brucehadput
forwardtheassertionthatthetribesofEasternAfricafed
uponrawflesh,andthisseteverybodyagainsthim.He
mightsaysoasmuchashepleased;therewasnoone
likelytogoandsee!Oneday,inaparloratEdinburgh,
aScotchgentlemantookupthesubjectinhispresence,as
ithadbecomethetopicofdailypleasantry,and,inreference
totheeatingofrawflesh,saidthatthethingwas
neitherpossiblenortrue.Brucemadenoreply,butwent
outandreturnedafewminuteslaterwitharawsteak,
seasonedwithpepperandsalt,intheAfricanstyle.
"'Sir,'saidhetotheScotchman,'indoubtingmy
statements,youhavegrosslyaffrontedme;inbelieving
thethingtobeimpossible,youhavebeenegregiously
mistaken;and,inproofthereof,youwillnoweatthis
beef-steakraw,oryouwillgivemeinstantsatisfaction!'
TheScotchmanhadawholesomedreadofthebrawny
traveller,andDlDeatthesteak,althoughnotwithouta
goodmanywryfaces.Thereupon,withtheutmostcoolness,
JamesBruceadded:'Evenadmitting,sir,thatthe
thingwereuntrue,youwill,atleast,nolongermaintain
thatitisimpossible.'"
"Wellputin!"saidJoe,"andiftheScotchman
founditlieheavyonhisstomach,hegotnomorethanhe
deserved.lf,onourreturntoEngland,theydareto
doubtwhatwesayaboutourtravels--"
"Well,Joe,whatwouldyoudo?"
"Why,l'llmakethedoubtersswallowthepiecesof
theballoon,withouteithersaltorpepper!"
AllburstoutlaughingatJoe'squeernotions,andthus
thedayslippedbyinpleasantchat.Withreturning
strength,hopehadrevived,andwithhopecamethecourage
todoandtodare.Thepastwasobliteratedinthe
presenceofthefuturewithprovidentialrapidity.
Joewouldhavebeenwillingtoremainforeverinthis
enchantingasylum;itwastherealmhehadpicturedin
hisdreams;hefelthimselfathome;hismasterhadto
givehimhisexactlocation,anditwaswiththegravest
airimaginablethathewrotedownonhistabletsfifteen
degreesforty-threeminuteseastlongitude,andeightdegrees
thirty-twominutesnorthlatitude.
Kennedyhadbutoneregret,towit,thathecouldnot
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5wiab10
huntinthatminiatureforest,because,accordingtohis
ideas,therewasaslightdeficiencyofferociouswildbeasts
init.
"But,mydearDick,"saidthedoctor,"haven'tyou
ratherashortmemory?Howaboutthelionandthe
lioness?"
"Oh,that!"heejaculatedwiththecontemptofa
thorough-bredsportsmanforgamealreadykilled."But
thefactis,thatfindingthemherewouldleadoneto
supposethatwecan'tbefarfromamorefertilecountry."
"ltdon'tprovemuch,Dick,forthoseanimals,when
goadedbyhungerorthirst,willtravellongdistances,and
lthinkthat,to-night,wehadbetterkeepamorevigilant
lookout,andlightfires,besides."
"What,insuchheatasthis?"saidJoe."Well,ifit's
necessary,we'llhavetodoit,butldothinkitarealpity
toburnthisprettygrovethathasbeensuchacomforttous!"
"Oh!aboveallthings,wemusttaketheutmostcare
nottosetitonfire,"repliedthedoctor,"sothatothers
inthesamestraitasourselvesmaysomedayfindshelter
hereinthemiddleofthedesert."
"l'llbeverycareful,indeed,doctor;butdoyouthink
thatthisoasisisknown?"
"Undoubtedly;itisahalting-placeforthecaravans
thatfrequentthecentreofAfrica,andavisitfromone
ofthemmightbeanythingbutpleasanttoyou,Joe."
"Why,arethereanymoreofthoserascallyNyam-Nyams
aroundhere?"
"Certainly;thatisthegeneralnameofalltheneighboring
tribes,and,underthesameclimates,thesame
racesarelikelytohavesimilarmannersandcustoms."
"Pah!"saidJoe,"but,afterall,it'snaturalenough.
lfsavageshadthewaysofgentlemen,wherewouldbethe
difference?ByGeorge,thesefinefellowswouldn'thave
tobecoaxedlongtoeattheScotchman'srawsteak,nor
theScotchmaneither,intothebargain!"
Withthisverysensibleobservation,Joebegantoget
readyhisfirewoodforthenight,makingjustaslittleof
itaspossible.Fortunately,theseprecautionsweresuperfluous;
andeachoftheparty,inhisturn,droppedoffinto
thesoundestslumber.
Onthenextdaytheweatherstillshowednosignof
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5wiab10
change,butkeptprovokinglyandobstinatelyfair.The
balloonremainedmotionless,withoutanyoscillationto
betrayabreathofwind.
Thedoctorbegantogetuneasyagain.lftheirstayinthe
desertweretobeprolongedlikethis,theirprovisions
wouldgiveout.Afternearlyperishingforwantof
water,theywould,atlast,havetostarvetodeath!
Buthetookfreshcourageashesawthemercuryfall
considerablyinthebarometer,andnoticedevidentsigns
ofanearlychangeintheatmosphere.Hethereforeresolved
tomakeallhispreparationsforastart,soasto
availhimselfofthefirstopportunity.Thefeeding-tank
andthewater-tankwerebothcompletelyfilled.
Thenhehadtoreestablishtheequilibriumoftheballoon,
andJoewasobligedtopartwithanotherconsiderable
portionofhispreciousquartz.Withrestoredhealth,
hisambitiousnotionshadcomebacktohim,andhemade
morethanonewryfacebeforeobeyinghismaster;but
thelatterconvincedhimthathecouldnotcarrysoconsiderable
aweightwithhimthroughtheair,andgave
himhischoicebetweenthewaterandthegold.Joe
hesitatednolonger,butflungouttherequisitequantity
ofhismuch-prizedoreuponthesand.
"Thenextpeoplewhocomethisway,"heremarked,
"willberathersurprisedtofindafortuneinsucha
place."
"Andsupposesomelearnedtravellershouldcome
acrossthesespecimens,eh?"suggestedKennedy.
"Youmaybecertain,Dick,thattheywouldtakehim
bysurprise,andthathewouldpublishhisastonishment
inseveralfolios;sothatsomedayweshallhearofa
wonderfuldepositofgold-bearingquartzinthemidstofthe
Africansands!"
"AndJoethere,willbethecauseofitall!"
ThisideaofmystifyingsomelearnedsagetickledJoe
hugely,andmadehimlaugh.
Duringtherestofthedaythedoctorvainlykepton
thewatchforachangeofweather.Thetemperaturerose,
and,haditnotbeenfortheshadeoftheoasis,wouldhave
beeninsupportable.Thethermometermarkedahundred
andforty-ninedegreesinthesun,andaveritablerainof
firefilledtheair.Thiswasthemostintenseheatthat
theyhadyetnoted.
Joearrangedtheirbivouacforthatevening,ashehad
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5wiab10
doneforthepreviousnight;andduringthewatcheskept
bythedoctorandKennedytherewasnofreshincident.
But,towardthreeo'clockinthemorning,whileJoe
wasonguard,thetemperaturesuddenlyfell;thesky
becameovercastwithclouds,andthedarknessincreased.
"Turnout!"criedJoe,arousinghiscompanions.
"Turnout!Here'sthewind!"
"Atlast!"exclaimedthedoctor,eyingtheheavens.
"Butitisastorm!Theballoon!Letushastentothe
balloon!"
ltwashightimeforthemtoreachit.TheVictoria
wasbendingtotheforceofthehurricane,anddragging
alongthecar,thelattergrazingthesand.Hadanyportion
oftheballastbeenaccidentallythrownout,the
balloonwouldhavebeensweptaway,andallhopeof
recoveringithavebeenforeverlost.
Butfleet-footedJoeputforthhisutmostspeed,and
checkedthecar,whiletheballoonbeatuponthesand,at
theriskofbeingtorntopieces.Thedoctor,followedby
Kennedy,leapedin,andlithiscylinder,whilehiscompanions
threwoutthesuperfluousballast.
Thetravellerstookonelastlookatthetreesofthe
oasisbowingtotheforceofthehurricane,andsoon,
catchingthewindattwohundredfeetabovetheground,
disappearedinthegloom.
CHAPTERTWENTY-NlNTH.
SignsofVegetation.--TheFantasticNotionofaFrenchAuthor.--A
MagnificentCountry.--TheKingdomofAdamova.--TheExplorationsof
SpekeandBurtonconnectedwiththoseofDr.Barth.--TheAtlantika
Mountains.--TheRiverBenoue.--TheCityofYola.--TheBagele.--Mount
Mendif.
Fromthemomentoftheirdeparture,thetravellers
movedwithgreatvelocity.Theylongedtoleavebehind
themthedesert,whichhadsonearlybeenfataltothem.
Aboutaquarter-pastnineinthemorning,theycaught
aglimpseofsomesignsofvegetation:herbagefloating
onthatseaofsand,andannouncing,astheweedsupon
theoceandidtoChristopherColumbus,thenearnessof
theshore--greenshootspeepinguptimidlybetweenpebbles
thatwere,intheirturn,tobetherocksofthatvast
expanse.
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5wiab10
Hills,butoftriflingheight,wereseeninwavylines
uponthehorizon.Theirprofile,muffledbytheheavy
mist,wasdefinedbutvaguely.Themonotony,however,
wasbeginningtodisappear.
Thedoctorhailedwithjoythenewcountrythusdisclosed,
and,likeaseamanonlookoutatthemast-head,he
wasreadytoshoutaloud:
"Land,ho!land!"
Anhourlaterthecontinentspreadbroadlybeforetheir
gaze,stillwildinaspect,butlessflat,lessdenuded,and
withafewtreesstandingoutagainstthegraysky.
"Weareinacivilizedcountryatlast!"saidthehunter.
"Civilized?Well,that'sonewayofspeaking;but
therearenopeopletobeseenyet."
"ltwillnotbelongbeforeweseethem,"saidFerguson,
"atourpresentrateoftravel."
"Arewestillinthenegrocountry,doctor?"
"Yes,andonourwaytothecountryoftheArabs."
"What!realArabs,sir,withtheircamels?"
"No,notmanycamels;theyarescarce,ifnotaltogether
unknown,intheseregions.Wemustgoafewdegreesfarther
northtoseethem."
"Whatapity!"
"Andwhy,Joe?"
"Because,ifthewindfellcontrary,theymightbeof
usetous."
"Howso?"
"Well,sir,it'sjustanotionthat'sgotintomyhead:
wemighthitchthemtothecar,andmakethemtowus
along.Whatdoyousaytothat,doctor?"
"PoorJoe!Anotherpersonhadthatideainadvance
ofyou.ltwasusedbyaverygiftedFrenchauthor--
M.Mery--inaromance,itistrue.Hehashistravellers
drawnalonginaballoonbyateamofcamels;thenalion
comesup,devoursthecamels,swallowsthetow-rope,and
haulstheballoonintheirstead;andsoonthroughthe
story.Youseethatthewholethingisthetop-flowerof
fancy,buthasnothingincommonwithourstyleoflocomotion."
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5wiab10
Joe,alittlecutdownatlearningthathisideahad
beenusedalready,cudgelledhiswitstoimaginewhat
animalcouldhavedevouredthelion;buthecouldnot
guessit,andsoquietlywentonscanningtheappearance
ofthecountry.
Alakeofmediumextentstretchedawaybeforehim,
surroundedbyanamphitheatreofhills,whichyetcould
notbedignifiedwiththenameofmountains.Therewere
windingvalleys,numerousandfertile,withtheirtangled
thicketsofthemostvarioustrees.TheAfricanoil-tree
roseabovethemass,withleavesfifteenfeetinlengthupon
itsstalk,thelatterstuddedwithsharpthorns;thebombax,
orsilk-cotton-tree,filledthewind,asitsweptby,
withthefinedownofitsseeds;thepungentodorsofthe
pendanus,the"kenda"oftheArabs,perfumedtheair
uptotheheightwheretheVictoriawassailing;the
papaw-tree,withitspalm-shapedleaves;thesterculier,
whichproducestheSoudan-nut;thebaobab,andthe
banana-tree,completedtheluxuriantfloraofthese
inter-tropicalregions.
"Thecountryissuperb!"saidthedoctor.
"Herearesomeanimals,"addedJoe."Menarenot
faraway."
"Oh,whatmagnificentelephants!"exclaimedKennedy.
"lstherenowaytogetalittleshooting?"
"Howcouldwemanagetohaltinacurrentasstrong
asthis?No,Dick;youmusttastealittleofthetorture
ofTantalusjustnow.Youshallmakeupforitafterward."
And,intruth,therewasenoughtoexcitethefancyof
asportsman.Dick'sheartfairlyleapedinhisbreastas
hegraspedthebuttofhisPurdy.
Thefaunaoftheregionwereasstrikingasitsflora.
Thewild-oxrevelledindenseherbagethatoftenconcealed
hiswholebody;gray,black,andyellowelephantsofthe
mostgiganticsizeburstheadlong,likealivinghurricane,
throughtheforests,breaking,rending,tearingdown,
devastatingeverythingintheirpath;uponthewoody
slopesofthehillstrickledcascadesandspringsflowing
northward;there,too,thehippopotamibathedtheirhuge
forms,splashingandsnortingastheyfrolickedinthe
water,andlamantines,twelvefeetlong,withbodieslike
seals,stretchedthemselvesalongthebanks,turningup
towardthesuntheirroundedteatsswollenwithmilk.
ltwasawholemenagerieofrareandcuriousbeastsin
awondroushot-house,wherenumberlessbirdswithplumage
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ofathousandhuesgleamedandflutteredinthesunshine.
BythisprodigalityofNature,thedoctorrecognized
thesplendidkingdomofAdamova.
"Wearenowbeginningtotrenchupontherealmof
moderndiscovery.lhavetakenupthelostscentofpreceding
travellers.ltisahappychance,myfriends,for
weshallbeenabledtolinkthetoilsofCaptainsBurtonand
SpekewiththeexplorationsofDr.Barth.Wehaveleft
theEnglishmenbehindus,andnowhavecaughtupwith
theHamburger.ltwillnotbelong,either,beforewe
arriveattheextremepointattainedbythatdaringexplorer."
"ltseemstomethatthereisavastextentofcountry
betweenthetwoexploredroutes,"remarkedKennedy;
"atleast,iflamtojudgebythedistancethatwehave
made."
"ltiseasytodetermine:takethemapandseewhat
isthelongitudeofthesouthernpointofLakeUkereoue,
reachedbySpeke."
"ltisnearthethirty-seventhdegree."
"AndthecityofYola,whichweshallsightthisevening,
andtowhichBarthpenetrated,whatisitsposition?"
"ltisaboutinthetwelfthdegreeofeastlongitude."
"Thentherearetwenty-fivedegrees,or,countingsixty
milestoeach,aboutfifteenhundredmilesinall."
"Anicelittlewalk,"saidJoe,"forpeoplewhohave
togoonfoot."
"ltwillbeaccomplished,however.Livingstoneand
Moffatarepushingonupthislinetowardtheinterior.
Nyassa,whichtheyhavediscovered,isnotfarfromLake
Tanganayika,seenbyBurton.Erethecloseofthecentury
theseregionswill,undoubtedly,beexplored.But,"added
thedoctor,consultinghiscompass,"lregretthatthe
windiscarryingussofartothewestward.lwantedto
gettothenorth."
Aftertwelvehoursofprogress,theVictoriafoundherself
ontheconfinesofNigritia.Thefirstinhabitantsof
thisregion,theChouasArabs,werefeedingtheirwandering
flocks.TheimmensesummitsoftheAtlantikaMountains
seenabovethehorizon--mountainsthatnoEuropean
foothadyetscaled,andwhoseheightiscomputedtobe
tenthousandfeet!Theirwesternslopedeterminesthe
flowofallthewatersinthisregionofAfricatowardthe
ocean.TheyaretheMountainsoftheMoontothispart
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ofthecontinent.
Atlengtharealrivergreetedthegazeofourtravellers,
and,bytheenormousant-hillsseeninitsvicinity,the
doctorrecognizedtheBenoue,oneofthegreattributaries
oftheNiger,theonewhichthenativeshavecalled"The
FountainoftheWaters."
"Thisriver,"saidthedoctortohiscompanions,"will,
oneday,bethenaturalchannelofcommunicationwith
theinteriorofNigritia.Underthecommandofoneof
ourbravecaptains,thesteamerPleiadhasalreadyascended
asfarasthetownofYola.Youseethatweare
notinanunknowncountry."
Numerousslaveswereengagedinthelaborsofthe
field,cultivatingsorgho,akindofmilletwhichformsthe
chiefbasisoftheirdiet;andthemoststupidexpressions
ofastonishmentensuedastheVictoriaspedpastlikea
meteor.Thateveningtheballoonhaltedaboutfortymiles
fromYola,andaheadofit,butinthedistance,rosethe
twosharpconesofMountMendif.
Thedoctorthrewouthisanchorsandmadefasttothe
topofahightree;butaveryviolentwindbeatuponthe
balloonwithsuchforceastothrowitoveronitsside,thus
renderingthepositionofthecarsometimesextremely
dangerous.Fergusondidnotclosehisallnight,and
hewasrepeatedlyonthepointofcuttingtheanchor-rope
andscuddingawaybeforethegale.Atlength,however,
thestormabated,andtheoscillationsoftheballoonceased
tobealarming.
Onthemorrowthewindwasmoremoderate,butit
carriedourtravellersawayfromthecityofYola,which
recentlyrebuiltbytheFouillans,excitedFerguson'scuriosity.
However,hehadtomakeuphismindtobeingbornefarther
tothenorthwardandevenalittletotheeast.
Kennedyproposedtohaltinthisfinehunting-country,
andJoedeclaredthattheneedoffreshmeatwasbeginning
tobefelt;butthesavagecustomsofthecountry,
theattitudeofthepopulation,andsomeshotsfiredatthe
Victoria,admonishedthedoctortocontinuehisjourney.
Theywerethencrossingaregionthatwasthesceneof
massacresandburnings,andwherewarlikeconflictsbetween
thebarbariansultans,contendingfortheirpower
amidthemostatrociouscarnage,nevercease.
Numerousandpopulousvillagesoflonglowhuts
stretchedawaybetweenbroadpasture-fieldswhosedense
herbagewasbesprinkledwithviolet-coloredblossoms.
Thehuts,lookinglikehugebeehives,wereshelteredbehind
bristlingpalisades.Thewildhill-sidesandhollows
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frequentlyremindedthebeholderoftheglensintheHighlands
ofScotland,asKennedymorethanonceremarked.
lnspiteofallhecoulddo,thedoctorboredirectlyto
thenortheast,towardMountMendif,whichwaslostin
themidstofenvironingclouds.Theloftysummitsof
thesemountainsseparatethevalleyoftheNigerfromthe
basinofLakeTchad.
SoonafterwardwasseentheBagele,withitseighteen
villagesclingingtoitsflankslikeawholebroodofchildren
totheirmother'sbosom--amagnificentspectaclefor
thebeholderwhosegazecommandedandtookintheentire
pictureatoneview.Eventheravineswereseento
becoveredwithfieldsofriceandofarachides.
Bythreeo'clocktheVictoriawasdirectlyinfrontof
MountMendif.lthadbeenimpossibletoavoidit;the
onlythingtobedonewastocrossit.Thedoctor,by
meansofatemperatureincreasedtoonehundredand
eightydegrees,gavetheballoonafreshascensionalforce
ofnearlysixteenhundredpounds,anditwentuptoan
elevationofmorethaneightthousandfeet,thegreatest
heightattainedduringthejourney.Thetemperatureof
theatmospherewassomuchcooleratthatpointthatthe
aeronautshadtoresorttotheirblanketsandthickcoverings.
Fergusonwasinhastetodescend;thecoveringofthe
balloongaveindicationsofbursting,butinthemeanwhile
hehadtimetosatisfyhimselfofthevolcanicoriginofthe
mountain,whoseextinctcratersarenowbutdeepabysses.
lmmenseaccumulationsofbird-guanogavethesidesof
MountMendiftheappearanceofcalcareousrocks,andthere
wasenoughofthedeposittheretomanureallthelandsin
theUnitedKingdom.
Atfiveo'clocktheVictoria,shelteredfromthesouth
winds,wentgentlyglidingalongtheslopesofthemountain,
andstoppedinawideclearingremotefromanyhabitation.
Theinstantittouchedthesoil,allneedfulprecautions
weretakentoholdittherefirmly;andKennedy,
fowling-pieceinhand,salliedoutupontheslopingplain.
Erelong,hereturnedwithhalfadozenwildducksanda
kindofsnipe,whichJoeservedupinhisbeststyle.The
mealwasheartilyrelished,andthenightwaspassedin
undisturbedandrefreshingslumber.
CHAPTERTHlRTlETH.
Mosfeia.--TheSheik.--Denham,Clapperton,andOudney.--Vogel.--TheCapital
ofLoggoum.--Toole.--BecalmedaboveKernak.--TheGovernorandhisCourt.
--TheAttack.--ThelncendiaryPigeons.
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5wiab10
Onthenextday,May11th,theVictoriaresumedher
adventurousjourney.Herpassengershadthesameconfidence
inherthatagoodseamanhasinhisship.
lnterrifichurricanes,intropicalheats,whenmaking
dangerousdepartures,anddescentsstillmoredangerous,
ithad,atalltimesandinallplaces,comeoutsafely.lt
mightalmosthavebeensaidthatFergusonmanagedit
withawaveofthehand;andhence,withoutknowingin
advance,wherethepointofarrivalwouldbe,thedoctor
hadnofearsconcerningthesuccessfulissueofhisjourney.
However,inthiscountryofbarbariansandfanatics,prudence
obligedhimtotakethestrictestprecautions.He
thereforecounselledhiscompanionstohavetheireyes
wideopenforeverythingandatallhours.
Thewinddriftedalittlemoretothenorthward,and,
towardnineo'clock,theysightedthelargercityofMosfeia,
builtuponaneminencewhichwasitselfenclosedbetween
twoloftymountains.ltspositionwasimpregnable,
anarrowroadrunningbetweenamarshandathickwood
beingtheonlychannelofapproachtoit.
Atthemomentofwhichwewrite,asheik,accompanied
byamountedescort,andcladinagarbofbrilliant
colors,precededbycouriersandtrumpeters,whoputaside
theboughsofthetreesasherodeup,wasmakinghis
grandentryintotheplace.
Thedoctorloweredtheballooninordertogetabetter
lookatthiscavalcadeofnatives;but,astheballoon
grewlargertotheireyes,theybegantoshowsymptoms
ofintenseaffright,andatlengthmadeoffindifferent
directionsasfastastheirlegsandthoseoftheirhorses
couldcarrythem.
Thesheikalonedidnotbudgeaninch.Hemerely
graspedhislongmusket,cockedit,andproudlywaitedin
silence.Thedoctorcameontowithinahundredand
fiftyfeetofhim,andthen,withhisroundestandfullest
voice,salutedhimcourteouslyintheArabictongue.
But,uponhearingthesewordsfalling,asitseemed,
fromthesky,thesheikdismountedandprostratedhimself
inthedustofthehighway,wherethedoctorhadto
leavehim,findingitimpossibletodiverthimfromhis
adoration.
"Unquestionably,"Fergusonremarked,"thosepeople
takeusforsupernaturalbeings.WhenEuropeanscame
amongthemforthefirsttime,theyweremistakenfor
creaturesofahigherrace.Whenthissheikcomesto
speakofto-day'smeeting,hewillnotfailtoembellishthe
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circumstancewithalltheresourcesofanArabimagination.
Youmay,therefore,judgewhatanaccounttheir
legendswillgiveofussomeday."
"Notsuchadesirablething,afterall,"saidtheScot,
"inthepointofviewthataffectscivilization;itwouldbe
bettertopassformeremen.Thatwouldgivethesenegro
racesasuperiorideaofEuropeanpower."
"Verygood,mydearDick;butwhatcanwedoabout
it?Youmightsitalldayexplainingthemechanismof
aballoontothesavantsofthiscountry,andyettheywould
notcomprehendyou,butwouldpersistinascribingitto
supernaturalaid."
"Doctor,youspokeofthefirsttimeEuropeansvisited
theseregions.Whowerethevisitors?"inquiredJoe.
"Mydearfellow,wearenowupontheverytrackof
MajorDenham.ltwasatthisverycityofMosfeiathat
hewasreceivedbytheSultanofMandara;hehadquitted
theBornoucountry;heaccompaniedthesheikinanexpedition
againsttheFellatahs;heassistedintheattack
onthecity,which,withitsarrowsalone,bravelyresisted
thebulletsoftheArabs,andputthesheik'stroopsto
flight.Allthiswasbutapretextformurders,raids,and
pillage.Themajorwascompletelyplunderedandstripped,
andhaditnotbeenforhishorse,underwhosestomachhe
clungwiththeskillofanlndianrider,andwasbornewith
aheadlonggallopfromhisbarbarouspursuers,henever
couldhavemadehiswaybacktoKouka,thecapitalof
Bornou."
"WhowasthisMajorDenham?"
"AfearlessEnglishman,who,between1822and1824,
commandedanexpeditionintotheBornoucountry,in
companywithCaptainClappertonandDr.Oudney.They
setoutfromTripoliinthemonthofMarch,reachedMourzouk,
thecapitalofFez,and,followingtheroutewhichat
alaterperiodDr.Barthwastopursueonhiswaybackto
Europe,theyarrived,onthe16thofFebruary,1823,at
Kouka,nearLakeTchad.Denhammadeseveralexplorations
inBornou,inMandara,andtotheeasternshoresof
thelake.lnthemeantime,onthe15thofDecember,
1823,CaptainClappertonandDr.Oudneyhadpushed
theirwaythroughtheSoudancountryasfarasSackatoo,
andOudneydiedoffatigueandexhaustioninthetown
ofMurmur."
"ThispartofAfricahas,therefore,paidaheavytribute
ofvictimstothecauseofscience,"saidKennedy.
"Yes,thiscountryisfataltotravellers.Wearemoving
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5wiab10
directlytowardthekingdomofBaghirmi,whichVogel
traversedin1856,soastoreachtheWadaicountry,where
hedisappeared.Thisyoungman,attheageoftwenty-three,
hadbeensenttocooperatewithDr.Barth.They
metonthe1stofDecember,1854,andthereuponcommenced
hisexplorationsofthecountry.Toward1856,he
announced,inthelastlettersreceivedfromhim,his
intentiontoreconnoitrethekingdomofWadai,whichno
Europeanhadyetpenetrated.ltappearsthathegotas
farasWara,thecapital,where,accordingtosomeaccounts,
hewasmadeprisoner,and,accordingtoothers,
wasputtodeathforhavingattemptedtoascendasacred
mountainintheenvirons.But,wemustnottoolightly
admitthedeathoftravellers,sincethatdoesawaywith
thenecessityofgoinginsearchofthem.Forinstance,
howoftenwasthedeathofDr.Barthreported,tohis
owngreatannoyance!ltis,therefore,verypossiblethat
VogelmaystillbeheldasaprisonerbytheSultanof
Wadai,inthehopeofobtainingagoodransomforhim.
"BarondeNeimanswasaboutstartingfortheWadai
countrywhenhediedatCairo,in1855;andwenowknow
thatDeHeuglinhassetoutonVogel'strackwiththe
expeditionsentfromLeipsic,sothatweshallsoonbe
accuratelyinformedastothefateofthatyoungand
interestingexplorer."*
*Sincethedoctor'sdeparture,letterswrittenfromEl'Obeid
byMr.Muntzinger,thenewly-appointedheadoftheexpedition,
unfortunatelyplacethedeathofVogelbeyondadoubt.
Mosfeiahaddisappearedfromthehorizonlongerethis,
andtheMandaracountrywasdevelopingtothegazeof
ouraeronautsitsastonishingfertility,withitsforestsof
acacias,itslocust-treescoveredwithredflowers,andthe
herbaceousplantsofitsfieldsofcottonandindigotrees.
TheriverShari,whicheightymilesfartheronrolledits
impetuouswatersintoLakeTchad,wasquitedistinctly
seen.
Thedoctorgothiscompanionstotraceitscourseupon
themapsdrawnbyDr.Barth.
"Youperceive,"saidhe,"thatthelaborsofthissavant
havebeenconductedwithgreatprecision;wearemoving
directlytowardtheLoggoumregion,andperhapstoward
Kernak,itscapital.ltwastherethatpoorTooledied,at
theageofscarcelytwenty-two.HewasayoungEnglishman,
anensigninthe80thregiment,who,afewweeks
before,hadjoinedMajorDenhaminAfrica,anditwas
notlongerehetheremethisdeath.Ah!thisvast
countrymightwellbecalledthegraveyardofEuropean
travellers."
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5wiab10
Someboats,fiftyfeetlong,weredescendingthecurrent
oftheShari.TheVictoria,thenonethousandfeet
abovethesoil,hardlyattractedtheattentionofthe
natives;butthewind,whichuntilthenhadbeenblowing
withacertaindegreeofstrength,wasfallingoff.
"lsitpossiblethatwearetobecaughtinanotherdead
calm?"sighedthedoctor.
"Well,we'venolackofwater,northedeserttofear,
anyhow,master,"saidJoe.
"No;butthereareracesherestillmoretobedreaded."
"Why!"saidJoe,again,"there'ssomethinglikeatown."
"ThatisKernak.Thelastpuffsofthebreezeare
waftingustoit,and,ifwechoose,wecantakeanexact
planoftheplace."
"Shallwenotgonearertoit?"askedKennedy.
"Nothingeasier,Dick!Wearerightoverit.Allow
metoturnthestopcockofthecylinder,andwe'llnotbe
longindescending."
Halfanhourlatertheballoonhungmotionlessabout
twohundredfeetfromtheground.
"Hereweare!"saidthedoctor,"nearertoKernak
thanamanwouldbetoLondon,ifhewereperchedinthe
cupolaofSt.Paul's.Sowecantakeasurveyatour
ease."
"Whatisthattick-tackingsoundthatwehearonallsides?"
Joelookedattentively,andatlengthdiscoveredthat
thenoisetheyheardwasproducedbyanumberofweavers
beatingclothstretchedintheopenair,onlargetrunksof
trees.
ThecapitalofLoggoumcouldthenbeseeninitsentire
extent,likeanunrolledchart.ltisreallyacitywith
straightrowsofhousesandquitewidestreets.lnthe
midstofalargeopenspacetherewasaslave-market,
attendedbyagreatcrowdofcustomers,fortheMandara
women,whohaveextremelysmallhandsandfeet,arein
excellentrequest,andcanbesoldatlucrativerates.
AtthesightoftheVictoria,thescenesooftenproduced
occurredagain.Atfirsttherewereoutcries,and
thenfollowedgeneralstupefaction;businesswasabandoned;
workwasflungaside,andallnoiseceased.The
aeronautsremainedastheywere,completelymotionless,
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5wiab10
andlostnotadetailofthepopulouscity.Theyeven
wentdowntowithinsixtyfeetoftheground.
HereupontheGovernorofLoggoumcameoutfromhisresidence,
displayinghisgreenstandard,andaccompaniedbyhis
musicians,whoblewonhoarsebuffalo-horns,asthough
theywouldsplittheircheeksoranythingelse,
exceptingtheirownlungs.Thecrowdatoncegathered
aroundhim.lnthemeanwhileDr.Fergusontriedto
makehimselfheard,butinvain.
Thispopulationlookedlikeproudandintelligentpeople,
withtheirhighforeheads,theiralmostaquilinenoses,
andtheircurlinghair;butthepresenceoftheVictoria
troubledthemgreatly.Horsemencouldbeseengalloping
inalldirections,anditsoonbecameevidentthatthe
governor'stroopswereassemblingtoopposesoextraordinary
afoe.Joeworehimselfoutwavinghandkerchiefs
ofeverycolorandshapetothem;buthisexertionswere
alltonopurpose.
However,thesheik,surroundedbyhiscourt,proclaimed
silence,andpronouncedadiscourse,ofwhichthe
doctorcouldnotunderstandaword.ltwasArabic,mixed
withBaghirmi.Hecouldmakeoutenough,however,by
theuniversallanguageofgestures,tobeawarethathe
wasreceivingaverypoliteinvitationtodepart.lndeed,
hewouldhaveaskedfornothingbetter,butforlackof
wind,thethinghadbecomeimpossible.Hisnoncompliance,
therefore,exasperatedthegovernor,whosecourtiers
andattendantssetupafurioushowltoenforceimmediate
obedienceonthepartoftheaerialmonster.
Theywereodd-lookingfellowsthosecourtiers,with
theirfiveorsixshirtsswathedaroundtheirbodies!They
hadenormousstomachs,someofwhichactuallyseemed
tobeartificial.Thedoctorsurprisedhiscompanionsby
informingthemthatthiswasthewaytopaycourttothe
sultan.Therotundityofthestomachindicatedtheambition
ofitspossessor.Thesecorpulentgentrygesticulated
andbawledatthetopoftheirvoices--oneofthem
particularlydistinguishinghimselfabovetherest--to
suchanextent,indeed,thathemusthavebeenaprime
minister--atleast,ifthedisturbancehemadewasany
criterionofhisrank.Thecommonrabbleofduskydenizens
unitedtheirhowlingswiththeuproarofthecourt,
repeatingtheirgesticulationslikesomanymonkeys,and
therebyproducingasingleandinstantaneousmovement
oftenthousandarmsatonetime.
Tothesemeansofintimidation,whichwerepresently
deemedinsufficient,wereaddedothersstillmoreformidable.
Soldiers,armedwithbowsandarrows,weredrawn
upinlineofbattle;butbythistimetheballoonwas
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5wiab10
expanding,andrisingquietlybeyondtheirreach.Upon
thisthegovernorseizedamusketandaimeditatthe
balloon;but,Kennedy,whowaswatchinghim,shattered
theupliftedweaponinthesheik'sgrasp.
Atthisunexpectedblowtherewasageneralrout.
Everymother'ssonofthemscamperedforhisdwelling
withtheutmostcelerity,andstayedthere,sothatthe
streetsofthetownwereabsolutelydesertedfortheremainder
ofthatday.
Nightcame,andnotabreathofwindwasstirring.
Theaeronautshadtomakeuptheirmindstoremain
motionlessatthedistanceofbutthreehundredfeet
abovetheground.Notafireorlightshoneinthedeep
gloom,andaroundreignedthesilenceofdeath;butthe
doctoronlyredoubledhisvigilance,asthisapparentquiet
mightconcealsomesnare.
Andhehadreasontobewatchful.Aboutmidnight,
thewholecityseemedtobeinablaze.Hundredsof
streaksofflamecrossedeachother,andshottoandfro
intheairlikerockets,formingaregularnetworkoffire.
"That'sreallycurious!"saidthedoctor,somewhat
puzzledtomakeoutwhatitmeant.
"Byallthat'sglorious!"shoutedKennedy,"itlooks
asifthefirewereascendingandcominguptowardus!"
And,sureenough,withanaccompanimentofmusket-shots,
yelling,anddinofeverydescription,themassof
firewas,indeed,mountingtowardtheVictoria.Joegot
readytothrowoutballast,andFergusonwasnotlongat
guessingthetruth.Thousandsofpigeons,theirtailsgarnished
withcombustibles,hadbeensetlooseanddriven
towardtheVictoria;andnow,intheirterror,theywere
flyinghighup,zigzaggingtheatmospherewithlinesof
fire.Kennedywaspreparingtodischargeallhisbatteries
intothemiddleoftheascendingmultitude,butwhat
couldhehavedoneagainstsuchanumberlessarmy?
Thepigeonswerealreadywhiskingaroundthecar;they
wereevensurroundingtheballoon,thesidesofwhich,
reflectingtheirillumination,lookedasthoughenveloped
withanetworkoffire.
Thedoctordaredhesitatenolonger;and,throwing
outafragmentofquartz,hekepthimselfbeyondthe
reachofthesedangerousassailants;and,fortwohours
afterward,hecouldseethemwanderinghitherandthither
throughthedarknessofthenight,until,littlebylittle,
theirlightdiminished,andthey,onebyone,diedout.
"Nowwemaysleepinquiet,"saidthedoctor.
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5wiab10
"Notbadlygotupforbarbarians,"musedfriendJoe,
speakinghisthoughtsaloud.
"Oh,theyemploythesepigeonsfrequently,tosetfire
tothethatchofhostilevillages;butthistimethevillage
mountedhigherthantheycouldgo."
"Why,positively,aballoonneedfearnoenemies!"
"Yes,indeed,itmay!"objectedFerguson.
"Whatarethey,then,doctor?"
"Theyarethecarelesspeopleinthecar!So,myfriends,
letushavevigilanceinallplacesandatalltimes."
CHAPTERTHlRTY-FlRST.
DepartureintheNight-time.--AllThree.--Kennedy'slnstincts.--Precautions.--
TheCourseoftheShariRiver.--LakeTchad.--TheWateroftheLake.--The
Hippopotamus.--OneBulletthrownaway.
Aboutthreeo'clockinthemorning,Joe,whowasthen
onwatch,atlengthsawthecitymoveawayfrombeneath
hisfeet.TheVictoriawasonceagaininmotion,and
boththedoctorandKennedyawoke.
Theformerconsultedhiscompass,andsaw,withsatisfaction,
thatthewindwascarryingthemtowardthenorth-northeast.
"Weareinluck!"saidhe;"everythingworksin
ourfavor:weshalldiscoverLakeTchadthisveryday."
"lsitabroadsheetofwater?"askedKennedy.
"Somewhat,Dick.Atitsgreatestlengthandbreadth,
itmeasuresaboutonehundredandtwentymiles."
"ltwillspiceourtripwithalittlevarietytosail
overaspacioussheetofwater."
"Afterall,though,ldon'tseethatwehavemuchto
complainofonthatscore.Ourtriphasbeenverymuch
varied,indeed;and,moreover,wearegettingonunder
thebestpossibleconditions."
"Unquestionablyso;exceptingthoseprivationson
thedesert,wehaveencounterednoseriousdanger."
"ltisnottobedeniedthatournobleballoonhas
behavedwonderfullywell.To-dayisMay12th,andwe
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5wiab10
startedonthe18thofApril.Thatmakestwenty-five
daysofjourneying.lntendaysmoreweshallhave
reachedourdestination."
"Whereisthat?"
"ldonotknow.Butwhatdoesthatsignify?"
"Youarerightagain,Samuel!LetusintrusttoProvidence
thecareofguidingusandofkeepingusingood
healthaswearenow.Wedon'tlookmuchasthough
wehadbeencrossingthemostpestilentialcountryinthe
world!"
"Wehadanopportunityofgettingupinlife,andthat's
whatwehavedone!"
"Hurrahfortripsintheair!"criedJoe."Herewe
areattheendoftwenty-fivedaysingoodcondition,well
fed,andwellrested.We'vehadtoomuchrestinfact,
formylegsbegintofeelrusty,andlwouldn'tbevexed
abittostretchthemwitharunofthirtymilesorso!"
"Youcandothat,Joe,inthestreetsofLondon,but
infinewesetoutthreetogether,likeDenham,Clapperton,
andOverweg;likeBarth,Richardson,andVogel,and,
morefortunatethanourpredecessorshere,wearethree
innumberstill.Butitismostimportantforusnotto
separate.lf,whileoneofuswasontheground,the
Victoriashouldhavetoascendinordertoescapesome
suddendanger,whoknowswhetherweshouldeversee
eachotheragain?Thereforeitisthatlsayagainto
Kennedyfranklythatldonotlikehisgoingoffaloneto
hunt."
"Butstill,Samuel,youwillpermitmetoindulgethat
fancyalittle.Thereisnoharminrenewingourstockof
provisions.Besides,beforeourdeparture,youheldout
tometheprospectofsomesuperbhunting,andthusfarl
havedonebutlittleinthelineoftheAndersonsandCummings."
"But,mydearDick,yourmemoryfailsyou,oryour
modestymakesyouforgetyourownexploits.ltreally
seemstomethat,withoutmentioningsmallgame,you
havealreadyanantelope,anelephant,andtwolionson
yourconscience."
"Butwhat'sallthattoanAfricansportsmanwhosees
alltheanimalsincreationstruttingalongunderthe
muzzleofhisrifle?There!there!lookatthattroopof
giraffes!"
"Thosegiraffes,"roaredJoe;"why,they'renotasbig
asmyfist."
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5wiab10
"Becauseweareathousandfeetabovethem;butclose
tothemyouwoulddiscoverthattheyarethreetimesas
tallasyouare!"
"Andwhatdoyousaytoyonherdofgazelles,and
thoseostriches,thatrunwiththespeedofthewind?"
resumedKennedy.
"Thoseostriches?"remonstratedJoe,again;"those
arechickens,andthegreatestkindofchickens!"
"Come,doctor,can'twegetdownnearertothem?"
pleadedKennedy.
"Wecangetclosertothem,Dick,butwemustnot
land.Andwhatgoodwillitdoyoutostrikedownthose
pooranimalswhentheycanbeofnousetoyou?Now,
ifthequestionweretodestroyalion,atiger,acat,a
hyena,lcouldunderstandit;buttodepriveanantelope
oragazelleoflife,tonootherpurposethanthegratification
ofyourinstinctsasasportsman,seemshardlyworth
thetrouble.But,afterall,myfriend,wearegoingto
keepataboutonehundredfeetonlyfromthesoil,and,
shouldyouseeanyferociouswildbeast,obligeusbysending
aballthroughitsheart!"
TheVictoriadescendedgradually,butstillkeepingatasafe
height,for,inabarbarous,yetverypopulouscountry,itwas
necessarytokeeponthewatchforunexpectedperils.
Thetravellerswerethendirectlyfollowingthecourse
oftheShari.Thecharmingbanksofthisriverwere
hiddenbeneaththefoliageoftreesofvariousdyes;lianas
andclimbingplantswoundinandoutonallsidesand
formedthemostcuriouscombinationsofcolor.Crocodiles
wereseenbaskinginthebroadblazeofthesunorplunging
beneaththewaterswiththeagilityoflizards,andin
theirgambolstheysportedaboutamongthemanygreen
islandsthatinterceptthecurrentofthestream.
ltwasthus,inthemidstofrichandverdantlandscapes
thatourtravellerspassedoverthedistrictofMaffatay,
andaboutnineo'clockinthemorningreachedthe
southernshoreofLakeTchad.
Thereitwasatlast,outstretchedbeforethem,that
CaspianSeaofAfrica,theexistenceofwhichwassolong
consignedtotherealmsoffable--thatinteriorexpanseof
watertowhichonlyDenham'sandBarth'sexpeditions
hadbeenabletoforcetheirway.
Thedoctorstroveinvaintofixitspreciseconfiguration
uponpaper.lthadalreadychangedgreatlysince
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5wiab10
1847.lnfact,thechartofLakeTchadisverydifficultto
tracewithexactitude,foritissurroundedbymuddyand
almostimpassablemorasses,inwhichBarththoughtthat
hewasdoomedtoperish.Fromyeartoyearthese
marshes,coveredwithreedsandpapyrusfifteenfeethigh,
becomethelakeitself.Frequently,too,thevillageson
itsshoresarehalfsubmerged,aswasthecasewithNgornou
in1856,andnowthehippopotamusandthealligator
friskanddivewherethedwellingsofBornouoncestood.
Thesunshothisdazzlingraysoverthisplacidsheet
ofwater,andtowardthenorththetwoelementsmerged
intooneandthesamehorizon.
Thedoctorwasdesirousofdeterminingthecharacter
ofthewater,whichwaslongbelievedtobesalt.There
wasnodangerindescendingclosetothelake,andthecar
wassoonskimmingitssurfacelikeabirdatthedistance
ofonlyfivefeet.
Joeplungedabottleintothelakeanddrewituphalf
filled.Thewaterwasthentastedandfoundtobebut
littlefitfordrinking,withacertaincarbonate-of-soda
flavor.
Whilethedoctorwasjottingdowntheresultofthis
experiment,theloudreportofagunwasheardclosebeside
him.Kennedyhadnotbeenabletoresistthetemptation
offiringatahugehippopotamus.Thelatter,who
hadbeenbaskingquietly,disappearedatthesoundofthe
explosion,butdidnotseemtobeotherwiseincommoded
byKennedy'sconicalbullet.
"You'dhavedonebetterifyouhadharpoonedhim,"
saidJoe.
"Buthow?"
"Withoneofouranchors.ltwouldhavebeenahook
justbigenoughforsucharousingbeastasthat!"
"Humph!"ejaculatedKennedy,"Joereallyhasan
ideathistime--"
"Whichlbegofyounottoputintoexecution,"interposed
thedoctor."Theanimalwouldveryquicklyhave
draggeduswherewecouldnothavedonemuchtohelp
ourselves,andwherewehavenobusinesstobe."
"Especiallynowsincewe'vesettledthequestionasto
whatkindofwaterthereisinLakeTchad.lsthatsort
offishgoodtoeat,Dr.Ferguson?"
"Thatfish,asyoucallit,Joe,isreallyamammiferous
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5wiab10
animalofthepachydermalspecies.ltsfleshissaidtobe
excellentandisanarticleofimportanttradebetweenthe
tribeslivingalongthebordersofthelake."
"Thenl'msorrythatMr.Kennedy'sshotdidn'tdo
moredamage."
"Theanimalisvulnerableonlyinthestomachandbetween
thethighs.Dick'sballhasn'tevenmarkedhim;
butshouldthegroundstrikemeasfavorable,weshallhalt
atthenorthernendofthelake,whereKennedywillfind
himselfinthemidstofawholemenagerie,andcanmake
upforlosttime."
"Well,"saidJoe,"lhopethenthatMr.Kennedy
willhuntthehippopotamusalittle;l'dliketotastethe
meatofthatqueer-lookingbeast.ltdoesn'tlookexactly
naturaltogetawayintothecentreofAfrica,tofeedon
snipeandpartridge,justasifwewereinEngland."
CHAPTERTHlRTY-SECOND.
TheCapitalofBornou.--ThelslandsoftheBiddiomahs.--TheCondors.--The
Doctor'sAnxieties.--HisPrecautions.--AnAttackinMid-air.--TheBalloon
Coveringtorn.--TheFall.--SublimeSelf-Sacrifice.--TheNorthernCoastof
theLake.
SinceitsarrivalatLakeTchad,theballoonhadstruck
acurrentthatedgeditfarthertothewestward.Afew
cloudstemperedtheheatoftheday,and,besides,alittle
aircouldbefeltoverthisvastexpanseofwater;butabout
oneo'clock,theVictoria,havingslantedacrossthispart
ofthelake,againadvancedoverthelandforaspaceof
sevenoreightmiles.
Thedoctor,whowassomewhatvexedatfirstatthis
turnofhiscourse,nolongerthoughtofcomplainingwhen
hecaughtsightofthecityofKouka,thecapitalofBornou.
Hesawitforamoment,encircledbyitswallsof
whiteclay,andafewrudely-constructedmosquesrising
clumsilyabovethatconglomerationofhousesthatlook
likeplaying-dice,whichformmostArabtowns.lnthe
court-yardsoftheprivatedwellings,andonthepublic
squares,grewpalmsandcaoutchouc-treestoppedwitha
domeoffoliagemorethanonehundredfeetinbreadth.
Joecalledattentiontothefactthattheseimmenseparasols
wereinproperaccordancewiththeintenseheatof
thesun,andmadethereonsomepiousreflectionswhichit
wereneedlesstorepeat.
Koukareallyconsistsoftwodistincttowns,separated
bythe"Dendal,"alargeboulevardthreehundred
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5wiab10
yardswide,atthathourcrowdedwithhorsemenandfoot
passengers.Ononeside,therichquarterstandssquarely
withitsairyandloftyhouses,laidoutinregularorder;
ontheother,ishuddledtogetherthepoorquarter,amiserable
collectionoflowhovelsofaconicalshape,inwhich
apoverty-strickenmultitudevegetateratherthanlive,
sinceKoukaisneitheratradingnoracommercialcity.
KennedythoughtitlookedsomethinglikeEdinburgh,
werethatcityextendedonaplain,withitstwodistinct
boroughs.
Butourtravellershadscarcelythetimetocatcheven
thisglimpseofit,for,withtheficklenessthatcharacterizes
theair-currentsofthisregion,acontrarywindsuddenly
sweptthemsomefortymilesoverthesurfaceofLakeTchad.
Thenthenwereregaledwithanewspectacle.They
couldcountthenumerousisletsofthelake,inhabitedby
theBiddiomahs,araceofbloodthirstyandformidable
pirates,whoareasgreatlyfearedwhenneighborsasare
theTouaregsofSahara.
Theseestimablepeoplewereinreadinesstoreceivethe
Victoriabravelywithstonesandarrows,buttheballoon
quicklypassedtheirislands,flutteringoverthem,fromone
totheotherwithbutterflymotion,likeagiganticbeetle.
Atthismoment,Joe,whowasscanningthehorizon,
saidtoKennedy:
"There,sir,asyouarealwaysthinkingofgoodsport,
yonderisjustthethingforyou!"
"Whatisit,Joe?"
"Thistime,thedoctorwillnotdisapproveofyourshooting."
"Butwhatisit?"
"Don'tyouseethatflockofbigbirdsmakingforus?"
"Birds?"exclaimedthedoctor,snatchinghisspyglass.
"lseethem,"repliedKennedy;"thereareatleasta
dozenofthem."
"Fourteen,exactly!"saidJoe.
"Heavengrantthattheymaybeofakindsufficiently
noxiousforthedoctortoletmepegawayatthem!"
"lshouldnotobject,butlwouldmuchrathersee
thosebirdsatadistancefromus!"
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5wiab10
"Why,areyouafraidofthosefowls?"
"Theyarecondors,andofthelargestsize.Should
theyattackus--"
"Well,iftheydo,we'lldefendourselves.Wehavea
wholearsenalatourdisposal.ldon'tthinkthosebirds
aresoveryformidable."
"Whocantell?"wasthedoctor'sonlyremark.
Tenminuteslater,theflockhadcomewithingunshot,
andweremakingtheairringwiththeirhoarsecries.They
camerighttowardtheVictoria,moreirritatedthanfrightened
byherpresence.
"Howtheyscream!Whatanoise!"saidJoe.
"Perhapstheydon'tliketoseeanybodypoachingintheir
countryupintheair,ordaringtoflylikethemselves!"
"Well,now,totellthetruth,whenltakeagoodlook
atthem,theyareanugly,ferociousset,andlshouldthink
themdangerousenoughiftheywerearmedwithPurdy-Moore
rifles,"admittedKennedy.
"Theyhavenoneedofsuchweapons,"saidFerguson,
lookingverygrave.
Thecondorsflewaroundtheminwidecircles,their
flightgrowinggraduallycloserandclosertotheballoon.
Theysweptthroughtheairinrapid,fantasticcurves,
occasionallyprecipitatingthemselvesheadlongwiththe
speedofabullet,andthenbreakingtheirlineofprojection
byanabruptanddaringangle.
Thedoctor,muchdisquieted,resolvedtoascendsoas
toescapethisdangerousproximity.Hethereforedilated
thehydrogeninhisballoon,anditrapidlyrose.
Butthecondorsmountedwithhim,apparentlydetermined
nottopartcompany.
"Theyseemtomeanmischief!"saidthehunter,cocking
hisrifle.
And,infact,theywereswoopingnearer,andmorethan
onecamewithinfiftyfeetofthem,asifdefyingthefire-arms.
"ByGeorge,l'mitchingtoletthemhaveit!"exclaimed
Kennedy.
"No,Dick;notnow!Don'texasperatethemneedlessly.
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5wiab10
Thatwouldonlybeexcitingthemtoattackus!"
"Butlcouldsoonsettlethosefellows!"
"Youmaythinkso,Dick.Butyouarewrong!"
"Why,wehaveabulletforeachofthem!"
"Andsupposethattheyweretoattacktheupperpart
oftheballoon,whatwouldyoudo?Howwouldyouget
atthem?Justimagineyourselfinthepresenceofatroop
oflionsontheplain,oraschoolofsharksintheopen
ocean!Fortravellersintheair,thissituationisjustas
dangerous."
"Areyouspeakingseriously,doctor?"
"Veryseriously,Dick."
"Letuswait,then!"
"Wait!Holdyourselfinreadinessincaseofanattack,
butdonotfirewithoutmyorders."
Thebirdsthencollectedatashortdistance,yetto
nearthattheirnakednecks,entirelybareoffeathers,could
beplainlyseen,astheystretchedthemoutwiththeeffort
oftheircries,whiletheirgristlycrests,garnishedwitha
combandgillsofdeepviolet,stooderectwithrage.They
wereoftheverylargestsize,theirbodiesbeingmorethan
threefeetinlength,andthelowersurfaceoftheirwhite
wingsglitteringinthesunlight.Theymightwellhave
beenconsideredwingedsharks,sostrikingwastheirresemblance
tothoseferociousrangersofthedeep.
"Theyarefollowingus!"saidthedoctor,ashesaw
themascendingwithhim,"and,mountaswemay,they
canflystillhigher!"
"Well,whatarewetodo?"askedKennedy.
Thedoctormadenoanswer.
"Listen,Samuel!"saidthesportsman."Thereare
fourteenofthosebirds;wehaveseventeenshotsatour
disposalifwedischargeallourweapons.Havewenot
themeans,then,todestroythemordispersethem?l
willgiveagoodaccountofsomeofthem!"
"lhavenodoubtofyourskill,Dick;llookuponall
asdeadthatmaycomewithinrangeofyourrifle,butl
repeatthat,iftheyattacktheupperpartoftheballoon,
youcouldnotgetasightatthem.Theywouldtearthe
silkcoveringthatsustainsus,andwearethreethousand
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5wiab10
feetupintheair!"
Atthismoment,oneoftheferociousbirdsdartedright
attheballoon,withoutstretchedbeakandclaws,readyto
renditwitheitherorboth.
"Fire!fireatonce!"criedthedoctor.
Hehadscarcelyceased,erethehugecreature,stricken
dead,droppedheadlong,turningoverandoverinspaceas
hefell.
Kennedyhadalreadygraspedoneofthetwo-barrelled
fowling-piecesandJoewastakingaimwithanother.
Frightenedbythereport,thecondorsdrewbackfora
moment,buttheyalmostinstantlyreturnedtothecharge
withextremefury.Kennedyseveredtheheadofone
fromitsbodywithhisfirstshot,andJoebrokethewing
ofanother.
"Onlyelevenleft,"saidhe.
Thereuponthebirdschangedtheirtactics,andbycommon
consentsoaredabovetheballoon.Kennedyglancedat
Ferguson.Thelatter,inspiteofhisimperturbability,
grewpale.Thenensuedamomentofterrifyingsilence.
lnthenexttheyheardaharshtearingnoise,asof
somethingrendingthesilk,andthecarseemedtosink
frombeneaththefeetofourthreeaeronauts.
"Wearelost!"exclaimedFerguson,glancingatthe
barometer,whichwasnowswiftlyrising.
"Overwiththeballast!"heshouted,"overwithit!"
Andinafewsecondsthelastlumpsofquartzhaddisappeared.
"Wearestillfalling!Emptythewater-tanks!Do
youhearme,Joe?Wearepitchingintothelake!"
Joeobeyed.Thedoctorleanedoverandlookedout.
Thelakeseemedtocomeuptowardhimlikearisingtide.
Everyobjectaroundgrewrapidlyinsizewhiletheywere
lookingatit.Thecarwasnottwohundredfeetfromthe
surfaceofLakeTchad.
"Theprovisions!theprovisions!"criedthedoctor.
Andtheboxcontainingthemwaslaunchedintospace.
Theirdescentbecamelessrapid,buttheluckless
aeronautswerestillfalling,andintothelake.
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5wiab10
"Throwoutsomething--somethingmore!"criedthedoctor.
"Thereisnothingmoretothrow!"wasKennedy's
despairingresponse.
"Yes,thereis!"calledJoe,andwithawaveofthehand
hedisappearedlikeaflash,overtheedgeofthecar.
"Joe!Joe!"exclaimedthedoctor,horror-stricken.
TheVictoriathusrelievedresumedherascendingmotion,
mountedathousandfeetintotheair,andthewind,
buryingitselfinthedisinflatedcovering,borethemaway
towardthenorthernpartofthelake.
"Lost!"exclaimedthesportsman,withagestureofdespair.
"Losttosaveus!"respondedFerguson.
Andthesemen,intrepidastheywere,feltthelarge
tearsstreamingdowntheircheeks.Theyleanedover
withthevainhopeofseeingsometraceoftheirheroic
companion,buttheywerealreadyfarawayfromhim.
"Whatcourseshallwepursue?"askedKennedy.
"Alightassoonaspossible,Dick,andthenwait."
AfterasweepofsomesixtymilestheVictoriahalted
onadesertshore,onthenorthofthelake.Theanchors
caughtinalowtreeandthesportsmanfasteneditsecurely.
Nightcame,butneitherFergusonnorKennedycould
findonemoment'ssleep.
CHAPTERTHlRTY-THlRD.
Conjectures.--ReestablishmentoftheVictoria'sEquilibrium.--Dr.
Ferguson'sNewCalculations.--Kennedy'sHunt.--ACompleteExploration
ofLakeTchad.--Tangalia.--TheReturn.--Lari.
Onthemorrow,the13thofMay,ourtravellers,for
thefirsttime,reconnoitredthepartofthecoastonwhich
theyhadlanded.ltwasasortofislandofsolidground
inthemidstofanimmensemarsh.Aroundthisfragment
ofterrafirmagrewreedsasloftyastreesareinEurope,
andstretchingawayoutofsight.
Theseimpenetrableswampsgavesecuritytotheposition
oftheballoon.ltwasnecessarytowatchonlythe
bordersofthelake.Thevaststretchofwaterbroadened
awayfromthespot,especiallytowardtheeast,andnothing
couldbeseenonthehorizon,neithermainlandnorislands.
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5wiab10
Thetwofriendshadnotyetventuredtospeakoftheir
recentcompanion.Kennedyfirstimpartedhisconjectures
tothedoctor.
"PerhapsJoeisnotlostafterall,"hesaid."Hewas
askilfullad,andhadfewequalsasaswimmer.Hewould
findnodifficultyinswimmingacrosstheFirthofForthat
Edinburgh.Weshallseehimagain--buthowandwhere
lknownot.Letusomitnothingonourparttogivehim
thechanceofrejoiningus."
"MayGodgrantitasyousay,Dick!"repliedthe
doctor,withmuchemotion."Weshalldoeverythingin
theworldtofindourlostfriendagain.Letus,inthefirst
place,seewhereweare.But,aboveallthings,letusrid
theVictoriaofthisoutsidecovering,whichisofnofurther
use.Thatwillrelieveusofsixhundredandfiftypounds,
aweightnottobedespised--andtheendisworththe
trouble!"
ThedoctorandKennedywenttoworkatonce,but
theyencounteredgreatdifficulty.Theyhadtotearthe
strongsilkawaypiecebypiece,andthencutitinnarrow
stripssoastoextricateitfromthemeshesofthenetwork.
Thetearmadebythebeaksofthecondorswasfoundto
beseveralfeetinlength.
Thisoperationtookatleastfourhours,butatlength
theinnerballoononcecompletelyextricateddidnotappear
tohavesufferedintheleastdegree.TheVictoriawas
thusdiminishedinsizebyonefifth,andthisdifference
wassufficientlynoticeabletoexciteKennedy'ssurprise.
"Willitbelargeenough?"heasked.
"Havenofearsonthatscore,lwillreestablishthe
equilibrium,andshouldourpoorJoereturnweshallfind
awaytostartoffwithhimagainonouroldroute."
"Atthemomentofourfall,unlesslammistaken,we
werenotfarfromanisland."
"Yes,lrecollectit,"saidthedoctor,"butthatisland,
likealltheislandsonLakeTchad,is,nodoubt,inhabited
byagangofpiratesandmurderers.Theycertainlywitnessed
ourmisfortune,andshouldJoefallintotheirhands,what
willbecomeofhimunlessprotectedbytheirsuperstitions?"
"Oh,he'sjusttheladtogetsafelyoutofthescrape,lrepeat.
lhavegreatconfidenceinhisshrewdnessandskill."
"lhopeso.Now,Dick,youmaygoandhuntinthe
neighborhood,butdon'tgetfarawaywhateveryoudo.
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5wiab10
lthasbecomeapressingnecessityforustorenewour
stockofprovisions,sincewehadtosacrificenearlyallthe
oldlot."
"Verygood,doctor,lshallnotbelongabsent."
Hereupon,Kennedytookadouble-barrelledfowling-piece,
andstrodethroughthelonggrasstowardathicket
notfaroff,wherethefrequentsoundofshootingsoonlet
thedoctorknowthatthesportsmanwasmakingagood
useofhistime.
MeanwhileFergusonwasengagedincalculatingthe
relativeweightofthearticlesstillleftinthecar,andin
establishingtheequipoiseofthesecondballoon.Hefound
thattherewerestillleftsomethirtypoundsofpemmican,
asupplyofteaandcoffee,aboutagallonandahalfof
brandy,andoneemptywater-tank.Allthedriedmeat
haddisappeared.
Thedoctorwasawarethat,bythelossofthehydrogen
inthefirstballoon,theascensionalforceathisdisposal
wasnowreducedtoaboutninehundredpounds.He
thereforehadtocountuponthisdifferenceinorderto
rearrangehisequilibrium.Thenewballoonmeasuredsixty-seven
thousandcubicfeet,andcontainedthirty-three
thousandfourhundredandeightyfeetofgas.Thedilating
apparatusappearedtobeingoodcondition,andneither
thebatterynorthespiralhadbeeninjured.
Theascensionalforceofthenewballoonwasthen
aboutthreethousandpounds,and,inaddingtogetherthe
weightoftheapparatus,ofthepassengers,ofthestockof
water,ofthecaranditsaccessories,andputtingaboard
fiftygallonsofwater,andonehundredpoundsoffresh
meat,thedoctorgotatotalweightoftwenty-eighthundred
andthirtypounds.Hecouldthentakewithhimone
hundredandseventypoundsofballast,forunforeseen
emergencies,andtheballoonwouldbeinexactbalance
withthesurroundingatmosphere.
Hisarrangementswerecompletedaccordingly,andhe
madeupforJoe'sweightwithasurplusofballast.He
spentthewholedayinthesepreparations,andthelatter
werefinishedwhenKennedyreturned.Thehunterhad
beensuccessful,andbroughtbackaregularcargoofgeese,
wild-duck,snipe,teal,andplover.Hewenttoworkat
oncetodrawandsmokethegame.Eachpiece,suspended
onasmall,thinskewer,washungoverafireofgreen
wood.Whentheyseemedingoodorder,Kennedy,who
wasperfectlyathomeinthebusiness,packedthemaway
inthecar.
Onthemorrow,thehunterwastocompletehissupplies.
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5wiab10
Eveningsurprisedourtravellersinthemidstofthis
work.Theirsupperconsistedofpemmican,biscuit,and
tea;andfatigue,afterhavinggiventhemappetite,brought
themsleep.Eachofthemstrainedeyesandearsintothe
gloomduringhiswatch,sometimesfancyingthatthey
heardthevoiceofpoorJoe;but,alas!thevoicethat
theysolongedtohear,wasfaraway.
"Atthefirststreakofday,thedoctorarousedKennedy.
"lhavebeenlongandcarefullyconsideringwhat
shouldbedone,"saidhe,"tofindourcompanion."
"Whateveryourplanmaybe,doctor,itwillsuitme.Speak!"
"Aboveallthings,itisimportantthatJoeshouldhear
fromusinsomeway."
"Undoubtedly.Supposethebravefellowshouldtake
itintohisheadthatwehaveabandonedhim?"
"He!Heknowsustoowellforthat.Suchathought
wouldnevercomeintohismind.Buthemustbeinformed
astowhereweare."
"Howcanthatbemanaged?"
"Weshallgetintoourcarandbeoffagainthrough
theair."
"But,shouldthewindbearusaway?"
"Happily,itwillnot.See,Dick!itiscarryingus
backtothelake;andthiscircumstance,whichwould
havebeenvexatiousyesterday,isfortunatenow.Our
efforts,then,willbelimitedtokeepingourselvesabove
thatvastsheetofwaterthroughouttheday.Joecannot
failtoseeus,andhiseyeswillbeconstantlyonthe
lookoutinthatdirection.Perhapshewillevenmanageto
letusknowtheplaceofhisretreat."
"lfhebealoneandatliberty,hecertainlywill."
"Andifaprisoner,"resumedthedoctor,"itnotbeing
thepracticeofthenativestoconfinetheircaptives,hewill
seeus,andcomprehendtheobjectofourresearches."
"But,atlast,"putinKennedy--"forwemustanticipate
everything--shouldwefindnotrace--ifheshould
haveleftnomarktofollowhimby,whatarewetodo?"
"Weshallendeavortoregainthenorthernpartof
thelake,keepingourselvesasmuchinsightaspossible.
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5wiab10
Therewe'llwait;we'llexplorethebanks;we'llsearch
thewater'sedge,forJoewillassuredlytrytoreachthe
shore;andwewillnotleavethecountrywithouthaving
doneeverythingtofindhim."
"Letussetout,then!"saidthehunter.
Thedoctorhereupontooktheexactbearingsofthe
patchofsolidlandtheywereabouttoleave,andarrived
attheconclusionthatitlayonthenorthshoreofLake
Tchad,betweenthevillageofLariandthevillageof
lngemini,bothvisitedbyMajorDenham.Duringthis
timeKennedywascompletinghisstockoffreshmeat.
Althoughtheneighboringmarshesshowedtracesofthe
rhinoceros,thelamantine(ormanatee),andthehippopotamus,
hehadnoopportunitytoseeasinglespecimenof
thoseanimals.
Atseveninthemorning,butnotwithoutgreatdifficulty
--whichtoJoewouldhavebeennothing--theballoon's
anchorwasdetachedfromitshold,thegasdilated,
andthenewVictoriarosetwohundredfeetintotheair.
ltseemedtohesitateatfirst,andwentspinningaround,
likeatop;butatlastabriskcurrentcaughtit,andit
advancedoverthelake,andwassoonborneawayata
speedoftwentymilesperhour.
Thedoctorcontinuedtokeepataheightoffromtwo
hundredtofivehundredfeet.Kennedyfrequentlydischarged
hisrifle;and,whenpassingoverislands,the
aeronautsapproachedthemevenimprudently,scrutinizing
thethickets,thebushes,theunderbrush--infine,everyspot
whereamassofshadeorjuttingrockcouldhaveafforded
aretreattotheircompanion.Theyswoopeddownclose
tothelongpiroguesthatnavigatedthelake;andthe
wildfishermen,terrifiedatthesightoftheballoon,would
plungeintothewaterandregaintheirislandswithevery
symptomofundisguisedaffright.
"Wecanseenothing,"saidKennedy,aftertwohours
ofsearch.
"Letuswaitalittlelonger,Dick,andnotloseheart.
Wecannotbefarawayfromthesceneofouraccident."
Byeleveno'clocktheballoonhadgoneninetymiles.
ltthenfellinwithanewcurrent,which,blowingalmost
atrightanglestotheother,drovethemeastwardabout
sixtymiles.ltnextfloatedoveraverylargeandpopulous
island,whichthedoctortooktobeFarram,onwhich
thecapitaloftheBiddiomahsissituated.Fergusonexpected
ateverymomenttoseeJoespringupoutofsome
thicket,flyingforhislife,andcallingforhelp.Werehe
free,theycouldpickhimupwithouttrouble;werehea
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5wiab10
prisoner,theycouldrescuehimbyrepeatingthemanoeuvre
theyhadpractisedtosavethemissionary,andhewould
soonbewithhisfriendsagain;butnothingwasseen,not
asoundwasheard.Thecaseseemeddesperate.
Abouthalf-pasttwoo'clock,theVictoriahoveinsight
ofTangalia,avillagesituatedontheeasternshoreof
LakeTchad,whereitmarkstheextremepointattained
byDenhamattheperiodofhisexploration.
Thedoctorbecameuneasyatthispersistentsetting
ofthewindinthatdirection,forhefeltthathewasbeing
thrownbacktotheeastward,towardthecentreofAfrica,
andtheinterminabledesertsofthatregion.
"Wemustabsolutelycometoahalt,"saidhe,"and
evenalight.ForJoe'ssake,particularly,weoughtto
gobacktothelake;but,tobeginwith,letusendeavor
tofindanoppositecurrent."
Duringmorethananhourhesearchedatdifferent
altitudes:theballoonalwayscamebacktowardthemainland.
Butatlength,attheheightofathousandfeet,a
veryviolentbreezeswepttothenorthwestward.
ltwasoutofthequestionthatJoeshouldhavebeen
detainedononeoftheislandsofthelake;for,insuchcase
hewouldcertainlyhavefoundmeanstomakehispresence
thereknown.Perhapshehadbeendraggedtothemainland.
Thedoctorwasreasoningthustohimself,whenhe
againcameinsightofthenorthernshoreofLakeTchad.
AsforsupposingthatJoehadbeendrowned,thatwas
nottobebelievedforamoment.Onehorriblethought
glancedacrossthemindsofbothKennedyandthedoctor:
caymansswarminthesewaters!Butneitherone
northeotherhadthecouragetodistinctlycommunicate
thisimpression.However,itcameuptothemsoforcibly
atlastthatthedoctorsaid,withoutfurtherpreface:
"Crocodilesarefoundonlyontheshoresoftheislands
orofthelake,andJoewillhaveskillenoughtoavoid
them.Besides,theyarenotverydangerous;andthe
Africansbathewithimpunity,andquitefearlessoftheir
attacks."
Kennedymadenoreply.Hepreferredkeepingquiet
todiscussingthisterriblepossibility.
ThedoctormadeoutthetownofLariaboutfive
o'clockintheevening.Theinhabitantswereatwork
gatheringintheircotton-cropinfrontoftheirhuts,
constructedofwovenreeds,andstandinginthemidstofclean
andneatly-keptenclosures.Thiscollectionofaboutfifty
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5wiab10
habitationsoccupiedaslightdepressionofthesoil,ina
valleyextendingbetweentwolowmountains.Theforce
ofthewindcarriedthedoctorfartheronwardthanhe
wantedtogo;butitchangedasecondtime,andbore
himbackexactlytohisstarting-point,onthesortof
enclosedislandwherehehadpassedtheprecedingnight.
Theanchor,insteadofcatchingthebranchesofthetree,
tookholdinthemassesofreedsmixedwiththethickmud
ofthemarshes,whichofferedconsiderableresistance.
Thedoctorhadmuchdifficultyinrestrainingtheballoon;
butatlengththewinddiedawaywiththesetting
inofnightfall;andthetwofriendskeptwatchtogether
inanalmostdesperatestateofmind.
CHAPTERTHlRTY-FOURTH.
TheHurricane.--AForcedDeparture.--LossofanAnchor.--Melancholy
Reflections.--TheResolutionadopted.--TheSand-Storm.--TheBuried
Caravan.--AContraryyetFavorableWind.--TheReturnsouthward.--Kennedy
athisPost.
Atthreeo'clockinthemorningthewindwasraging.
ltbeatdownwithsuchviolencethattheVictoriacould
notstaynearthegroundwithoutdanger.ltwasthrown
almostflatoveruponitsside,andthereedschafedthe
silksoroughlythatitseemedasthoughtheywouldtearit.
"Wemustbeoff,Dick,"saidthedoctor;"wecannot
remaininthissituation."
"But,doctor,whatofJoe?"
"lamnotlikelytoabandonhim.No,indeed!and
shouldthehurricanecarrymeathousandmilestothe
northward,lwillreturn!Buthereweareendangering
thesafetyofall."
"Mustwegowithouthim?"askedtheScot,withan
accentofprofoundgrief.
"Anddoyouthink,then,"rejoinedFerguson,"that
myheartdoesnotbleedlikeyourown?Amlnotmerely
obeyinganimperiousnecessity?"
"lamentirelyatyourorders,"repliedthehunter;
"letusstart!"
Buttheirdeparturewassurroundedwithunusualdifficulty.
Theanchor,whichhadcaughtverydeeply,resistedall
theireffortstodisengageit;whiletheballoon,
drawingintheoppositedirection,increaseditstension.
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5wiab10
Kennedycouldnotgetitfree.Besides,inhispresent
position,themanoeuvrehadbecomeaveryperilousone,
fortheVictoriathreatenedtobreakawaybeforeheshould
beabletogetintothecaragain.
Thedoctor,unwillingtorunsucharisk,madehis
friendgetintohisplace,andresignedhimselftothe
alternativeofcuttingtheanchor-rope.TheVictoriamade
oneboundofthreehundredfeetintotheair,andtookher
routedirectlynorthward.
Fergusonhadnootherchoicethantoscudbeforethe
storm.Hefoldedhisarms,andsoonbecameabsorbedin
hisownmelancholyreflections.
Afterafewmomentsofprofoundsilence,heturnedto
Kennedy,whosattherenolesstaciturn.
"Wehave,perhaps,beentemptingProvidence,"said
he;"itdoesnotbelongtomantoundertakesuchajourney!"
--andasighofgriefescapedhimashespoke.
"ltisbutafewdays,"repliedthesportsman,"since
wewerecongratulatingourselvesuponhavingescapedso
manydangers!Allthreeofuswereshakinghands!"
"PoorJoe!kindlyandexcellentdisposition!brave
andcandidheart!Dazzledforamomentbyhissudden
discoveryofwealth,hewillinglysacrificedhistreasures!
Andnow,heisfarfromus;andthewindiscarryingus
stillfartherawaywithresistlessspeed!"
"Come,doctor,admittingthathemayhavefound
refugeamongthelaketribes,canhenotdoasthetravellers
whovisitedthembeforeus,did;--likeDenham,like
Barth?Bothofthosemengotbacktotheirowncountry."
"Ah!mydearDick!Joedoesn'tknowonewordof
thelanguage;heisalone,andwithoutresources.The
travellersofwhomyouspeakdidnotattempttogoforward
withoutsendingmanypresentsinadvanceofthem
tothechiefs,andsurroundedbyanescortarmedand
trainedfortheseexpeditions.Yet,theycouldnotavoid
sufferingsoftheworstdescription!What,then,canyou
expectthefateofourcompaniontobe?ltishorribleto
thinkof,andthisisoneoftheworstcalamitiesthatithas
everbeenmylottoendure!"
"But,we'llcomebackagain,doctor!"
"Comeback,Dick?Yes,ifwehavetoabandonthe
balloon!ifweshouldbeforcedtoreturntoLakeTchad
onfoot,andputourselvesincommunicationwiththe
SultanofBornou!TheArabscannothaveretainedadisagreeable
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5wiab10
remembranceofthefirstEuropeans."
"lwillfollowyou,doctor,"repliedthehunter,with
emphasis."Youmaycountuponme!Wewouldrather
giveuptheideaofprosecutingthisjourneythannot
return.Joeforgothimselfforoursake;wewillsacrifice
ourselvesforhis!"
Thisresolverevivedsomehopeintheheartsofthese
twomen;theyfeltstronginthesameinspiration.Ferguson
forthwithseteverythingatworktogetintoacontrary
current,thatmightbringhimbackagaintoLake
Tchad;butthiswasimpracticableatthatmoment,and
eventoalightwasoutofthequestionongroundcompletely
bareoftrees,andwithsuchahurricaneblowing.
TheVictoriathuspassedoverthecountryoftheTibbous,
crossedtheBeladelDjerid,adesertofbriersthat
formstheborderoftheSoudan,andadvancedintothe
desertofsandstreakedwiththelongtracksofthemany
caravansthatpassandrepassthere.Thelastlineofvegetation
wasspeedilylostinthedimsouthernhorizon,notfar
fromtheprincipaloasisinthispartofAfrica,whosefifty
wellsareshadedbymagnificenttrees;butitwasimpossible
tostop.AnArabencampment,tentsofstriped
stuff,somecamels,stretchingouttheirviper-likeheads
andnecksalongthesand,gavelifetothissolitude,but
theVictoriaspedbylikeashooting-star,andinthisway
traversedadistanceofsixtymilesinthreehours,without
Fergusonbeingabletocheckorguidehercourse.
"Wecannothalt,wecannotalight!"saidthedoctor;
"notatree,notaninequalityoftheground!Are
wethentobedrivenclearacrossSahara?Surely,Heaven
isindeedagainstus!"
Hewasutteringthesewordswithasortofdespairing
rage,whensuddenlyhesawthedesertsandsrisingaloft
inthemidstofadensecloudofdust,andgowhirling
throughtheair,impelledbyopposingcurrents.
Amidthistornado,anentirecaravan,disorganized,
broken,andoverthrown,wasdisappearingbeneathan
avalancheofsand.Thecamels,flungpell-melltogether,
wereutteringdullandpitifulgroans;criesandhowlsof
despairwereheardissuingfromthatdustyandstifling
cloud,and,fromtimetotime,aparti-coloredgarmentcut
thechaosofthescenewithitsvividhues,andthemoaning
andshriekingsoundedoverall,aterribleaccompaniment
tothisspectacleofdestruction.
Erelongthesandhadaccumulatedincompactmasses;
andthere,wheresorecentlystretchedalevelplainasfar
astheeyecouldsee,rosenowaridgylineofhillocks,
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5wiab10
stillmovingfrombeneath--thevasttombofanentire
caravan!
ThedoctorandKennedy,pallidwithemotion,sat
transfixedbythisfearfulspectacle.Theycouldnolonger
managetheirballoon,whichwentwhirlingroundand
roundincontendingcurrents,andrefusedtoobeythe
differentdilationsofthegas.Caughtintheseeddiesof
theatmosphere,itspunaboutwitharapiditythatmade
theirheadsreel,whilethecaroscillatedandswungtoand
froviolentlyatthesametime.Theinstrumentssuspended
undertheawningclatteredtogetherasthoughtheywould
bedashedtopieces;thepipesofthespiralbenttoandfro,
threateningtobreakateveryinstant;andthewater-tanks
jostledandjarredwithtremendousdin.Althoughbut
twofeetapart,ouraeronautscouldnotheareachother
speak,butwithfirmly-clinchedhandstheyclungconvulsively
tothecordage,andendeavoredtosteadythemselves
againstthefuryofthetempest.
Kennedy,withhishairblownwildlyabouthisface,
lookedonwithoutspeaking;butthedoctorhadregained
allhisdaringinthemidstofthisdeadlyperil,andnota
signofhisemotionwasbetrayedinhiscountenance,even
when,afteralastviolenttwirl,theVictoriastoppedsuddenly
inthemidstofamostunlooked-forcalm;thenorth
windhadabruptlygottheupperhand,andnowdroveher
backwithequalrapidityovertherouteshehadtraversed
inthemorning.
"Whitherarewegoingnow?"criedKennedy.
"LetusleavethattoProvidence,mydearDick;l
waswrongindoubtingit.ltknowsbetterthanwe,and
hereweare,returningtoplacesthatwehadexpected
nevertoseeagain!"
Thesurfaceofthecountry,whichhadlookedsoflat
andlevelwhentheywerecoming,nowseemedtossedand
uneven,liketheocean-billowsafterastorm;alongsuccession
ofhillocks,thathadscarcelysettledtotheirplaces
yet,indentedthedesert;thewindblewfuriously,andthe
balloonfairlyflewthroughtheatmosphere.
Thedirectiontakenbyouraeronautsdifferedsomewhat
fromthatofthemorning,andthusaboutnineo'clock,
insteadoffindingthemselvesagainnearthebordersof
LakeTchad,theysawthedesertstillstretchingaway
beforethem.
Kennedyremarkedthecircumstance.
"ltmatterslittle,"repliedthedoctor,"theimportant
pointistoreturnsouthward;weshallcomeacrossthe
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5wiab10
townsofBornou,Wouddie,orKouka,andlshouldnot
hesitatetohaltthere."
"lfyouaresatisfied,lamcontent,"repliedtheScot,
"butHeavengrantthatwemaynotbereducedtocross
thedesert,asthoseunfortunateArabshadtodo!What
wesawwasfrightful!"
"ltoftenhappens,Dick;thesetripsacrossthedesert
arefarmoreperilousthanthoseacrosstheocean.The
deserthasallthedangersofthesea,includingtheriskof
beingswallowedup,andaddedtheretoareunendurable
fatiguesandprivations."
"lthinkthewindshowssomesymptomsofmoderating;
thesand-dustislessdense;theundulationsofthe
surfacearediminishing,andtheskyisgrowingclearer."
"Somuchthebetter!Wemustnowreconnoitreattentively
withourglasses,andtakecarenottoomita
singlepoint."
"lwilllookoutforthat,doctor,andnotatreeshall
beseenwithoutmyinformingyouofit."
And,suitingtheactiontotheword,Kennedytookhis
station,spy-glassinhand,attheforwardpartofthecar.
CHAPTERTHlRTY-FlFTH.
WhathappenedtoJoe.--ThelslandoftheBiddiomahs.--TheAdoration
shownhim.--Thelslandthatsank.--TheShoresoftheLake.--TheTree
oftheSerpents.--TheFoot-Tramp.--TerribleSuffering.--Mosquitoes
andAnts.--Hunger.--TheVictoriaseen.--Shedisappears.--TheSwamp.
--OneLastDespairingCry.
WhathadbecomeofJoe,whilehismasterwasthus
vainlyseekingforhim?
Whenhehaddashedheadlongintothelake,hisfirst
movementoncomingtothesurfacewastoraisehiseyes
andlookupward.HesawtheVictoriaalreadyrisenfar
abovethewater,stillrapidlyascendingandgrowing
smallerandsmaller.ltwassooncaughtinarapidcurrent
anddisappearedtothenorthward.Hismaster--both
hisfriendsweresaved!
"Howluckyitwas,"thoughthe,"thatlhadthat
ideatothrowmyselfoutintothelake!Mr.Kennedy
wouldsoonhavejumpedatit,andhewouldnothave
hesitatedtodoasldid,fornothing'smorenaturalthan
foronemantogivehimselfuptosavetwoothers.That's
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5wiab10
mathematics!"
Satisfiedonthispoint,Joebegantothinkofhimself.
Hewasinthemiddleofavastlake,surroundedbytribes
unknowntohim,andprobablyferocious.Allthegreater
reasonwhyheshouldgetoutofthescrapebydepending
onlyonhimself.Andsohegavehimselfnofartherconcern
aboutit.
Beforetheattackbythebirdsofprey,which,according
tohim,hadbehavedlikerealcondors,hehadnoticed
anislandonthehorizon,anddeterminingtoreachit,if
possible,heputforthallhisknowledgeandskillintheart
ofswimming,afterhavingrelievedhimselfofthemost
troublesomepartofhisclothing.Theideaofastretch
offiveorsixmilesbynomeansdisconcertedhim;and
therefore,solongashewasintheopenlake,hethought
onlyofstrikingoutstraightaheadandmanfully.
lnaboutanhourandahalfthedistancebetweenhim
andtheislandhadgreatlydiminished.
Butasheapproachedtheland,athought,atfirstfleeting
andthentenacious,aroseinhismind.Heknewthat
theshoresofthelakewerefrequentedbyhugealligators,
andwaswellawareofthevoracityofthosemonsters.
Now,nomatterhowmuchhewasinclinedtofind
everythinginthisworldquitenatural,theworthyfellow
wasnolittledisturbedbythisreflection.Hefearedgreatly
lestwhitefleshlikehismightbeparticularlyacceptable
tothedreadedbrutes,andadvancedonlywithextreme
precaution,hiseyesonthealertonbothsidesandall
aroundhim.Atlength,hewasnotmorethanonehundred
yardsfromabank,coveredwithgreentrees,when
apuffofairstronglyimpregnatedwithamuskyodor
reachedhim.
"There!"saidhetohimself,"justwhatlexpected.
Thecrocodileisn'tfaroff!"
Withthishedivedswiftly,butnotsufficientlysoto
avoidcomingintocontactwithanenormousbody,the
scalysurfaceofwhichscratchedhimashepassed.He
thoughthimselflostandswamwithdesperateenergy.
Thenheroseagaintothetopofthewater,tookbreath
anddivedoncemore.Thuspassedafewminutesofunspeakable
anguish,whichallhisphilosophycouldnotovercome,
forhethought,allthewhile,thatheheardbehind
himthesoundofthosehugejawsreadytosnaphimup
forever.lnthisstateofmindhewasstrikingoutunder
thewaterasnoiselesslyaspossiblewhenhefelthimself
seizedbythearmandthenbythewaist.
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5wiab10
PoorJoe!hegaveonelastthoughttohismaster;and
begantostrugglewithalltheenergyofdespair,feeling
himselfthewhiledrawnalong,butnottowardthebottom
ofthelake,asisthehabitofthecrocodilewhenaboutto
devouritsprey,buttowardthesurface.
Sosoonashecouldgetbreathandlookaroundhim,
hesawthathewasbetweentwonativesasblackasebony,
whoheldhim,withafirmgripe,andutteredstrangecries.
"Ha!"saidJoe,"blacksinsteadofcrocodiles!Well,
lpreferitasitis;buthowinthemischiefdarethese
fellowsgoinbathinginsuchplaces?"
Joewasnotawarethattheinhabitantsoftheislands
ofLakeTchad,likemanyothernegrotribes,plungewith
impunityintosheetsofwaterinfestedwithcrocodilesand
caymans,andwithouttroublingtheirheadsaboutthem.
Theamphibiousdenizensofthislakeenjoythewell-deserved
reputationofbeingquiteinoffensive.
ButhadnotJoeescapedoneperilonlytofallinto
another?Thatwasaquestionwhichhelefteventsto
decide;and,sincehecouldnotdootherwise,heallowed
himselftobeconductedtotheshorewithoutmanifesting
anyalarm.
"Evidently,"thoughthe,"thesechapssawtheVictoria
skimmingthewatersofthelake,likeamonsterofthe
air.Theywerethedistantwitnessesofmytumble,and
theycan'tfailtohavesomerespectforamanthatfell
fromthesky!Letthemhavetheirownway,then."
Joewasatthisstageofhismeditations,whenhewas
landedamidayellingcrowdofbothsexes,andallages
andsizes,butnotofallcolors.lnfine,hewassurrounded
byatribeofBiddiomahsasblackasjet.Norhadheto
blushforthescantinessofhiscostume,forhesawthathe
wasin"undress"inthehigheststyleofthatcountry.
Butbeforehehadtimetoformanexactideaofthe
situation,therewasnomistakingtheagitationofwhich
heinstantlybecametheobject,andthissoonenabledhim
topluckupcourage,althoughtheadventureofKazahdid
comebackrathervividlytohismemory.
"lforeseethattheyaregoingtomakeagodofme
again,"thoughthe,"somesonofthemoonmostlikely.
Well,onetrade'sasgoodasanotherwhenamanhasno
choice.Themainthingistogaintime.Shouldthe
Victoriapassthiswayagain,l'lltakeadvantageofmy
newpositiontotreatmyworshippersheretoamiracle
whenlgosailingupintothesky!"
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5wiab10
WhileJoe'sthoughtswererunningthus,thethrong
pressedaroundhim.Theyprostratedthemselvesbefore
him;theyhowled;theyfelthim;theybecameevenannoyingly
familiar;butatthesametimetheyhadtheconsideration
toofferhimasuperbbanquetconsistingofsour
milkandricepoundedinhoney.Theworthyfellow,
makingthebestofeverything,tookoneoftheheartiest
luncheonsheeverateinhislife,andgavehisnewadorers
anexaltedideaofhowthegodstuckawaytheirfoodupon
grandoccasions.
Wheneveningcame,thesorcerersoftheislandtook
himrespectfullybythehand,andconductedhimtoasort
ofhousesurroundedwithtalismans;but,ashewasentering
it,Joecastanuneasylookattheheapsofhuman
bonesthatlayscatteredaroundthissanctuary.Buthe
hadstillmoretimetothinkaboutthemwhenhefound
himselfatlastshutupinthecabin.
Duringtheeveningandthroughapartofthenight,
heheardfestivechantings,thereverberationsofakind
ofdrum,andaclatterofoldiron,whichwereverysweet,
nodoubt,toAfricanears.Thentherewerehowling
choruses,accompaniedbyendlessdancesbygangsof
nativeswhocircledroundandroundthesacredhutwith
contortionsandgrimaces.
Joecouldcatchthesoundofthisdeafeningorchestra,
throughthemudandreedsofwhichhiscabinwasbuilt;
andperhapsunderothercircumstanceshemighthavebeen
amusedbythesestrangeceremonies;buthismindwas
soondisturbedbyquitedifferentandlessagreeablereflections.
Evenlookingatthebrightsideofthings,hefound
itbothstupidandsadtobeleftaloneinthemidstofthis
savagecountryandamongthesewildtribes.Fewtravellers
whohadpenetratedtotheseregionshadeveragain
seentheirnativeland.Moreover,couldhetrusttothe
worshipofwhichhesawhimselftheobject?Hehad
goodreasontobelieveinthevanityofhumangreatness;
andheaskedhimselfwhether,inthiscountry,adoration
didnotsometimesgotothelengthofeatingtheobject
adored!
But,notwithstandingthisratherperplexingprospect,
aftersomehoursofmeditation,fatiguegotthebetterof
hisgloomythoughts,andJoefellintoaprofoundslumber,
whichwouldhavelastednodoubtuntilsunrise,had
notaveryunexpectedsensationofdampnessawakened
thesleeper.Erelongthisdampnessbecamewater,and
thatwatergainedsorapidlythatithadsoonmounted
toJoe'swaist.
"Whatcanthisbe?"saidhe;"aflood!awater-spout!
oranewtortureinventedbytheseblacks?Faith,though,
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5wiab10
l'mnotgoingtowaitheretillit'suptomyneck!"
And,sosaying,heburstthroughthefrailwallwith
ajogofhispowerfulshoulder,andfoundhimself--where?
--intheopenlake!lslandtherewasnone.lthadsunk
duringthenight.lnitsplace,thewateryimmensityof
LakeTchad!
"Apoorcountryfortheland-owners!"saidJoe,oncemore
vigorouslyresortingtohisskillintheartofnatation.
Oneofthosephenomena,whicharebynomeansunusual
onLakeTchad,hadliberatedourbraveJoe.Morethan
oneisland,thatpreviouslyseemedtohavethesolidity
ofrock,hasbeensubmergedinthisway;andthepeople
livingalongtheshoresofthemainlandhavehadto
pickuptheunfortunatesurvivorsoftheseterriblecatastrophes.
Joeknewnothingaboutthispeculiarityoftheregion,
buthewasnonethelessreadytoprofitbyit.Hecaught
sightofaboatdriftingabout,withoutoccupants,andwas
soonaboardofit.Hefoundittobebutthetrunkofa
treerudelyhollowedout;buttherewereacoupleof
paddlesinit,andJoe,availinghimselfofarapidcurrent,
allowedhiscrafttofloatalong.
"Butletusseewhereweare,"hesaid."Thepolar-star
there,thatdoesitsworkhonorablyinpointingout
thedirectionduenorthtoeverybodyelse,will,mostlikely,
domethatservice."
Hediscovered,withsatisfaction,thatthecurrentwas
takinghimtowardthenorthernshoreofthelake,andhe
allowedhimselftoglidewithit.Abouttwoo'clockinthe
morninghedisembarkeduponapromontorycoveredwith
pricklyreeds,thatprovedveryprovokingandinconvenient
eventoaphilosopherlikehim;butatreegrew
thereexpresslytoofferhimabedamongitsbranches,
andJoeclimbedupintoitforgreatersecurity,andthere,
withoutsleepingmuch,however,awaitedthedawnofday.
Whenmorninghadcomewiththatsuddennesswhich
ispeculiartotheequatorialregions,Joecastaglanceat
thetreewhichhadshelteredhimduringthelastfew
hours,andbeheldasightthatchilledthemarrowinhis
bones.Thebranchesofthetreewereliterallycovered
withsnakesandchameleons!Thefoliageactuallywas
hiddenbeneaththeircoils,sothatthebeholdermight
havefanciedthathesawbeforehimanewkindoftree
thatborereptilesforitsleavesandfruit.Andallthis
horriblelivingmasswrithedandtwistedinthefirstrays
ofthemorningsun!Joeexperiencedakeensensation
orterrormingledwithdisgust,ashelookedatit,andhe
leapedprecipitatelyfromthetreeamidthehissingsof
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5wiab10
thesenewandunwelcomebedfellows.
"Now,there'ssomethingthatlwouldneverhavebelieved!"
saidhe.
HewasnotawarethatDr.Vogel'slastlettershad
madeknownthissingularfeatureoftheshoresofLake
Tchad,wherereptilesaremorenumerousthaninany
otherpartoftheworld.Butafterwhathehadjustseen,
Joedeterminedtobemorecircumspectforthefuture;
and,takinghisbearingsbythesun,hesetoffafoottoward
thenortheast,avoidingwiththeutmostcarecabins,huts,
hovels,anddensofeverydescription,thatmightserve
inanymannerasashelterforhumanbeings.
Howoftenhisgazewasturnedupwardtothesky!
Hehopedtocatchaglimpse,eachtime,oftheVictoria;
and,althoughhelookedvainlyduringallthatlong,
fatiguingdayofsorefoot-travel,hisconfidentrelianceon
hismasterremainedundiminished.Greatenergyofcharacter
wasneededtoenablehimthustosustainthesituation
withphilosophy.Hungerconspiredwithfatigueto
crushhim,foraman'ssystemisnotgreatlyrestoredand
fortifiedbyadietofroots,thepithofplants,suchasthe
Mele,orthefruitofthedoumpalm-tree;andyet,according
tohisowncalculations,Joewasenabledtopushon
abouttwentymilestothewestward.
Hisbodyboreinscoresofplacesthemarksofthe
thornswithwhichthelake-reeds,theacacias,themimosas,
andotherwildshrubberythroughwhichhehadtoforce
hisway,arethicklystudded;andhistornandbleeding
feetrenderedwalkingbothpainfulanddifficult.Butat
lengthhemanagedtoreactagainstallthesesufferings;
andwheneveningcameagain,heresolvedtopassthe
nightontheshoresofLakeTchad.
Therehehadtoendurethebitesofmyriadsofinsects
--gnats,mosquitoes,antshalfaninchlong,literally
coveredtheground;and,inlessthantwohours,Joehad
notaragremainingofthegarmentsthathadcoveredhim,
theinsectshavingdevouredthem!ltwasaterriblenight,
thatdidnotyieldourexhaustedtravelleranhourofsleep.
Duringallthistimethewild-boarsandnativebuffaloes,
reenforcedbytheajoub--averydangerousspeciesoflamantine
--carriedontheirferociousrevelsinthebushes
andunderthewatersofthelake,fillingthenightwitha
hideousconcert.Joedaredscarcelybreathe.Evenhis
courageandcoolnesshadhardworktobearupagainstso
terribleasituation.
Atlength,daycameagain,andJoesprangtohisfeet
precipitately;butjudgeoftheloathinghefeltwhenhe
sawwhatspeciesofcreaturehadsharedhiscouch--a
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5wiab10
toad!--butatoadfiveinchesinlength,amonstrous,
repulsivespecimenofverminthatsattherestaringathim
withhugeroundeyes.Joefelthisstomachrevoltatthe
sight,and,regainingalittlestrengthfromtheintensity
ofhisrepugnance,herushedatthetopofhisspeedand
plungedintothelake.Thissuddenbathsomewhatallayed
thepangsoftheitchingthattorturedhiswholebody;
and,chewingafewleaves,hesetforthresolutely,again
feelinganobstinateresolutionintheact,forwhichhe
couldhardlyaccounteventohisownmind.Henolonger
seemedtohaveentirecontrolofhisownacts,and,nevertheless,
hefeltwithinhimastrengthsuperiortodespair.
However,hebegannowtosufferterriblyfromhunger.
Hisstomach,lessresignedthanhewas,rebelled,andhewas
obligedtofastenatendrilofwild-vinetightlyabouthis
waist.Fortunately,hecouldquenchhisthirstatany
moment,and,inrecallingthesufferingshehadundergone
inthedesert,heexperiencedcomparativereliefinhisexemption
fromthatotherdistressingwant.
"WhatcanhavebecomeoftheVictoria?"hewondered.
"Thewindblowsfromthenorth,andsheshouldbe
carriedbackbyittowardthelake.Nodoubtthedoctor
hasgonetoworktorightherbalance,butyesterday
wouldhavegivenhimtimeenoughforthat,sothatmay
beto-day--butlmustactjustasiflwasnevertosee
himagain.Afterall,iflonlygettooneofthelarge
townsonthelake,l'llfindmyselfnoworseoffthanthe
travellersmymasterusedtotalkabout.Whyshouldn't
lworkmywayoutofthescrapeaswellastheydid?
Someofthemgotbackhomeagain.Come,then!the
deuce!Cheerup,myboy!"
Thustalkingtohimselfandwalkingonrapidly,Joe
camerightuponahordeofnativesintheverydepthsof
theforest,buthehaltedintimeandwasnotseenbythem.
Thenegroeswerebusypoisoningarrowswiththejuiceof
theeuphorbium--apieceofworkdeemedagreataffair
amongthesesavagetribes,andcarriedonwithasortof
ceremonialsolemnity.
Joe,entirelymotionlessandevenholdinghisbreath,
waskeepinghimselfconcealedinathicket,when,happening
toraisehiseyes,hesawthroughanopeninginthe
foliagethewelcomeapparitionoftheballoon--theVictoria
herself--movingtowardthelake,ataheightofonly
aboutonehundredfeetabovehim.Buthecouldnot
makehimselfheard;hedarednot,couldnotmakehis
friendsevenseehim!
Tearscametohiseyes,notofgriefbutofthankfulness;
hismasterwasthenseekinghim;hismasterhad
notlefthimtoperish!Hewouldhavetowaitforthe
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5wiab10
departureoftheblacks;thenhecouldquithishiding-place
andruntowardthebordersofLakeTchad!
ButbythistimetheVictoriawasdisappearinginthe
distantsky.Joestilldeterminedtowaitforher;she
wouldcomebackagain,undoubtedly.Shedid,indeed,
return,butfarthertotheeastward.Joeran,gesticulated,
shouted--butallinvain!Astrongbreezewassweeping
theballoonawaywithaspeedthatdeprivedhimofall
hope.
Forthefirsttime,energyandconfidenceabandoned
theheartoftheunfortunateman.Hesawthathewas
lost.Hethoughthismastergonebeyondallprospectof
return.Hedarednolongerthink;hewouldnolonger
reflect!
Likeacrazyman,hisfeetbleeding,hisbodycutand
torn,hewalkedonduringallthatdayandapartofthe
nextnight.Heevendraggedhimselfalong,sometimes
onhisknees,sometimeswithhishands.Hesawthemoment
nighwhenallhisstrengthwouldfail,andnothingwould
belefttohimbuttosinkuponthegroundanddie.
Thusworkinghiswayalong,heatlengthfoundhimself
closetoamarsh,orwhatheknewwouldsoonbecome
amarsh,fornighthadsetinsomehoursbefore,andhefell
byasuddenmisstepintoathick,clingingmire.lnspite
ofallhisefforts,inspiteofhisdesperatestruggles,hefelt
himselfsinkinggraduallyintheswampyooze,andina
fewminuteshewasburiedtohiswaist.
"Here,then,atlast,isdeath!"hethought,inagony,
"andwhatadeath!"
Henowbegantostruggleagain,likeamadman;but
hiseffortsonlyservedtoburyhimdeeperinthetomb
thatthepoordoomedladwashollowingforhimself;not
alogofwoodorabranchtobuoyhimup;notareedto
whichhemightcling!Hefeltthatallwasover!His
eyesconvulsivelyclosed!
"Master!master!--Help!"werehislastwords;but
hisvoice,despairing,unaided,halfstifledalreadybythe
risingmire,diedawayfeeblyonthenight.
CHAPTERTHlRTY-SlXTH.
AThrongofPeopleontheHorizon.--ATroopofArabs.--ThePursuit.
--ltisHe.--FallfromHorseback.--TheStrangledArab.--ABallfrom
Kennedy.--AdroitManoeuvres.--Caughtupflying.--Joesavedatlast.
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5wiab10
FromthemomentwhenKennedyresumedhispostof
observationinthefrontofthecar,hehadnotceasedto
watchthehorizonwithhisutmostattention.
Afterthelapseofsometimeheturnedtowardthe
doctorandsaid:
"lflamnotgreatlymistakenlcansee,offyonderin
thedistance,athrongofmenoranimalsmoving.ltisimpossible
tomakethemoutyet,butlobservethattheyareinviolent
motion,fortheyareraisingagreatcloudofdust."
"Mayitnotbeanothercontrarybreeze?"saidthe
doctor,"anotherwhirlwindcomingtodriveusbacknorthward
again?"andwhilespeakinghestooduptoexamine
thehorizon.
"lthinknot,Samuel;itisatroopofgazellesorof
wildoxen."
"Perhapsso,Dick;butyonthrongissomenineor
tenmilesfromusatleast,andonmypart,evenwiththe
glass,lcanmakenothingofit!"
"Atalleventslshallnotlosesightofit.Thereis
somethingremarkableaboutitthatexcitesmycuriosity.
Sometimesitlookslikeabodyofcavalrymanoeuvring.
Ah!lwasnotmistaken.ltis,indeed,asquadronof
horsemen.Look--lookthere!"
Thedoctoreyedthegroupwithgreatattention,and,
afteramoment'spause,remarked:
"lbelievethatyouareright.ltisadetachmentof
ArabsorTibbous,andtheyaregallopinginthesame
directionwithus,asthoughinflight,butwearegoing
fasterthanthey,andwearerapidlygainingonthem.ln
halfanhourweshallbenearenoughtoseethemandknow
whattheyare."
Kennedyhadagainliftedhisglassandwasattentively
scrutinizingthem.Meanwhilethecrowdofhorsemenwas
becomingmoredistinctlyvisible,andafewwereseento
detachthemselvesfromthemainbody.
"ltissomehuntingmanoeuvre,evidently,"saidKennedy.
"Thosefellowsseemtobeinpursuitofsomething.
lwouldliketoknowwhattheyareabout."
"Patience,Dick!lnalittlewhileweshallovertake
them,iftheycontinueonthesameroute.Wearegoing
attherateoftwentymilesperhour,andnohorsecan
keepupwiththat."
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5wiab10
Kennedyagainraisedhisglass,andafewminutes
laterheexclaimed:
"TheyareArabs,gallopingatthetopoftheirspeed;
lcanmakethemoutdistinctly.Theyareaboutfiftyin
number.lcanseetheirbournousespuffedoutbythewind.
ltissomecavalryexercisethattheyaregoingthrough.
Theirchiefisahundredpacesaheadofthemandthey
arerushingafterhimatheadlongspeed."
"Whoevertheymaybe,Dick,theyarenottobe
feared,andthen,ifnecessary,wecangohigher."
"Wait,doctor--waitalittle!"
"lt'scurious,"saidKennedyagain,afterabriefpause,
"butthere'ssomethinggoingonthatlcan'texactlyexplain.
Bytheeffortstheymake,andtheirregularityof
theirline,lshouldfancythatthoseArabsarepursuing
someone,insteadoffollowing."
"Areyoucertainofthat,Dick?"
"Oh!yes,it'sclearenoughnow.lamright!ltisa
pursuit--ahunt--butaman-hunt!Thatisnottheirchief
ridingaheadofthem,butafugitive."
"Afugitive!"exclaimedthedoctor,growingmore
andmoreinterested.
"Yes!"
"Don'tlosesightofhim,andletuswait!"
Threeorfourmilesmorewerequicklygainedupon
thesehorsemen,whoneverthelessweredashingonward
withincrediblespeed.
"Doctor!doctor!"shoutedKennedyinanagitated
voice.
"Whatisthematter,Dick?"
"lsitanillusion?Canitbepossible?"
"Whatdoyoumean?"
"Wait!"andsosaying,theScotwipedthesightsof
hisspy-glasscarefully,andlookedthroughitagainintently.
"Well?"questionedthedoctor.
"ltishe,doctor!"
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5wiab10
"He!"exclaimedFergusonwithemotion.
"ltishe!noother!"anditwasneedlesstopronounce
thename.
"Yes!itishe!onhorseback,andonlyahundred
pacesinadvanceofhisenemies!Heispursued!"
"ltisJoe--Joehimself!"criedthedoctor,turningpale.
"Hecannotseeusinhisflight!"
"Hewillseeus,though!"saidthedoctor,lowering
theflameofhisblow-pipe.
"Buthow?"
"lnfiveminutesweshallbewithinfiftyfeetofthe
ground,andinfifteenweshallberightoverhim!"
"Wemustlethimknowitbyfiringagun!"
"No!hecan'tturnbacktocomethisway.He's
headedoff!"
"Whatshallwedo,then?"
"Wemustwait."
"Wait?--andtheseArabs!"
"Weshallovertakethem.We'llpassthem.Weare
notmorethantwomilesfromthem,andprovidedthat
Joe'shorseholdsout!"
"GreatGod!"exclaimedKennedy,suddenly.
"Whatisthematter?"
KennedyhadutteredacryofdespairashesawJoe
flinghimselftotheground.Hishorse,evidently
exhausted,hadjustfallenheadlong.
"Heseesus!"criedthedoctor,"andhemotionsto
us,ashegetsuponhisfeet!"
"ButtheArabswillovertakehim!Whatishe
waitingfor?Ah!thebravelad!Huzza!"shoutedthe
sportsman,whocouldnolongerrestrainhisfeelings.
Joe,whohadimmediatelysprungupafterhisfall,just
asoneoftheswiftesthorsemenrusheduponhim,bounded
likeapanther,avoidedhisassailantbyleapingtoone
side,jumpedupbehindhimonthecrupper,seizedthe
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5wiab10
Arabbythethroat,and,stranglinghimwithhissinewy
handsandfingersofsteel,flunghimonthesand,and
continuedhisheadlongflight.
AtremendoushowlwasheardfromtheArabs,but,
completelyengrossedbythepursuit,theyhadnottaken
noticeoftheballoon,whichwasnowbutfivehundred
pacesbehindthem,andonlyaboutthirtyfeetfromthe
ground.Ontheirpart,theywerenottwentylengthsof
theirhorsesfromthefugitive.
OneofthemwasveryperceptiblygainingonJoe,and
wasabouttopiercehimwithhislance,whenKennedy,
withfixedeyeandsteadyhand,stoppedhimshortwitha
ball,thathurledhimtotheearth.
Joedidnoteventurnhisheadatthereport.Some
ofthehorsemenreinedintheirbarbs,andfellontheir
facesinthedustastheycaughtsightoftheVictoria;
therestcontinuedtheirpursuit.
"ButwhatisJoeabout?"saidKennedy;"hedon'tstop!"
"He'sdoingbetterthanthat,Dick!lunderstandhim!
He'skeepingoninthesamedirectionastheballoon.He
reliesuponourintelligence.Ah!thenoblefellow!We'll
carryhimoffintheveryteethofthoseArabrascals!We
arenotmorethantwohundredpacesfromhim!"
"Whatarewetodo?"askedKennedy.
"Layasideyourrifle,Dick."
AndtheScotobeyedtherequestatonce.
"Doyouthinkthatyoucanholdonehundredandfifty
poundsofballastinyourarms?"
"Ay,morethanthat!"
"No!Thatwillbeenough!"
Andthedoctorproceededtopileupbagsofsandin
Kennedy'sarms.
"Holdyourselfinreadinessinthebackpartofthecar,
andbepreparedtothrowoutthatballastatasingleeffort.
But,foryourlife,don'tdosountillgivetheword!"
"Beeasyonthatpoint."
"Otherwise,weshouldmissJoe,andhewouldbelost."
"Countuponme!"
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5wiab10
TheVictoriaatthatmomentalmostcommandedthe
troopofhorsemenwhowerestilldesperatelyurgingtheir
steedsatJoe'sheels.Thedoctor,standinginthefront
ofthecar,heldtheladderclear,readytothrowitatany
moment.Meanwhile,Joehadstillmaintainedthedistance
betweenhimselfandhispursuers--sayaboutfiftyfeet.
TheVictoriawasnowaheadoftheparty.
"Attention!"exclaimedthedoctortoKennedy.
"l'mready!"
"Joe,lookoutforyourself!"shoutedthedoctorinhis
sonorous,ringingvoice,asheflungouttheladder,the
lowestratlinesofwhichtossedupthedustoftheroad.
Asthedoctorshouted,Joehadturnedhishead,but
withoutcheckinghishorse.Theladderdroppedcloseto
him,andattheinstanthegraspeditthedoctoragain
shoutedtoKennedy:
"Throwballast!"
"lt'sdone!"
AndtheVictoria,lightenedbyaweightgreaterthan
Joe's,shotuponehundredandfiftyfeetintotheair.
Joeclungwithallhisstrengthtotheladderduring
thewideoscillationsthatithadtodescribe,andthen
makinganindescribablegesturetotheArabs,andclimbing
withtheagilityofamonkey,hespranguptohiscompanions,
whoreceivedhimwithopenarms.
TheArabsutteredascreamofastonishmentandrage.
Thefugitivehadbeensnatchedfromthemonthewing,
andtheVictoriawasrapidlyspeedingfarbeyond
theirreach.
"Master!Kennedy!"ejaculatedJoe,andoverwhelmed,
atlast,withfatigueandemotion,thepoorfellow
faintedaway,whileKennedy,almostbesidehimself,
keptexclaiming:
"Saved--saved!"
"Savedindeed!"murmuredthedoctor,whohadrecovered
allhisphlegmaticcoolness.
Joewasalmostnaked.Hisbleedingarms,hisbody
coveredwithcutsandbruises,toldwhathissufferingshad
been.Thedoctorquietlydressedhiswounds,andlaid
himcomfortablyundertheawning.
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5wiab10
Joesoonreturnedtoconsciousness,andaskedfora
glassofbrandy,whichthedoctordidnotseefittorefuse,
asthefaithfulfellowhadtobeindulged.
Afterhehadswallowedthestimulant,Joegraspedthe
handsofhistwofriendsandannouncedthathewasready
torelatewhathadhappenedtohim.
Buttheywouldnotallowhimtotalkatthattime,and
hesankbackintoaprofoundsleep,ofwhichheseemedto
havethegreatestpossibleneed.
TheVictoriawasthentakinganobliquelinetothe
westward.Drivenbyatempestuouswind,itagainapproached
thebordersofthethornydesert,whichthetravellers
descriedoverthetopsofpalm-trees,bentandbroken
bythestorm;and,afterhavingmadearunoftwohundred
milessincerescuingJoe,itpassedthetenthdegree
ofeastlongitudeaboutnightfall.
CHAPTERTHlRTY-SEVENTH.
TheWesternRoute.--Joewakesup.--HisObstinacy.--EndofJoe's
Narrative.--Tagelei.--Kennedy'sAnxieties.--TheRoutetothe
North.--ANightnearAghades.
Duringthenightthewindlulledasthoughreposing
aftertheboisterousnessoftheday,andtheVictoriaremained
quietlyatthetopofthetallsycamore.Thedoctor
andKennedykeptwatchbyturns,andJoeavailedhimself
ofthechancetosleepmoststurdilyfortwenty-four
hoursatastretch.
"That'stheremedyheneeds,"saidDr.Ferguson.
"Naturewilltakechargeofhiscare."
Withthedawnthewindsprangupagaininquite
strong,andmoreovercapriciousgusts.ltshiftedabruptly
fromsouthtonorth,butfinallytheVictoriawascarried
awaybyittowardthewest.
Thedoctor,mapinhand,recognizedthekingdomof
Damerghou,anundulatingregionofgreatfertility,in
whichthehutsthatcomposethevillagesareconstructed
oflongreedsinterwovenwithbranchesoftheasclepia.
Thegrain-millswereseenraisedinthecultivatedfields,
uponsmallscaffoldingsorplatforms,tokeepthemoutof
thereachofthemiceandthehugeantsofthatcountry.
TheysoonpassedthetownofZinder,recognizedby
itsspaciousplaceofexecution,inthecentreofwhich
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5wiab10
standsthe"treeofdeath."Atitsfoottheexecutioner
standswaiting,andwhoeverpassesbeneathitsshadowis
immediatelyhung!
Uponconsultinghiscompass,Kennedycouldnotrefrain
fromsaying:
"Look!weareagainmovingnorthward."
"Nomatter;ifitonlytakesustoTimbuctoo,weshall
notcomplain.Neverwasafinervoyageaccomplished
underbettercircumstances!"
"Norinbetterhealth,"saidJoe,atthatinstantthrusting
hisjollycountenancefrombetweenthecurtainsofthe
awning.
"Thereheis!there'sourgallantfriend--ourpreserver!"
exclaimedKennedy,cordially.--"Howgoesit,Joe?"
"Oh!why,naturallyenough,Mr.Kennedy,verynaturally!
lneverfeltbetterinmylife!Nothingsetsa
manuplikealittlepleasure-tripwithabathinLake
Tchadtostarton--eh,doctor?"
"Bravefellow!"saidFerguson,pressingJoe'shand,
"whatterribleanxietyyoucausedus!"
"Humph!andyou,sir?Doyouthinkthatlfelt
easyinmymindaboutyou,gentlemen?Yougaveme
afinefright,letmetellyou!"
"Weshallneveragreeintheworld,Joe,ifyoutake
thingsinthatstyle."
"lseethathistumblehasn'tchangedhimabit,"
addedKennedy.
"Yourdevotionandself-forgetfulnessweresublime,
mybravelad,andtheysavedus,fortheVictoriawasfalling
intothelake,and,oncethere,nobodycouldhaveextricatedher."
"But,ifmydevotion,asyouarepleasedtocallmy
summerset,savedyou,diditnotsavemetoo,forherewe
are,allthreeofus,infirst-ratehealth?Consequentlywe
havenothingtosquabbleaboutinthewholeaffair."
"Oh!wecannevercometoasettlementwiththat
youth,"saidthesportsman.
"Thebestwaytosettleit,"repliedJoe,"istosay
nothingmoreaboutthematter.What'sdoneisdone.
Goodorbad,wecan'ttakeitback."
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5wiab10
"Youobstinatefellow!"saidthedoctor,laughing;
"youcan'trefuse,though,totellusyouradventures,at
allevents."
"Notifyouthinkitworthwhile.But,inthefirst
place,l'mgoingtocookthisfatgoosetoaturn,forlsee
thatMr.Kennedyhasnotwastedhistime."
"Allright,Joe!"
"Well,letusseethenhowthisAfricangamewillsit
onaEuropeanstomach!"
Thegoosewassoonroastedbytheflameoftheblow-pipe,
andnotlongafterwardwascomfortablystowed
away.Joetookhisowngoodshare,likeamanwhohad
eatennothingforseveraldays.Aftertheteaandthe
punch,heacquaintedhisfriendswithhisrecentadventures.
Hespokewithsomeemotion,evenwhilelooking
atthingswithhisusualphilosophy.Thedoctorcouldnot
refrainfromfrequentlypressinghishandwhenhesawhis
worthyservantmoreconsiderateofhismaster'ssafety
thanofhisown,and,inrelationtothesinkingoftheisland
oftheBiddiomahs,heexplainedtohimthefrequencyof
thisphenomenonuponLakeTchad.
AtlengthJoe,continuinghisrecital,arrivedatthe
pointwhere,sinkingintheswamp,hehadutteredalast
cryofdespair.
"lthoughtlwasgone,"saidhe,"andasyoucame
rightintomymind,lmadeahardfightforit.How,l
couldn'ttellyou--butl'dmadeupmymindthatlwouldn't
gounderwithoutknowingwhy.Justthen,lsaw--twoor
threefeetfromme--whatdoyouthink?theendofarope
thathadbeenfreshcut;soltookleavetomakeanother
jerk,and,byhookorbycrook,lgottotherope.When
lpulled,itdidn'tgive;solpulledagainandhauledaway
andtherelwasondryground!Attheendoftherope,
lfoundananchor!Ah,master,l'vearighttocallthat
theanchorofsafety,anyhow,ifyouhavenoobjection.l
knewitagain!ltwastheanchoroftheVictoria!You
hadgroundedthere!Solfollowedthedirectionofthe
ropeandthatgavemeyourdirection,and,aftertrying
hardafewtimesmore,lgotoutoftheswamp.lhad
gotmystrengthbackwithmyspunk,andlwalkedon
partofthenightawayfromthelake,untillgottothe
edgeofaverybigwood.Therelsawafenced-inplace,
wheresomehorsesweregrazing,withoutthinkingofany
harm.Now,therearetimeswheneverybodyknowshow
torideahorse,aretherenot,doctor?Soldidn'tspend
muchtimethinkingaboutit,butjumpedrightontheback
ofoneofthoseinnocentanimalsandawaywewentgalloping
northasfastasourlegscouldcarryus.lneedn't
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5wiab10
tellyouaboutthetownsthatldidn'tseenorthevillages
thatltookgoodcaretogoaround.No!lcrossedthe
ploughedfields;lleapedthehedges;lscrambledover
thefences;ldugmyheelsintomynag;lthrashedhim;
lfairlyliftedthepoorfellowoffhisfeet!Atlastlgotto
theendofthetilledland.Good!Therewasthedesert.
'Thatsuitsme!'saidl,'forlcanseebetteraheadofme
andfarthertoo.'lwashopingallthetimetoseetheballoon
tackingaboutandwaitingforme.Butnotabitof
it;andso,inaboutthreehours,lgoplump,likeafool,
intoacampofArabs!Whew!whatahuntthatwas!
Yousee,Mr.Kennedy,ahunterdon'tknowwhatareal
huntisuntilhe'sbeenhuntedhimself!Stillladvisehim
nottotryitifhecankeepoutofit!Myhorsewasso
tired,hewasreadytodropoffhislegs;theywereclose
onme;lthrewmyselftotheground;thenljumpedup
againbehindanArab!ldidn'tmeanthefellowanyharm,
andlhopehehasnogrudgeagainstmeforchokinghim,
butlsawyou--andyouknowtherest.TheVictoria
cameonatmyheels,andyoucaughtmeupflying,asa
circus-riderdoesaring.Wasn'tlrightincountingon
you?Now,doctor,youseehowsimpleallthatwas!
Nothingmorenaturalintheworld!l'mreadytobegin
overagain,ifitwouldbeofanyservicetoyou.And
besides,master,aslsaidawhileago,it'snotworth
mentioning."
"Mynoble,gallantJoe!"saidthedoctor,withgreat
feeling."Heartofgold!wewerenotastrayintrusting
toyourintelligenceandskill."
"Poh!doctor,onehasonlyjusttofollowthingsalong
astheyhappen,andhecanalwaysworkhiswayoutof
ascrape!Thesafestplan,yousee,istotakemattersas
theycome."
WhileJoewastellinghisexperience,theballoonhad
rapidlypassedoveralongreachofcountry,andKennedy
soonpointedoutonthehorizonacollectionofstructures
thatlookedlikeatown.Thedoctorglancedathismap
andrecognizedtheplaceasthelargevillageofTagelei,
intheDamerghoucountry.
"Here,"saidhe,"wecomeuponDr.Barth'sroute.
ltwasatthisplacethathepartedfromhiscompanions,
RichardsonandOverweg;thefirstwastofollowtheZinder
route,andthesecondthatofMaradi;andyoumay
rememberthat,ofthesethreetravellers,Barthwasthe
onlyonewhoeverreturnedtoEurope."
"Then,"saidKennedy,followingoutonthemapthe
directionoftheVictoria,"wearegoingduenorth."
"Duenorth,Dick."
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5wiab10
"Anddon'tthatgiveyoualittleuneasiness?"
"Whyshouldit?"
"BecausethatlineleadstoTripoli,andovertheGreat
Desert."
"Oh,weshallnotgosofarasthat,myfriend--at
least,lhopenot."
"Butwheredoyouexpecttohalt?"
"Come,Dick,don'tyoufeelsomecuriositytosee
Timbuctoo?"
"Timbuctoo?"
"Certainly,"saidJoe;"nobodynowadayscanthink
ofmakingthetriptoAfricawithoutgoingtosee
Timbuctoo."
"YouwillbeonlythefifthorsixthEuropeanwhohas
everseteyesonthatmysteriouscity."
"Ho,then,forTimbuctoo!"
"Well,then,letustrytogetasfarasbetweenthe
seventeenthandeighteenthdegreesofnorthlatitude,and
therewewillseekafavorablewindtocarryuswestward."
"Good!"saidthehunter."Buthavewestillfarto
gotothenorthward?"
"Onehundredandfiftymilesatleast."
"lnthatcase,"saidKennedy,"l'llturninandsleep
abit."
"Sleep,sir;sleep!"urgedJoe."Andyou,doctor,do
thesameyourself:youmusthaveneedofrest,forlmade
youkeepwatchalittleoutoftime."
Thesportsmanstretchedhimselfundertheawning;
butFerguson,whowasnoteasilyconqueredbyfatigue,
remainedathispost.
lnaboutthreehourstheVictoriawascrossingwith
extremerapidityanexpanseofstonycountry,withranges
oflofty,nakedmountainsofgraniticformationatthe
base.Afewisolatedpeaksattainedtheheightofeven
fourthousandfeet.Giraffes,antelopes,andostricheswere
seenrunningandboundingwithmarvellousagilityinthe
midstofforestsofacacias,mimosas,souahs,anddate-trees.
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5wiab10
Afterthebarrennessofthedesert,vegetationwas
nowresumingitsempire.Thiswasthecountryofthe
Kailouas,whoveiltheirfaceswithabandageofcotton,
liketheirdangerousneighbors,theTouaregs.
Atteno'clockintheevening,afterasplendidtripof
twohundredandfiftymiles,theVictoriahaltedoveran
importanttown.Themoonlightrevealedglimpsesofone
districthalfinruins;andsomepinnaclesofmosquesand
minaretsshotuphereandthere,glisteninginthesilvery
rays.Thedoctortookastellarobservation,anddiscovered
thathewasinthelatitudeofAghades.
Thiscity,oncetheseatofanimmensetrade,wasalready
fallingintoruinwhenDr.Barthvisitedit.
TheVictoria,notbeingseenintheobscurityofnight,
descendedabouttwomilesaboveAghades,inafieldof
millet.Thenightwascalm,andbegantobreakinto
dawnaboutthreeo'clockA.M.;whilealightwindcoaxed
theballoonwestward,andevenalittletowardthesouth.
Dr.Fergusonhastenedtoavailhimselfofsuchgood
fortune,andrapidlyascendingresumedhisaerialjourney
amidalongwakeofgoldenmorningsunshine.
CHAPTERTHlRTY-ElGHTH.
ARapidPassage.--PrudentResolves.--CaravansinSight.--lncessantRains.--
Goa.--TheNiger.--Golberry,Geoffroy,andGray.--MungoPark.--Laing.--
ReneCaillie.--Clapperton.--JohnandRichardLander.
The17thofMaypassedtranquilly,withoutanyremarkable
incident;thedesertgaineduponthemoncemore;amoderate
windboretheVictoriatowardthesouthwest,andshenever
swervedtotherightortotheleft,buthershadowtraced
aperfectlystraightlineonthesand.
Beforestarting,thedoctorhadprudentlyrenewedhis
stockofwater,havingfearedthatheshouldnotbeableto
touchgroundintheseregions,infestedastheyarebythe
Aouelim-MinianTouaregs.Theplateau,atanelevation
ofeighteenhundredfeetabovethelevelofthesea,sloped
downtowardthesouth.Ourtravellers,havingcrossed
theAghadesrouteatMurzouk--arouteoftenpressedby
thefeetofcamels--arrivedthatevening,inthesixteenth
degreeofnorthlatitude,andfourdegreesfifty-fiveminutes
eastlongitude,afterhavingpassedoveronehundred
andeightymilesofalongandmonotonousday'sjourney.
DuringthedayJoedressedthelastpiecesofgame,
whichhadbeenonlyhastilyprepared,andheservedup
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forsupperamessofsnipe,thatweregreatlyrelished.
Thewindcontinuinggood,thedoctorresolvedtokeepon
duringthenight,themoon,stillnearlyatthefull,
illuminingitwithherradiance.TheVictoriaascendedtoa
heightoffivehundredfeet,and,duringhernocturnaltrip
ofaboutsixtymiles,thegentleslumbersofaninfant
wouldnothavebeendisturbedbyhermotion.
OnSundaymorning,thedirectionofthewindagain
changed,anditboretothenorthwestward.Afewcrows
wereseensweepingthroughtheair,and,offonthe
horizon,aflockofvultureswhich,fortunately,
however,keptatadistance.
ThesightofthesebirdsledJoetocomplimenthis
masterontheideaofhavingtwoballoons.
"Wherewouldwebe,"saidhe,"withonlyoneballoon?
Thesecondballoonislikethelife-boattoaship;
incaseofwreckwecouldalwaystaketoitandescape."
"Youareright,friendJoe,"saidthedoctor,"only
thatmylife-boatgivesmesomeuneasiness.ltisnotso
goodasthemaincraft."
"Whatdoyoumeanbythat,doctor?"askedKennedy.
"lmeantosaythatthenewVictoriaisnotsogoodas
theoldone.Whetheritbethatthestuffitismadeofis
toomuchworn,orthattheheatofthespiralhasmelted
thegutta-percha,lcanobserveacertainlossofgas.lt
don'tamounttomuchthusfar,butstillitisnoticeable.
Wehaveatendencytosink,and,inordertokeepour
elevation,lamcompelledtogivegreaterdilationtothe
hydrogen."
"Thedeuce!"exclaimedKennedywithconcern;"l
seenoremedyforthat."
"Thereisnone,Dick,andthatiswhywemusthasten
ourprogress,andevenavoidnighthalts."
"Arewestillfarfromthecoast?"askedJoe.
"Whichcoast,myboy?Howarewetoknowwhitherchance
willcarryus?Allthatlcansayis,thatTimbuctoois
stillaboutfourhundredmilestothewestward.
"Andhowlongwillittakeustogetthere?"
"Shouldthewindnotcarryustoofaroutoftheway,
lhopetoreachthatcitybyTuesdayevening."
"Then,"remarkedJoe,pointingtoalongfileofanimals
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5wiab10
andmenwindingacrosstheopendesert,"weshall
arrivetheresoonerthanthatcaravan."
FergusonandKennedyleanedoverandsawanimmense
cavalcade.Therewereatleastonehundredand
fiftycamelsofthekindthat,fortwelvemutkalsofgold,
orabouttwenty-fivedollars,gofromTimbuctootoTafilet
withaloadoffivehundredpoundsupontheirbacks.Each
animalhaddanglingtoitstailabagtoreceiveitsexcrement,
theonlyfuelonwhichthecaravanscandependwhen
crossingthedesert.
TheseTouaregcamelsareoftheverybestrace.They
cangofromthreetosevendayswithoutdrinking,andfor
twowithouteating.Theirspeedsurpassesthatofthe
horse,andtheyobeywithintelligencethevoiceofthe
khabir,orguideofthecaravan.Theyareknowninthe
countryunderthenameofmehari.
Suchwerethedetailsgivenbythedoctorwhilehis
companionscontinuedtogazeuponthatmultitudeofmen,
women,andchildren,advancingonfootandwithdifficulty
overawasteofsandhalfinmotion,andscarcelykeptin
itsplacebyscantynettles,witheredgrass,andstunted
bushesthatgrewuponit.Thewindobliteratedthemarks
oftheirfeetalmostinstantly.
JoeinquiredhowtheArabsmanagedtoguidethemselves
acrossthedesert,andcometothefewwellsscattered
farbetweenthroughoutthisvastsolitude.
"TheArabs,"repliedDr.Ferguson,"areendowed
bynaturewithawonderfulinstinctinfindingtheirway.
WhereaEuropeanwouldbeataloss,theyneverhesitate
foramoment.Aninsignificantfragmentofrock,apebble,
atuftofgrass,adifferentshadeofcolorinthesand,
sufficetoguidethemwithaccuracy.Duringthenight
theygobythepolarstar.Theynevertravelmorethan
twomilesperhour,andalwaysrestduringthenoonday
heat.Youmayjudgefromthathowlongittakesthem
tocrossSahara,adesertmorethanninehundredmilesin
breadth."
ButtheVictoriahadalreadydisappearedfromthe
astonishedgazeoftheArabs,whomusthaveenviedher
rapidity.Thateveningshepassedtwodegreestwenty
minuteseastlongitude,andduringthenightleftanother
degreebehindher.
OnMondaytheweatherchangedcompletely.Rain
begantofallwithextremeviolence,andnotonlyhadthe
balloontoresistthepowerofthisdeluge,butalsothe
increaseofweightwhichitcausedbywettingthewhole
machine,carandall.Thiscontinuousshoweraccounted
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fortheswampsandmarshesthatformedthesolesurface
ofthecountry.Vegetationreappeared,however,along
withthemimosas,thebaobabs,andthetamarind-trees.
SuchwastheSonraycountry,withitsvillagestopped
withroofsturnedoverlikeArmeniancaps.Therewere
fewmountains,andonlysuchhillsaswereenoughtoform
theravinesandpoolswherethepintadoesandsnipeswent
sailinganddivingthrough.Hereandthere,animpetuous
torrentcuttheroads,andhadtobecrossedbythe
nativesonlongvinesstretchedfromtreetotree.The
forestsgaveplacetojungles,whichalligators,hippopotami,
andtherhinoceros,madetheirhaunts.
"ltwillnotbelongbeforeweseetheNiger,"saidthe
doctor."Thefaceofthecountryalwayschangesinthe
vicinityoflargerivers.Thesemovinghighways,asthey
aresometimescorrectlycalled,havefirstbroughtvegetation
withthem,astheywillatlastbringcivilization.
Thus,initscourseoftwenty-fivehundredmiles,theNiger
hasscatteredalongitsbanksthemostimportantcitiesof
Africa."
"By-the-way,"putinJoe,"thatremindsmeofwhat
wassaidbyanadmirerofthegoodnessofProvidence,who
praisedtheforesightwithwhichithadgenerallycaused
riverstoflowclosetolargecities!"
AtnoontheVictoriawaspassingoverapettytown,
amereassemblageofmiserablehuts,whichoncewasGoa,
agreatcapital.
"ltwasthere,"saidthedoctor,"thatBarthcrossed
theNiger,onhisreturnfromTimbuctoo.Thisisthe
riversofamousinantiquity,therivaloftheNile,towhich
pagansuperstitionascribedacelestialorigin.Likethe
Nile,ithasengagedtheattentionofgeographersinall
ages;andlikeit,also,itsexplorationhascostthelives
ofmanyvictims;yes,evenmoreofthemthanperished
onaccountoftheother."
TheNigerflowedbroadlybetweenitsbanks,andits
watersrolledsouthwardwithsomeviolenceofcurrent;
butourtravellers,borneswiftlybyastheywere,could
scarcelycatchaglimpseofitscuriousoutline.
"lwantedtotalktoyouaboutthisriver,"saidDr.
Ferguson,"anditisalreadyfarfromus.Underthe
namesofDhiouleba,Mayo,Egghirreou,Quorra,andother
titlesbesides,ittraversesanimmenseextentofcountry,
andalmostcompetesinlengthwiththeNile.These
appellationssignifysimply'theRiver,'accordingtothe
dialectsofthecountriesthroughwhichitpasses."
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5wiab10
"DidDr.Barthfollowthisroute?"askedKennedy.
"No,Dick:inquittingLakeTchad,hepassedthrough
thedifferenttownsofBornou,andintersectedtheNiger
atSay,fourdegreesbelowGoa;thenhepenetratedtothe
bosomofthoseunexploredcountrieswhichtheNiger
embracesinitselbow;and,aftereightmonthsoffresh
fatigues,hearrivedatTimbuctoo;allofwhichwemay
doinaboutthreedayswithasswiftawindasthis."
"HavethesourcesoftheNigerbeendiscovered?"
askedJoe.
"Longsince,"repliedthedoctor."Theexploration
oftheNigeranditstributarieswastheobjectofseveral
expeditions,theprincipalofwhichlshallmention:Between
1749and1758,Adamsonmadeareconnoissanceof
theriver,andvisitedGorea;from1785to1788,Golberry
andGeoffroytravelledacrossthedesertsofSenegambia,
andascendedasfarasthecountryoftheMoors,who
assassinatedSaugnier,Brisson,Adam,Riley,Cochelet,
andsomanyotherunfortunatemen.Thencametheillustrious
MungoPark,thefriendofSirWalterScott,and,
likehim,aScotchmanbybirth.Sentoutin1795bythe
AfricanSocietyofLondon,hegotasfarasBambarra,
sawtheNiger,travelledfivehundredmileswithaslave-merchant,
reconnoitredtheGambiaRiver,andreturned
toEnglandin1797.Heagainsetout,onthe30thof
January,1805,withhisbrother-in-lawAnderson,Scott,
thedesigner,andagangofworkmen;hereachedGorea,
thereaddedadetachmentofthirty-fivesoldierstohis
party,andsawtheNigeragainonthe19thofAugust.
But,bythattime,inconsequenceoffatigue,privations,
ill-usage,theinclemenciesoftheweather,andthe
unhealthinessofthecountry,onlyelevenpersonsremained
aliveofthefortyEuropeansintheparty.Onthe16th
ofNovember,thelastlettersfromMungoParkreached
hiswife;and,ayearlateratraderfromthatcountry
gaveinformationthat,havinggotasfarasBoussa,onthe
Niger,onthe23dofDecember,theunfortunatetraveller's
boatwasupsetbythecataractsinthatpartoftheriver,
andhewasmurderedbythenatives."
"Andhisdreadfulfatedidnotchecktheeffortsof
otherstoexplorethatriver?"
"Onthecontrary,Dick.Sincethen,thereweretwo
objectsinview:namely,torecoverthelostman'spapers,
aswellastopursuetheexploration.ln1816,anexpedition
wasorganized,inwhichMajorGreytookpart.ltarrived
inSenegal,penetratedtotheFonta-Jallon,visited
theFoullahandMandingopopulations,andreturnedto
Englandwithoutfurtherresults.ln1822,MajorLaing
exploredallthewesternpartofAfricaneartotheBritish
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possessions;andheitwaswhogotsofarasthesources
oftheNiger;and,accordingtohisdocuments,thespring
inwhichthatimmenserivertakesitsriseisnottwofeet
broad.
"Easytojumpover,"saidJoe.
"How'sthat?Easyyouthink,eh?"retortedthedoctor.
"lfwearetobelievetradition,whoeverattempts
topassthatspring,byleapingoverit,isimmediately
swallowedup;andwhoevertriestodrawwaterfromit,
feelshimselfrepulsedbyaninvisiblehand."
"lsupposeamanhasarightnottobelieveaword
ofthat!"persistedJoe.
"Oh,byallmeans!--Fiveyearslater,itwasMajor
Laing'sdestinytoforcehiswayacrossthedesertof
Sahara,penetratetoTimbuctoo,andperishafewmiles
aboveit,bystrangling,atthehandsoftheOuelad-shiman,
whowantedtocompelhimtoturnMussulman."
"Stillanothervictim!"saidthesportsman.
"ltwasthenthatabraveyoungman,withhisown
feebleresources,undertookandaccomplishedthemost
astonishingofmodernjourneys--lmeantheFrenchman
ReneCaillie,who,aftersundryattemptsin1819and1824,
setoutagainonthe19thofApril,1827,fromRioNunez.
Onthe3dofAugusthearrivedatTime,sothoroughly
exhaustedandillthathecouldnotresumehisjourney
untilsixmonthslater,inJanuary,1828.Hethenjoined
acaravan,and,protectedbyhisOrientaldress,reached
theNigeronthe10thofMarch,penetratedtothecity
ofJenne,embarkedontheriver,anddescendedit,asfar
asTimbuctoo,wherehearrivedonthe30thofApril.ln
1760,anotherFrenchman,lmbertbyname,and,in1810,an
Englishman,RobertAdams,hadseenthiscuriousplace;
butReneCailliewastobethefirstEuropeanwhocould
bringbackanyauthenticdataconcerningit.Onthe4th
ofMayhequittedthis'Queenofthedesert;'onthe9th,
hesurveyedtheveryspotwhereMajorLainghadbeen
murdered;onthe19th,hearrivedatEl-Arouan,andleft
thatcommercialtowntobraveathousanddangersin
crossingthevastsolitudescomprisedbetweentheSoudan
andthenorthernregionsofAfrica.Atlengthheentered
Tangiers,andonthe28thofSeptembersailedforToulon.
lnnineteenmonths,notwithstandingonehundredand
eightydays'sickness,hehadtraversedAfricafromwest
tonorth.Ah!hadCalliebeenborninEngland,he
wouldhavebeenhonoredasthemostintrepidtraveller
ofmoderntimes,aswasthecasewithMungoPark.But
inFrancehewasnotappreciatedaccordingtohisworth."
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5wiab10
"Hewasasturdyfellow!"saidKennedy,"butwhat
becameofhim?"
"Hediedattheageofthirty-nine,fromtheconsequences
ofhislongfatigues.Theythoughttheyhaddoneenough
indecreeinghimtheprizeoftheGeographicalSociety
in1828;thehighesthonorswouldhavebeenpaidtohim
inEngland.
"Whilehewasaccomplishingthisremarkablejourney,
anEnglishmanhadconceivedasimilarenterpriseand
wastryingtopushitthroughwithequalcourage,ifnot
withequalgoodfortune.ThiswasCaptainClapperton,
thecompanionofDenham.ln1829hereenteredAfrica
bythewesterncoastoftheGulfofBenin;hethenfollowed
inthetrackofMungoParkandofLaing,recovered
atBoussathedocumentsrelativetothedeathoftheformer,
andarrivedonthe20thofAugustatSackatoo,where
hewasseizedandheldasaprisoner,untilheexpiredinthe
armsofhisfaithfulattendantRichardLander."
"AndwhatbecameofthisLander?"askedJoe,deeplyinterested.
"Hesucceededinregainingthecoastandreturnedto
London,bringingwithhimthecaptain'spapers,andan
exactnarrativeofhisownjourney.Hethenofferedhis
servicestothegovernmenttocompletethereconnoissance
oftheNiger.HetookwithhimhisbrotherJohn,the
secondchildofapoorcoupleinCornwall,and,together,
thesemen,between1829and1831,redescendedtheriver
fromBoussatoitsmouth,describingitvillagebyvillage,
milebymile."
"Soboththebrothersescapedthecommonfate?"
queriedKennedy.
"Yes,onthisexpedition,atleast;butin1833Richard
undertookathirdtriptotheNiger,andperishedbya
bullet,nearthemouthoftheriver.Yousee,then,my
friends,thatthecountryoverwhichwearenowpassing
haswitnessedsomenobleinstancesofself-sacrificewhich,
unfortunately,haveonlytoooftenhaddeathfortheirreward."
CHAPTERTHlRTY-NlNTH.
TheCountryintheElbowoftheNiger.--AFantasticViewofthe
HomboriMountains.--Kabra.--Timbuctoo.--TheChartofDr.Barth.
--ADecayingCity.--WhitherHeavenwills.
DuringthisdullMonday,Dr.Fergusondivertedhis
thoughtsbygivinghiscompanionsathousanddetails
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concerningthecountrytheywerecrossing.Thesurface,
whichwasquiteflat,offerednoimpedimenttotheirprogress.
Thedoctor'ssoleanxietyarosefromtheobstinate
northeastwindwhichcontinuedtoblowfuriously,andbore
themawayfromthelatitudeofTimbuctoo.
TheNiger,afterrunningnorthwardasfarasthatcity,
sweepsaround,likeanimmensewater-jetfromsomefountain,
andfallsintotheAtlanticinabroadsheaf.lnthe
elbowthusformedthecountryisofvariedcharacter,
sometimesluxuriantlyfertile,andsometimesextremely
bare;fieldsofmaizesucceededbywidespacescovered
withbroom-cornanduncultivatedplains.Allkindsof
aquaticbirds--pelicans,wild-duck,kingfishers,andthe
rest--wereseeninnumerousflockshoveringaboutthe
bordersofthepoolsandtorrents.
Fromtimetotimethereappearedanencampmentof
Touaregs,themenshelteredundertheirleathertents,
whiletheirwomenwerebusiedwiththedomestictoil
outside,milkingtheircamelsandsmokingtheir
huge-bowledpipes.
Byeighto'clockintheeveningtheVictoriahadadvanced
morethantwohundredmilestothewestward,
andouraeronautsbecamethespectatorsofamagnificent
scene.
Amassofmoonbeamsforcingtheirwaythroughan
openingintheclouds,andglidingbetweenthelonglines
offallingrain,descendedinagoldenshowerontheridges
oftheHomboriMountains.Nothingcouldbemore
weirdthantheappearanceoftheseseeminglybasaltic
summits;theystoodoutinfantasticprofileagainstthe
sombresky,andthebeholdermighthavefanciedthemto
bethelegendaryruinsofsomevastcityofthemiddle
ages,suchastheicebergsofthepolarseassometimes
mimictheminnightsofgloom.
"Anadmirablelandscapeforthe'MysteriesofUdolpho'!"
exclaimedthedoctor."AnnRadcliffecouldnot
havedepictedyonmountainsinamoreappallingaspect."
"Faith!"saidJoe,"lwouldn'tliketobestrolling
aloneintheeveningthroughthiscountryofghosts.Do
youseenow,master,ifitwasn'tsoheavy,l'dliketocarry
thatwholelandscapehometoScotland!ltwoulddofor
thebordersofLochLomond,andtouristswouldrushthere
incrowds."
"Ourballoonishardlylargeenoughtoadmitofthat
littleexperiment--butlthinkourdirectionischanging.
Bravo!--theelvesandfairiesoftheplacearequiteobliging.
See,they'vesentusanicelittlesoutheastbreeze,
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5wiab10
thatwillputusontherighttrackagain."
lnfact,theVictoriawasresumingamorenortherly
route,andonthemorningofthe20thshewaspassing
overaninextricablenetworkofchannels,torrents,and
streams,infine,thewholecomplicatedtangleoftheNiger's
tributaries.Manyofthesechannels,coveredwithathick
growthofherbage,resembledluxuriantmeadow-lands.
Therethedoctorrecognizedtheroutefollowedbythe
explorerBarthwhenhelaunchedupontherivertodescend
toTimbuctoo.Eighthundredfathomsbroadatthispoint,
theNigerflowedbetweenbanksrichlygrownwithcruciferous
plantsandtamarind-trees.Herdsofagilegazelleswereseen
skippingabout,theircurlinghornsminglingwiththetall
herbage,withinwhichthealligator,halfconcealed,lay
silentlyinwaitforthemwithwatchfuleyes.
Longfilesofcamelsandassesladenwithmerchandise
fromJennewerewindinginunderthenobletrees.Ere
long,anamphitheatreoflow-builthouseswasdiscovered
ataturnoftheriver,theirroofsandterracesheapedup
withhayandstrawgatheredfromtheneighboringdistricts.
"There'sKabra!"exclaimedthedoctor,joyously;
"thereistheharborofTimbuctoo,andthecityisnot
fivemilesfromhere!"
"Then,sir,youaresatisfied?"halfqueriedJoe.
"Delighted,myboy!"
"Verygood;theneverything'sforthebest!"
lnfact,abouttwoo'clock,theQueenoftheDesert,
mysteriousTimbuctoo,whichonce,likeAthensandRome,
hadherschoolsoflearnedmen,andherprofessorships
ofphilosophy,stretchedawaybeforethegazeofour
travellers.
Fergusonfollowedthemostminutedetailsuponthe
charttracedbyBarthhimself,andwasenabledto
recognizeitsperfectaccuracy.
Thecityformsanimmensetrianglemarkedoutupon
avastplainofwhitesand,itsacuteangledirectedtoward
thenorthandpiercingacornerofthedesert.lntheenvirons
therewasalmostnothing,hardlyevenafewgrasses,
withsomedwarfmimosasandstuntedbushes.
AsfortheappearanceofTimbuctoo,thereaderhasbut
toimagineacollectionofbilliard-ballsandthimbles--such
isthebird's-eyeview!Thestreets,whicharequitenarrow,
arelinedwithhousesonlyonestoryinheight,built
ofbricksdriedinthesun,andhutsofstrawandreeds,the
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5wiab10
formersquare,thelatterconical.Upontheterraceswere
seensomeofthemaleinhabitants,carelesslyloungingat
fulllengthinflowingapparelofbrightcolors,andlance
ormusketinhand;butnowomenwerevisibleatthat
houroftheday.
"Yettheyaresaidtobehandsome,"remarkedthe
doctor."Youseethethreetowersofthethreemosques
thataretheonlyonesleftstandingofagreatnumber--
thecityhasindeedfallenfromitsancientsplendor!At
thetopofthetrianglerisestheMosqueofSankore,withits
rangesofgalleriesrestingonarcadesofsufficientlypure
design.Fartheron,andneartotheSane-Gunguquarter,
istheMosqueofSidi-Yahiaandsometwo-storyhouses.
Butdonotlookforeitherpalacesormonuments:the
sheikisameresonoftraffic,andhisroyalpalaceisa
counting-house."
"ltseemstomethatlcanseehalf-ruinedramparts,"
saidKennedy.
"TheyweredestroyedbytheFouillanesin1826;the
citywasone-thirdlargerthen,forTimbuctoo,anobject
generallycovetedbyallthetribes,sincetheeleventh
century,hasbelongedinsuccessiontotheTouaregs,the
Sonrayans,theMoroccomen,andtheFouillanes;andthis
greatcentreofcivilization,whereasagelikeAhmed-Baba
owned,inthesixteenthcentury,alibraryofsixteenhundred
manuscripts,isnownothingbutamerehalf-wayhousefor
thetradeofCentralAfrica."
Thecity,indeed,seemedabandonedtosupremeneglect;
itbetrayedthatindifferencewhichseemsepidemic
tocitiesthatarepassingaway.Hugeheapsofrubbish
encumberedthesuburbs,and,withthehillonwhichthe
market-placestood,formedtheonlyinequalitiesofthe
ground.
WhentheVictoriapassed,therewassomeslightshow
ofmovement;drumswerebeaten;butthelastlearned
manstilllingeringintheplacehadhardlytimetonotice
thenewphenomenon,forourtravellers,drivenonward
bythewindofthedesert,resumedthewindingcourseof
theriver,and,erelong,Timbuctoowasnothingmorethan
oneofthefleetingreminiscencesoftheirjourney.
"Andnow,"saidthedoctor,"Heavenmaywaftus
whitheritpleases!"
"Providedonlythatwegowestward,"addedKennedy.
"Bah!"saidJoe;"lwouldn'tbeafraidifitwasto
gobacktoZanzibarbythesameroad,ortocrossthe
oceantoAmerica."
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5wiab10
"Wewouldfirsthavetobeabletodothat,Joe!"
"Andwhat'swanting,doctor?"
"Gas,myboy;theascendingforceoftheballoonis
evidentlygrowingweaker,andweshallneedallour
managementtomakeitcarryustothesea-coast.lshall
evenhavetothrowoversomeballast.Wearetooheavy."
"That'swhatcomesofdoingnothing,doctor;whena
manliesstretchedoutalldaylonginhishammock,he
getsfatandheavy.lt'salazybonestrip,thisofours,
master,andwhenwegetbackeverybodywillfindusbig
andstout."
"JustlikeJoe,"saidKennedy;"justtheideasfor
him:butwaitabit!Canyoutellwhatwemayhaveto
gothroughyet?Wearestillfarfromtheendofourtrip.
WheredoyouexpecttostriketheAfricancoast,doctor?"
"lshouldfindithardtoansweryou,Kennedy.We
areatthemercyofveryvariablewinds;butlshould
thinkmyselffortunatewerewetostrikeitbetweenSierra
LeoneandPortendick.Thereisastretchofcountryin
thatquarterwhereweshouldmeetwithfriends."
"Anditwouldbeapleasuretopresstheirhands;but,
arewegoinginthedesirabledirection?"
"Notanytoowell,Dick;notanytoowell!Lookat
theneedleofthecompass;wearebearingsouthward,and
ascendingtheNigertowarditssources."
"Afinechancetodiscoverthem,"saidJoe,"ifthey
werenotknownalready.Now,couldn'twejustfind
othersforit,onapinch?"
"Notexactly,Joe;butdon'tbealarmed:lhardly
expecttogosofarasthat."
Atnightfallthedoctorthrewoutthelastbagsofsand.
TheVictoriarosehigher,andtheblow-pipe,althoughworking
atfullblast,couldscarcelykeepherup.Atthattime
shewassixtymilestothesouthwardofTimbuctoo,andin
themorningtheaeronautsawokeoverthebanksofthe
Niger,notfarfromLakeDebo.
CHAPTERFORTlETH.
Dr.Ferguson'sAnxieties.--PersistentMovementsouthward.--ACloudof
Grasshoppers.--AViewofJenne.--AViewofSego.--Changeofthe
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Wind.--Joe'sRegrets.
Theflowoftheriverwas,atthatpoint,dividedby
largeislandsintonarrowbranches,withaveryrapidcurrent.
Upononeamongthemstoodsomeshepherds'huts,
butithadbecomeimpossibletotakeanexactobservation
ofthem,becausethespeedoftheballoonwasconstantly
increasing.Unfortunately,itturnedstillmoretoward
thesouth,andinafewmomentscrossedLakeDebo.
Dr.Ferguson,forcingthedilationofhisaerialcraft
totheutmost,soughtforothercurrentsofairatdifferent
heights,butinvain;andhesoongaveuptheattempt,
whichwasonlyaugmentingthewasteofgasbypressing
itagainstthewell-worntissueoftheballoon.
Hemadenoremark,buthebegantofeelveryanxious.
Thispersistenceofthewindtoheadhimofftowardthe
southernpartofAfricawasdefeatinghiscalculations,and
henolongerknewuponwhomoruponwhattodepend.
ShouldhenotreachtheEnglishorFrenchterritories,
whatwastobecomeofhiminthemidstofthebarbarous
tribesthatinfestthecoastsofGuinea?Howshouldhe
theregettoashiptotakehimbacktoEngland?And
theactualdirectionofthewindwasdrivinghimalongto
thekingdomofDahomey,amongthemostsavageraces,
andintothepowerofarulerwhowasinthehabitof
sacrificingthousandsofhumanvictimsathispublicorgies.
Therehewouldbelost!
Ontheotherhand,theballoonwasvisiblywearingout,
andthedoctorfeltitfailinghim.However,astheweather
wasclearingupalittle,hehopedthatthecessationofthe
rainwouldbringaboutachangeintheatmosphericcurrents.
ltwasthereforeadisagreeablereminderoftheactual
situationwhenJoesaidaloud:
"There!therain'sgoingtopourdownharderthanever;
andthistimeitwillbethedelugeitself,ifwe'reto
judgebyyoncloudthat'scomingup!"
"What!anothercloud?"askedFerguson.
"Yes,andafamousone,"repliedKennedy.
"lneversawthelikeofit,"addedJoe.
"lbreathefreelyagain!"saidthedoctor,layingdown
hisspy-glass."That'snotacloud!"
"Notacloud?"queriedJoe,withsurprise.
"No;itisaswarm."
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5wiab10
"Eh?"
"Aswarmofgrasshoppers!"
"That?Grasshoppers!"
"Myriadsofgrasshoppers,thataregoingtosweepover
thiscountrylikeawater-spout;andwoetoit!for,should
theseinsectsalight,itwillbelaidwaste."
"Thatwouldbeasightworthbeholding!"
"Waitalittle,Joe.lntenminutesthatcloudwill
havearrivedwhereweare,andyoucanthenjudgebythe
aidofyourowneyes."
Thedoctorwasright.Thecloud,thick,opaque,and
severalmilesinextent,cameonwithadeafeningnoise,
castingitsimmenseshadowoverthefields.ltwascomposed
ofnumberlesslegionsofthatspeciesofgrasshopper
calledcrickets.Aboutahundredpacesfromthe
balloon,theysettleddownuponatractfulloffoliageand
verdure.Fifteenminuteslater,themassresumedits
flight,andourtravellerscould,evenatadistance,seethe
treesandthebushesentirelystripped,andthefieldsas
bareasthoughtheyhadbeensweptwiththescythe.
Onewouldhavethoughtthatasuddenwinterhadjust
descendedupontheearthandstrucktheregionwiththe
mostcompletesterility.
"Well,Joe,whatdoyouthinkofthat?"
"Well,doctor,it'sverycurious,butquitenatural.
Whatonegrasshopperdoesonasmallscale,thousands
doonagrandscale."
"lt'saterribleshower,"saidthehunter;"moreso
thanhailitselfinthedevastationitcauses."
"ltisimpossibletopreventit,"repliedFerguson.
"Sometimestheinhabitantshavehadtheideatoburn
theforests,andeventhestandingcrops,inordertoarrest
theprogressoftheseinsects;butthefirstranksplunging
intotheflameswouldextinguishthembeneaththeirmass,
andtherestoftheswarmwouldthenpassirresistibly
onward.Fortunately,intheseregions,thereissomesort
ofcompensationfortheirravages,sincethenativesgather
theseinsectsingreatnumbersandgreedilyeatthem."
"Theyaretheprawnsoftheair,"saidJoe,whoadded
thathewassorrythathehadneverhadthechanceto
tastethem--justforinformation'ssake!
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5wiab10
Thecountrybecamemoremarshytowardevening;
theforestsdwindledtoisolatedclumpsoftrees;andon
thebordersoftherivercouldbeseenplantationsof
tobacco,andswampymeadow-landsfatwithforage.At
lastthecityofJenne,onalargeisland,cameinsight,
withthetwotowersofitsclay-builtmosque,andthe
putridodorofthemillionsofswallows'nestsaccumulated
initswalls.Thetopsofsomebaobabs,mimosas,and
date-treespeepedupbetweenthehouses;and,evenat
night,theactivityoftheplaceseemedverygreat.Jenne
is,infact,quiteacommercialcity:itsuppliesallthe
wantsofTimbuctoo.ltsboatsontheriver,anditscaravans
alongtheshadedroads,bearthitherthevarious
productsofitsindustry.
"Wereitnotthattodosowouldprolongourjourney,"
saidthedoctor,"lshouldliketoalightatthisplace.
TheremustbemorethanoneArabtherewhohastravelled
inEnglandandFrance,andtowhomourstyleoflocomotion
isnotaltogethernew.Butitwouldnotbeprudent."
"Letusputoffthevisituntilournexttrip,"saidJoe,
laughing.
"Besides,myfriends,unlesslammistaken,thewind
hasaslighttendencytoveeralittlemoretotheeastward,
andwemustnotlosesuchanopportunity."
Thedoctorthrewoverboardsomearticlesthatwere
nolongerofuse--someemptybottles,andacasethathad
containedpreserved-meat--andtherebymanagedtokeep
theballooninabeltoftheatmospheremorefavorableto
hisplans.Atfouro'clockinthemorningthefirstrays
ofthesunlightedupSego,thecapitalofBambarra,which
couldberecognizedatoncebythefourtownsthatcompose
it,byitsSaracenicmosques,andbytheincessant
goingandcomingoftheflat-bottomedboatsthatconvey
itsinhabitantsfromonequartertotheother.But
thetravellerswerenotmoreseenthantheysaw.They
spedrapidlyanddirectlytothenorthwest,andthedoctor's
anxietygraduallysubsided.
"Twomoredaysinthisdirection,andatthisrateof
speed,andwe'llreachtheSenegalRiver."
"Andwe'llbeinafriendlycountry?"askedthehunter.
"Notaltogether;but,iftheworstcametotheworst,
andtheballoonweretofailus,wemightmakeourway
totheFrenchsettlements.But,letitholdoutonlyfora
fewhundredmiles,andweshallarrivewithoutfatigue,
alarm,ordanger,atthewesterncoast."
"Andthethingwillbeover!"addedJoe."Heigh-ho!
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5wiab10
somuchtheworse.lfitwasn'tforthepleasureoftelling
aboutit,lwouldneverwanttosetfootontheground
again!Doyouthinkanybodywillbelieveourstory,doctor?"
"Whocantell,Joe?Onething,however,willbe
undeniable:athousandwitnessessawusstartonone
sideoftheAfricanContinent,andathousandmorewill
seeusarriveontheother."
"And,inthatcase,itseemstomethatitwouldbe
hardtosaythatwehadnotcrossedit,"addedKennedy.
"Ah,doctor!"saidJoeagain,withadeepsigh,"l'll
thinkmorethanonceofmylumpsofsolidgold-ore!
TherewassomethingthatwouldhavegivenWElGHTtoour
narrative!Atagrainofgoldperhead,lcouldhavegot
togetheranicecrowdtolistentome,andeventoadmireme!"
CHAPTERFORTY-FlRST.
TheApproachestoSenegal.--TheBalloonsinkslowerandlower.--They
keepthrowingout,throwingout.--TheMaraboutAl-Hadji.--Messrs.
Pascal,Vincent,andLambert.--ARivalofMohammed.--TheDifficult
Mountains.--Kennedy'sWeapons.--OneofJoe'sManoeuvres.--AHalt
overaForest.
Onthe27thofMay,atnineo'clockinthemorning,
thecountrypresentedanentirelydifferentaspect.The
slopes,extendingfaraway,changedtohillsthatgave
evidenceofmountainssoontofollow.Theywouldhaveto
crossthechainwhichseparatesthebasinoftheNiger
fromthebasinoftheSenegal,anddeterminesthecourse
ofthewater-shed,whethertotheGulfofGuineaonthe
onehand,ortothebayofCapeVerdeontheother.
AsfarasSenegal,thispartofAfricaismarkeddown
asdangerous.Dr.Fergusonknewitthroughtherecitals
ofhispredecessors.Theyhadsufferedathousandprivations
andbeenexposedtoathousanddangersinthemidst
ofthesebarbarousnegrotribes.ltwasthisfatalclimate
thathaddevouredmostofthecompanionsofMungoPark.
Ferguson,therefore,wasmorethaneverdecidednotto
setfootinthisinhospitableregion.
Buthehadnotenjoyedonemomentofrepose.The
Victoriawasdescendingveryperceptibly,somuchso
thathehadtothrowoverboardanumbermoreofuseless
articles,especiallywhentherewasamountain-toptopass.
Thingswentonthusformorethanonehundredand
twentymiles;theywerewornoutwithascendingand
fallingagain;theballoon,likeanotherrockofSisyphus,
keptcontinuallysinkingbacktowardtheground.The
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rotundityofthecovering,whichwasnowbutlittleinflated,
wascollapsingalready.ltassumedanelongatedshape,
andthewindhollowedlargecavitiesinthesilkensurface.
Kennedycouldnothelpobservingthis.
"lsthereacrackoratearintheballoon?"heasked.
"No,buttheguttaperchahasevidentlysoftenedor
meltedintheheat,andthehydrogenisescapingthrough
thesilk."
"Howcanwepreventthat?"
"ltisimpossible.Letuslightenher.Thatisthe
onlyhelp.Soletusthrowouteverythingwecanspare."
"Butwhatshallitbe?"saidthehunter,lookingat
thecar,whichwasalreadyquitebare.
"Well,letusgetridoftheawning,foritsweightis
quiteconsiderable."
Joe,whowasinterestedinthisorder,climbedupon
thecirclewhichkepttogetherthecordageofthenetwork,
andfromthatplaceeasilymanagedtodetachtheheavy
curtainsoftheawningandthrowthemoverboard.
"There'ssomethingthatwillgladdentheheartsofa
wholetribeofblacks,"saidhe;"there'senoughtodress
athousandofthem,forthey'renotveryextravagantwith
cloth."
Theballoonhadrisenalittle,butitsoonbecameevident
thatitwasagainapproachingtheground.
"Letusalight,"suggestedKennedy,"andseewhat
canbedonewiththecoveringoftheballoon."
"ltellyou,again,Dick,thatwehavenomeansofrepairingit."
"Thenwhatshallwedo?"
"We'llhavetosacrificeeverythingnotabsolutelyindispensable;
lamanxious,atallhazards,toavoidadetentioninthese
regions.Theforestsoverthetopsofwhichweareskimmingare
anythingbutsafe."
"What!aretherelionsinthem,orhyenas?"asked
Joe,withanexpressionofsovereigncontempt.
"Worsethanthat,myboy!Therearemen,andsome
ofthemostcruel,too,inallAfrica."
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5wiab10
"Howisthatknown?"
"Bythestatementsoftravellerswhohavebeenhere
beforeus.ThentheFrenchsettlers,whooccupythe
colonyofSenegal,necessarilyhaverelationswiththe
surroundingtribes.UndertheadministrationofColonel
Faidherbe,reconnoissanceshavebeenpushedfarupinto
thecountry.OfficerssuchasMessrs.Pascal,Vincent,and
Lambert,havebroughtbackpreciousdocumentsfromtheir
expeditions.Theyhaveexploredthesecountriesformedby
theelbowoftheSenegalinplaceswherewarandpillage
haveleftnothingbutruins."
"What,then,tookplace?"
"lwilltellyou.ln1854aMaraboutoftheSenegalese
Fouta,Al-Hadjibyname,declaringhimselftobeinspired
likeMohammed,stirredupallthetribestowar
againsttheinfidels--thatistosay,againstthe
Europeans.Hecarrieddestructionanddesolationoverthe
regionsbetweentheSenegalRiveranditstributary,
theFateme.Threehordesoffanaticsledonbyhim
scouredthecountry,sparingneitheravillagenorahut
intheirpillaging,massacringcareer.Headvancedin
persononthetownofSego,whichwasalongtime
threatened.ln1857heworkedupfarthertothenorthward,
andinvestedthefortificationofMedina,builtbythe
Frenchonthebankoftheriver.Thisstrongholdwas
defendedbyPaulHoll,who,forseveralmonths,without
provisionsorammunition,heldoutuntilColonelFaidherbe
cametohisrelief.Al-Hadjiandhisbandsthen
repassedtheSenegal,andreappearedintheKaarta,
continuingtheirrapineandmurder.--Well,herebelowus
istheverycountryinwhichhehasfoundrefugewithhis
hordesofbanditti;andlassureyouthatitwouldnotbe
agoodthingtofallintohishands."
"Weshallnot,"saidJoe,"evenifwehavetothrow
overboardourclothestosavetheVictoria."
"Wearenotfarfromtheriver,"saidthedoctor,"but
lforeseethatourballoonwillnotbeabletocarry
usbeyondit."
"Letusreachitsbanks,atallevents,"saidtheScot,
"andthatwillbesomuchgained."
"Thatiswhatwearetryingtodo,"rejoinedFerguson,
"onlythatonethingmakesmefeelanxious."
"Whatisthat?"
"Weshallhavemountainstopass,andthatwillbe
difficulttodo,sincelcannotaugmenttheascensionalforce
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5wiab10
oftheballoon,evenwiththegreatestpossibleheatthatl
canproduce."
"Well,waitabit,"saidKennedy,"andweshallsee!"
"ThepoorVictoria!"sighedJoe;"lhadgotfond
ofherasthesailordoesofhisship,andl'llnotgiveher
upsoeasily.Shemaynotbewhatshewasatthestart--
granted;butweshouldn'tsayawordagainsther.She
hasdoneusgoodservice,anditwouldbreakmyheartto
deserther."
"Beatyourease,Joe;ifweleaveher,itwillbein
spiteofourselves.She'llserveusuntilshe'scompletely
wornout,andlaskofheronlytwenty-fourhoursmore!"
"Ah,she'sgettingusedup!Shegrowsthinnerand
thinner,"saidJoe,dolefully,whileheeyedher."Poor
balloon!"
"Unlesslamdeceived,"saidKennedy,"thereonthe
horizonarethemountainsofwhichyouwerespeaking,
doctor."
"Yes,theretheyare,indeed!"exclaimedthedoctor,
afterhavingexaminedthemthroughhisspy-glass,"and
theylookveryhigh.Weshallhavesometroublein
crossingthem."
"Canwenotavoidthem?"
"lamafraidnot,Dick.Seewhatanimmensespace
theyoccupy--nearlyone-halfofthehorizon!"
"Theyevenseemtoshutusin,"addedJoe."They
aregainingonbothourrightandourleft."
"Wemustthenpassoverthem."
Theseobstacles,whichthreatenedsuchimminentperil,
seemedtoapproachwithextremerapidity,or,tospeak
moreaccurately,thewind,whichwasveryfresh,was
hurryingtheballoontowardthesharppeaks.Soriseit
must,orbedashedtopieces.
"Letusemptyourtankofwater,"saidthedoctor,
"andkeeponlyenoughforoneday."
"Thereitgoes,"shoutedJoe.
"Doestheballoonriseatall?"askedKennedy.
"Alittle--somefiftyfeet,"repliedthedoctor,who
kepthiseyesfixedonthebarometer."Butthatisnot
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5wiab10
enough."
lntruththeloftypeakswerestartingupsoswiftlybefore
thetravellersthattheyseemedtoberushingdownuponthem.
Theballoonwasfarfromrisingabovethem.Shelackedan
elevationofmorethanfivehundredfeetmore.
Thestockofwaterforthecylinderwasalsothrown
overboardandonlyafewpintswereretained,butstillall
thiswasnotenough.
"Wemustpassthemthough!"urgedthedoctor.
"Letusthrowoutthetanks--wehaveemptiedthem."
saidKennedy.
"Overwiththem!"
"Theretheygo!"pantedJoe."Butit'shardtosee
ourselvesdroppingoffthiswaybypiecemeal."
"Now,foryourpart,Joe,makenoattempttosacrifice
yourselfasyoudidtheotherday!Whateverhappens,
sweartomethatyouwillnotleaveus!"
"Havenofears,mymaster,weshallnotbeseparated."
TheVictoriahadascendedsomehundredandtwenty
feet,butthecrestofthemountainstilltoweredaboveit.
ltwasanalmostperpendicularridgethatendedinaregular
wallrisingabruptlyinastraightline.ltstillrose
morethantwohundredfeetovertheaeronauts.
"lntenminutes,"saidthedoctortohimself,"ourcar
willbedashedagainstthoserocksunlesswesucceedin
passingthem!"
"Well,doctor?"queriedJoe.
"Keepnothingbutourpemmican,andthrowoutall
theheavymeat."
Thereupontheballoonwasagainlightenedbysome
fiftypounds,anditroseveryperceptibly,butthatwasof
littleconsequence,unlessitgotabovethelineofthe
mountain-tops.Thesituationwasterrifying.TheVictoria
wasrushingonwithgreatrapidity.Theycould
feelthatshewouldbedashedtopieces--thattheshock
wouldbefearful.
Thedoctorglancedaroundhiminthecar.ltwas
nearlyempty.
"lfneedsbe,Dick,holdyourselfinreadinesstothrow
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5wiab10
overyourfire-arms!"
"Sacrificemyfire-arms?"repeatedthesportsman,
withintensefeeling.
"Myfriend,laskit;itwillbeabsolutelynecessary!"
"Samuel!Doctor!"
"Yourguns,andyourstockofpowderandballmight
costusourlives."
"Weareclosetoit!"criedJoe.
Sixtyfeet!Themountainstillovertoppedtheballoon
bysixtyfeet.
Joetooktheblanketsandothercoveringsandtossed
themout;then,withoutawordtoKennedy,hethrew
overseveralbagsofbulletsandlead.
Theballoonwentupstillhigher;itsurmountedthe
dangerousridge,andtheraysofthesunshoneuponits
uppermostextremity;butthecarwasstillbelowthelevel
ofcertainbrokenmassesofrock,againstwhichitwould
inevitablybedashed.
"Kennedy!Kennedy!throwoutyourfire-arms,or
wearelost!"shoutedthedoctor.
"Wait,sir;waitonemoment!"theyheardJoeexclaim,
and,lookingaround,theysawJoedisappearover
theedgeoftheballoon.
"Joe!Joe!"criedKennedy.
"Wretchedman!"wasthedoctor'sagonizedexpression.
Theflattopofthemountainmayhavehadabout
twentyfeetinbreadthatthispoint,and,ontheother
side,theslopepresentedalessdeclivity.Thecarjust
touchedthelevelofthisplane,whichhappenedtobequite
even,anditglidedoverasoilcomposedofsharppebbles
thatgratedasitpassed.
"We'reoverit!we'reoverit!we'reclear!"criedout
anexultingvoicethatmadeFerguson'sheartleaptohis
throat.
Thedaringfellowwasthere,graspingthelowerrimof
thecar,andrunningafootoverthetopofthemountain,
thuslighteningtheballoonofhiswholeweight.Hehad
toholdonwithallhisstrength,too,foritwaslikelyto
escapehisgraspatanymoment.
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5wiab10
Whenhehadreachedtheoppositedeclivity,andthe
abysswasbeforehim,Joe,byavigorouseffort,hoisted
himselffromtheground,and,clamberingupbythecordage,
rejoinedhisfriends.
"Thatwasall!"hecoollyejaculated.
"MybraveJoe!myfriend!"saidthedoctor,with
deepemotion.
"Oh!whatldid,"laughedtheother,"wasnotfor
you;itwastosaveMr.Kennedy'srifle.lowedhim
thatgoodturnfortheaffairwiththeArab!lliketo
paymydebts,andnowweareeven,"addedhe,handing
tothesportsmanhisfavoriteweapon."l'dfeelvery
badlytoseeyoudeprivedofit."
Kennedyheartilyshookthebravefellow'shand,without
beingabletoutteraword.
TheVictoriahadnothingtodonowbuttodescend.
Thatwaseasyenough,sothatshewassoonataheight
ofonlytwohundredfeetfromtheground,andwasthen
inequilibrium.Thesurfaceseemedverymuchbroken
asthoughbyaconvulsionofnature.ltpresentednumerous
inequalities,whichwouldhavebeenverydifficultto
avoidduringthenightwithaballoonthatcouldnolonger
becontrolled.Eveningwascomingonrapidly,and,
notwithstandinghisrepugnance,thedoctorhadtomake
uphismindtohaltuntilmorning.
"We'llnowlookforafavorablestopping-place,"saidhe.
"Ah!"repliedKennedy,"youhavemadeupyour
mind,then,atlast?"
"Yes,lhaveforalongtimebeenthinkingoveraplan
whichwe'lltrytoputintoexecution;itisonlysixo'clock
intheevening,andweshallhavetimeenough.Throw
outyouranchors,Joe!"
Joeimmediatelyobeyed,andthetwoanchorsdangled
belowtheballoon.
"lseelargeforestsaheadofus,"saidthedoctor;"we
aregoingtosweepalongtheirtops,andweshallgrapple
tosometree,fornothingwouldmakemethinkofpassing
thenightbelow,ontheground."
"Butcanwenotdescend?"askedKennedy.
"Towhatpurpose?lrepeatthatitwouldbedangerous
forustoseparate,and,besides,lclaimyourhelp
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5wiab10
foradifficultpieceofwork."
TheVictoria,whichwasskimmingalongthetopsof
immenseforests,sooncametoasharphalt.Heranchors
hadcaught,and,thewindfallingasduskcameon,she
remainedmotionlesslysuspendedaboveavastfieldof
verdure,formedbythetopsofaforestofsycamores.
CHAPTERFORTY-SECOND.
AStruggleofGenerosity.--TheLastSacrifice.--TheDilatingApparatus.
--Joe'sAdroitness.--Midnight.--TheDoctor'sWatch.--Kennedy'sWatch.
--TheLatterfallsasleepathisPost.--TheFire.--TheHowlingsofthe
Natives.--OutofRange.
DoctorFerguson'sfirstcarewastotakehisbearings
bystellarobservation,andhediscoveredthathewas
scarcelytwenty-fivemilesfromSenegal.
"Allthatwecanmanagetodo,myfriends,"saidhe,
afterhavingpointedhismap,"istocrosstheriver;but,
asthereisneitherbridgenorboat,wemust,atallhazards,
crossitwiththeballoon,and,inordertodothat,wemust
stilllightenup."
"Butldon'texactlyseehowwecandothat?"replied
Kennedy,anxiousabouthisfire-arms,"unlessoneofus
makesuphismindtosacrificehimselffortherest,--that
is,tostaybehind,and,inmyturn,lclaimthathonor."
"You,indeed!"remonstratedJoe;"ain'tlusedto--"
"Thequestionnowis,nottothrowourselvesoutof
thecar,butsimplytoreachthecoastofAfricaonfoot.l
amafirst-ratewalker,agoodsportsman,and--"
"l'llneverconsenttoit!"insistedJoe.
"Yourgenerousrivalryisuseless,mybravefriends,"
saidFerguson;"ltrustthatweshallnotcometoany
suchextremity:besides,ifwedid,insteadofseparating,
weshouldkeeptogether,soastomakeourwayacrossthe
countryincompany."
"That'sthetalk,"saidJoe;"alittletrampwon'tdo
usanyharm."
"Butbeforewetrythat,"resumedthedoctor,"we
mustemployalastmeansoflighteningtheballoon."
"Whatwillthatbe?lshouldliketoseeit,"said
Kennedy,incredulously.
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5wiab10
"Wemustgetridofthecylinder-chests,thespiral,
andtheBuntzenbattery.Ninehundredpoundsmakea
ratherheavyloadtocarrythroughtheair."
"Butthen,Samuel,howwillyoudilateyourgas?"
"lshallnotdosoatall.We'llhavetogetalong
withoutit."
"But--"
"Listen,myfriends:lhavecalculatedveryexactly
theamountofascensionalforcelefttous,anditis
sufficienttocarryuseveryonewiththefewobjectsthat
remain.Weshallmakeinallaweightofhardlyfive
hundredpounds,includingthetwoanchorswhichldesire
tokeep."
"Deardoctor,youknowmoreaboutthematterthan
wedo;youarethesolejudgeofthesituation.Tellus
whatweoughttodo,andwewilldoit."
"lamatyourorders,master,"addedJoe.
"lrepeat,myfriends,thathoweverseriousthedecision
mayappear,wemustsacrificeourapparatus."
"Letitgo,then!"saidKennedy,promptly.
"Towork!"saidJoe.
ltwasnoeasyjob.Theapparatushadtobetaken
downpiecebypiece.First,theytookoutthemixing
reservoir,thentheonebelongingtothecylinder,and
lastlythetankinwhichthedecompositionofthewater
waseffected.Theunitedstrengthofallthreetravellers
wasrequiredtodetachthesereservoirsfromthebottom
ofthecarinwhichtheyhadbeensofirmlysecured;but
Kennedywassostrong,Joesoadroit,andthedoctorso
ingenious,thattheyfinallysucceeded.Thedifferent
pieceswerethrownout,oneaftertheother,andthey
disappearedbelow,makinghugegapsinthefoliageof
thesycamores.
"Theblackfellowswillbemightilyastonished,"said
Joe,"atfindingthingslikethoseinthewoods;they'll
makeidolsofthem!"
Thenextthingtobelookedafterwasthedisplacement
ofthepipesthatwerefastenedintheballoonand
connectedwiththespiral.Joesucceededincuttingthe
caoutchoucjointingsabovethecar,butwhenhecameto
thepipeshefounditmoredifficulttodisengagethem,
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5wiab10
becausetheywereheldbytheirupperextremityandfastened
bywirestotheverycircletofthevalve.
ThenitwasthatJoeshowedwonderfuladroitness.
lnhisnakedfeet,soasnottoscratchthecovering,he
succeededbytheaidofthenetwork,andinspiteofthe
oscillationsoftheballoon,inclimbingtotheupper
extremity,andafterathousanddifficulties,inholdingon
withonehandtothatslipperysurface,whilehedetached
theoutsidescrewsthatsecuredthepipesintheirplace.
Theseweretheneasilytakenout,anddrawnawaybythe
lowerend,whichwashermeticallysealedbymeansofa
strongligature.
TheVictoria,relievedofthisconsiderableweight,rose
uprightintheairandtuggedstronglyattheanchor-rope.
Aboutmidnightthisworkendedwithoutaccident,but
atthecostofmostsevereexertion,andthetriopartook
ofaluncheonofpemmicanandcoldpunch,asthedoctor
hadnomorefiretoplaceatJoe'sdisposal.
Besides,thelatterandKennedyweredroppingoff
theirfeetwithfatigue.
"Liedown,myfriends,andgetsomerest,"saidthe
doctor."l'lltakethefirstwatch;attwoo'clockl'll
wakenKennedy;atfour,KennedywillwakenJoe,and
atsixwe'llstart;andmayHeavenhaveusinitskeeping
forthislastdayofthetrip!"
Withoutwaitingtobecoaxed,thedoctor'stwocompanions
stretchedthemselvesatthebottomofthecarand
droppedintoprofoundslumberontheinstant.
Thenightwascalm.Afewcloudsbrokeagainstthe
lastquarterofthemoon,whoseuncertainraysscarcely
piercedthedarkness.Ferguson,restinghiselbowsonthe
rimofthecar,gazedattentivelyaroundhim.Hewatched
withcloseattentionthedarkscreenoffoliagethatspread
beneathhim,hidingthegroundfromhisview.Theleast
noisearousedhissuspicions,andhequestionedeventhe
slightestrustlingoftheleaves.
Hewasinthatmoodwhichsolitudemakesmorekeenly
felt,andduringwhichvagueterrorsmounttothebrain.
Atthecloseofsuchajourney,afterhavingsurmounted
somanyobstacles,andatthemomentoftouchingthe
goal,one'sfearsaremorevivid,one'semotionskeener.
Thepointofarrivalseemstoflyfartherfromourgaze.
Moreover,thepresentsituationhadnothingveryconsolatory
aboutit.Theywereinthemidstofabarbarous
country,anddependentuponavehiclethatmightfail
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5wiab10
thematanymoment.Thedoctornolongercountedimplicitly
onhisballoon;thetimehadgonebywhenhe
manoevreditboldlybecausehefeltsureofit.
Undertheinfluenceoftheseimpressions,thedoctor,
fromtimetotime,thoughtthatheheardvaguesoundsin
thevastforestsaroundhim;heevenfanciedthathesaw
aswiftgleamoffireshiningbetweenthetrees.Helooked
sharplyandturnedhisnight-glasstowardthespot;but
therewasnothingtobeseen,andtheprofoundestsilence
appearedtoreturn.
Hehad,nodoubt,beenunderthedominionofamere
hallucination.Hecontinuedtolisten,butwithouthearing
theslightestnoise.Whenhiswatchhadexpired,he
wokeKennedy,and,enjoininguponhimtoobservethe
extremestvigilance,tookhisplacebesideJoe,andfell
soundasleep.
Kennedy,whilestillrubbinghiseyes,whichhecould
scarcelykeepopen,calmlylithispipe.Hethenensconced
himselfinacorner,andbegantosmokevigorouslybyway
ofkeepingawake.
Themostabsolutesilencereignedaroundhim;alight
windshookthetree-topsandgentlyrockedthecar,inviting
thehuntertotastethesleepthatstoleoverhimin
spiteofhimself.Hestrovehardtoresistit,andrepeatedly
openedhiseyestoplungeintotheouterdarknessone
ofthoselooksthatseenothing;butatlast,yieldingto
fatigue,hesankbackandslumbered.
Howlonghehadbeenburiedinthisstuporheknew
not,buthewassuddenlyarousedfromitbyastrange,
unexpectedcracklingsound.
Herubbedhiseyesandsprangtohisfeet.Anintense
glarehalf-blindedhimandheatedhischeek--theforest
wasinflames!
"Fire!fire!"heshouted,scarcelycomprehending
whathadhappened.
Histwocompanionsstartedupinalarm.
"What'sthematter?"wasthedoctor'simmediate
exclamation.
"Fire!"saidJoe."Butwhocould--"
Atthismomentloudyellswereheardunderthefoliage,
whichwasnowilluminatedasbrightlyastheday.
"Ah!thesavages!"criedJoeagain;"theyhaveset
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firetotheforestsoastobethemorecertainofburning
usup."
"TheTalabas!Al-Hadji'smarabouts,nodoubt,"said
thedoctor.
AcircleoffirehemmedtheVictoriain;thecrackling
ofthedrywoodmingledwiththehissingandsputtering
ofthegreenbranches;theclamberingvines,thefoliage,
allthelivingpartofthisvegetation,writhedinthe
destructiveelement.Theeyetookinnothingbutonevast
oceanofflame;thelargetreesstoodforthinblackrelief
inthishugefurnace,theirbranchescoveredwithglowing
coals,whilethewholeblazingmass,theentireconflagration,
wasreflectedontheclouds,andthetravellerscould
fancythemselvesenvelopedinahollowglobeoffire.
"Letusescapetotheground!"shoutedKennedy,
"itisouronlychanceofsafety!"
ButFergusoncheckedhimwithafirmgrasp,and,
dashingattheanchor-rope,severeditwithonewell-directed
blowofhishatchet.Meanwhile,theflames,leapingupat
theballoon,alreadyquiveredonitsilluminatedsides;but
theVictoria,releasedfromherfastenings,spun
upwardathousandfeetintotheair.
Frightfulyellsresoundedthroughtheforest,along
withthereportoffire-arms,whiletheballoon,caughtina
currentofairthatrosewiththedawnofday,wasborneto
thewestward.
ltwasnowfouro'clockinthemorning.
CHAPTERFORTY-THlRD.
TheTalabas.--ThePursuit.--ADevastatedCountry.--TheWindbeginsto
fall.--TheVictoriasinks.--ThelastoftheProvisions.--TheLeapsof
theBalloon.--ADefencewithFire-arms.--TheWindfreshens.--TheSenegal
River.--TheCataractsofGouina.--TheHotAir.--ThePassageoftheRiver.
"Hadwenottakentheprecautiontolightentheballoon
yesterdayevening,weshouldhavebeenlostbeyond
redemption,"saidthedoctor,afteralongsilence.
"Seewhat'sgainedbydoingthingsattheright
time!"repliedJoe."Onegetsoutofscrapesthen,and
nothingismorenatural."
"Wearenotoutofdangeryet,"saidthedoctor.
"Whatdoyoustillapprehend?"queriedKennedy.
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5wiab10
"Theballooncan'tdescendwithoutyourpermission,and
evenwereittodoso--"
"Wereittodoso,Dick?Look!"
Theyhadjustpassedthebordersoftheforest,and
thethreefriendscouldseesomethirtymountedmenclad
inbroadpantaloonsandthefloatingbournouses.Theywere
armed,somewithlances,andotherswithlongmuskets,
andtheywerefollowing,ontheirquick,fierylittlesteeds,
thedirectionoftheballoon,whichwasmovingatonly
moderatespeed.
Whentheycaughtsightoftheaeronauts,theyuttered
savagecries,andbrandishedtheirweapons.Angerand
menacecouldbereadupontheirswarthyfaces,made
moreferociousbythinbutbristlingbeards.Meanwhile
theygallopedalongwithoutdifficultyoverthelowlevels
andgentledeclivitiesthatleaddowntotheSenegal.
"ltis,indeed,they!"saidthedoctor;"thecruel
Talabas!theferociousmaraboutsofAl-Hadji!lwould
ratherfindmyselfinthemiddleoftheforestencircledby
wildbeaststhanfallintothehandsofthesebanditti."
"Theyhaven'taveryobliginglook!"assentedKennedy;
"andtheyarerough,stalwartfellows."
"Happilythosebrutescan'tfly,"remarkedJoe;"and
that'ssomething."
"See,"saidFerguson,"thosevillagesinruins,those
hutsburneddown--thatistheirwork!Wherevast
stretchesofcultivatedlandwereonceseen,theyhave
broughtbarrennessanddevastation."
"Atallevents,however,"interposedKennedy,"they
can'tovertakeus;and,ifwesucceedinputtingtheriver
betweenusandthem,wearesafe."
"Perfectly,Dick,"repliedFerguson;"butwemust
notfalltotheground!"and,ashesaidthis,heglanced
atthebarometer.
"lnanycase,Joe,"addedKennedy,"itwoulddous
noharmtolooktoourfire-arms."
"Noharmintheworld,Mr.Dick!Wearelucky
thatwedidn'tscatterthemalongtheroad."
"Myrifle!"saidthesportsman."lhopethatlshall
neverbeseparatedfromit!"
Andsosaying,Kennedyloadedthepetpiecewiththe
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greatestcare,forhehadplentyofpowderandballremaining.
"Atwhatheightarewe?"heaskedthedoctor.
"Aboutsevenhundredandfiftyfeet;butwenolonger
havethepowerofseekingfavorablecurrents,eithergoing
uporcomingdown.Weareatthemercyoftheballoon!"
"Thatisvexatious!"rejoinedKennedy."Thewind
ispoor;butifwehadcomeacrossahurricanelikesome
ofthosewemetbefore,thesevilebrigandswouldhave
beenoutofsightlongago."
"Therascalsfollowusattheirleisure,"saidJoe.
"They'reonlyatashortgallop.Quiteanicelittle
ride!"
"lfwewerewithinrange,"sighedthesportsman,"l
shouldamusemyselfwithdismountingafewofthem."
"Exactly,"saidthedoctor;"butthentheywould
haveyouwithinrangealso,andourballoonwouldoffer
onlytooplainatargettothebulletsfromtheirlongguns;
and,iftheyweretomakeaholeinit,lleaveyoutojudge
whatoursituationwouldbe!"
ThepursuitoftheTalabascontinuedallmorning;
andbyeleveno'clocktheaeronautshadmadescarcely
fifteenmilestothewestward.
Thedoctorwasanxiouslywatchingfortheleastcloud
onthehorizon.Hefeared,aboveallthings,achangein
theatmosphere.Shouldhebethrownbacktowardthe
Niger,whatwouldbecomeofhim?Besides,heremarked
thattheballoontendedtofallconsiderably.Sincethe
start,hehadalreadylostmorethanthreehundredfeet,
andtheSenegalmustbeaboutadozenmilesdistant.
Athispresentrateofspeed,hecouldcountupon
travellingonlythreehourslonger.
Atthismomenthisattentionwasattractedbyfresh
cries.TheTalabasappearedtobemuchexcited,and
werespurringtheirhorses.
Thedoctorconsultedhisbarometer,andatoncediscovered
thecauseofthesesymptoms.
"Arewedescending?"askedKennedy.
"Yes!"repliedthedoctor.
"Themischief!"thoughtJoe
lnthelapseoffifteenminutestheVictoriawasonly
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5wiab10
onehundredandfiftyfeetabovetheground;butthe
windwasmuchstrongerthanbefore.
TheTalabascheckedtheirhorses,andsoonavolley
ofmusketrypealedoutontheair.
"Toofar,youfools!"bawledJoe."lthinkitwould
bewelltokeepthosescampsatadistance."
And,ashespoke,heaimedatoneofthehorsemen
whowasfarthesttothefront,andfired.TheTalabafell
headlong,and,hiscompanionshaltingforamoment,the
balloongaineduponthem.
"Theyareprudent!"saidKennedy.
"Becausetheythinkthattheyarecertaintotakeus,"
repliedthedoctor;"and,theywillsucceedifwedescend
muchfarther.Wemust,absolutely,gethigherintotheair."
"Whatcanwethrowout?"askedJoe.
"Allthatremainsofourstockofpemmican;thatwill
bethirtypoundslessweighttocarry."
"Outitgoes,sir!"saidJoe,obeyingorders.
Thecar,whichwasnowalmosttouchingtheground,
roseagain,amidthecriesoftheTalabas;but,halfan
hourlater,theballoonwasagainfallingrapidly,because
thegaswasescapingthroughtheporesofthecovering.
Erelongthecarwasoncemoregrazingthesoil,and
Al-Hadji'sblackridersrushedtowardit;but,asfrequently
happensinlikecases,theballoonhadscarcely
touchedthesurfaceereitrebounded,andonlycamedown
againamileaway.
"Soweshallnotescape!"saidKennedy,betweenhisteeth.
"Throwoutourreservedstoreofbrandy,Joe,"cried
thedoctor;"ourinstruments,andeverythingthathas
anyweight,eventoourlastanchor,becausegotheymust!"
Joeflungoutthebarometersandthermometers,but
allthatamountedtolittle;andtheballoon,whichhad
risenforaninstant,fellagaintowardtheground.
TheTalabasflewtowardit,andatlengthwerenot
morethantwohundredpacesaway.
"Throwoutthetwofowling-pieces!"shoutedFerguson.
"Notwithoutdischargingthem,atleast,"responded
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5wiab10
thesportsman;andfourshotsinquicksuccessionstruck
thethickoftheadvancinggroupofhorsemen.Four
Talabasfell,amidthefrantichowlsandimprecationsof
theircomrades.
TheVictoriaascendedoncemore,andmadesome
enormousleaps,likeahugegum-elasticball,bounding
andreboundingthroughtheair.Astrangesightitwas
toseetheseunfortunatemenendeavoringtoescapeby
thosehugeaerialstrides,andseeming,likethegiant
Antaeus,toreceivefreshstrengtheverytimetheytouched
theearth.Butthissituationhadtoterminate.ltwas
nownearlynoon;theVictoriawasgettingemptyand
exhausted,andassumingamoreandmoreelongatedform
everyinstant.ltsoutercoveringwasbecomingflaccid,
andfloatedlooselyintheair,andthefoldsofthesilk
rustledandgratedoneachother.
"Heavenabandonsus!"saidKennedy;"wehavetofall!"
Joemadenoanswer.Hekeptlookingintentlyathismaster.
"No!"saidthelatter;"wehavemorethanonehundred
andfiftypoundsyettothrowout."
"Whatcanitbe,then?"saidKennedy,thinkingthat
thedoctormustbegoingmad.
"Thecar!"washisreply;"wecanclingtothe
network.Therewecanhangoninthemeshesuntilwe
reachtheriver.Quick!quick!"
Andthesedaringmendidnothesitateamomentto
availthemselvesofthislastdesperatemeansofescape.
Theyclutchedthenetwork,asthedoctordirected,and
Joe,holdingonbyonehand,withtheothercutthecords
thatsuspendedthecar;andthelatterdroppedtothe
groundjustastheballoonwassinkingforthelasttime.
"Hurrah!hurrah!"shoutedthebravefellowexultingly,
astheVictoria,oncemorerelieved,shotupagaintoa
heightofthreehundredfeet.
TheTalabasspurredtheirhorses,whichnowcame
tearingonatafuriousgallop;buttheballoon,fallingin
withamuchmorefavorablewind,shotaheadofthem,
andwasrapidlycarriedtowardahillthatstretchedacross
thehorizontothewestward.Thiswasacircumstance
favorabletotheaeronauts,becausetheycouldriseover
thehill,whileAl-Hadji'shordehadtodivergetothe
northwardinordertopassthisobstacle.
Thethreefriendsstillclungtothenetwork.They
hadbeenabletofastenitundertheirfeet,whereithad
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5wiab10
formedasortofswingingpocket.
Suddenly,aftertheyhadcrossedthehill,thedoctor
exclaimed:"Theriver!theriver!theSenegal,myfriends!"
Andabouttwomilesaheadofthem,therewasindeed
theriverrollingalongitsbroadmassofwater,whilethe
fartherbank,whichwaslowandfertile,offeredasure
refuge,andaplacefavorableforadescent.
"Anotherquarterofanhour,"saidFerguson,"and
wearesaved!"
Butitwasnottohappenthus;theemptyballoondescended
slowlyuponatractalmostentirelybareofvegetation.lt
wasmadeupoflongslopesandstonyplains,a
fewbushesandsomecoarsegrass,scorchedbythesun.
TheVictoriatouchedthegroundseveraltimes,and
roseagain,butherreboundwasdiminishinginheightand
length.Atthelastone,itcaughtbytheupperpartof
thenetworkintheloftybranchesofabaobab,theonly
treethatstoodthere,solitaryandalone,inthemidstof
thewaste.
"lt'sallover,"saidKennedy.
"Andatahundredpacesonlyfromtheriver!"
groanedJoe.
Thethreehaplessaeronautsdescendedtotheground,
andthedoctordrewhiscompanionstowardtheSenegal.
Atthispointtheriversentforthaprolongedroaring;
andwhenFergusonreacheditsbank,herecognizedthe
fallsofGouina.Butnotaboat,notalivingcreaturewas
tobeseen.Withabreadthoftwothousandfeet,the
Senegalprecipitatesitselfforaheightofonehundredand
fifty,withathunderingreverberation.ltran,wherethey
sawit,fromeasttowest,andthelineofrocksthatbarred
itscourseextendedfromnorthtosouth.lnthemidstof
thefalls,rocksofstrangeformsstarteduplikehuge
ante-diluviananimals,petrifiedthereamidthewaters.
Theimpossibilityofcrossingthisgulfwasself-evident,
andKennedycouldnotrestrainagestureofdespair.
ButDr.Ferguson,withanenergeticaccentofundaunted
daring,exclaimed--
"Allisnotover!"
"lknewit,"saidJoe,withthatconfidenceinhismaster
whichnothingcouldevershake.
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5wiab10
Thesightofthedried-upgrasshadinspiredthedoctor
withaboldidea.ltwasthelastchanceofescape.He
ledhisfriendsquicklybacktowheretheyhadleftthe
coveringoftheballoon.
"Wehaveatleastanhour'sstartofthosebanditti,"
saidhe;"letuslosenotime,myfriends;gatheraquantity
ofthisdriedgrass;lwantahundredpoundsofit,atleast."
"Forwhatpurpose?"askedKennedy,surprised.
"lhavenomoregas;well,l'llcrosstheriverwithhotair!"
"Ah,doctor,"exclaimedKennedy,"youare,indeed,
agreatman!"
JoeandKennedyatoncewenttowork,andsoonhad
animmensepileofdriedgrassheapedupnearthebaobab.
lnthemeantime,thedoctorhadenlargedtheorifice
oftheballoonbycuttingitopenatthelowerend.He
thenwasverycarefultoexpelthelastremnantofhydrogen
throughthevalve,afterwhichheheapedupaquantityof
grassundertheballoon,andsetfiretoit.
lttakesbutalittlewhiletoinflateaballoonwithhot
air.Aheadofonehundredandeightydegreesissufficient
todiminishtheweightoftheairitcontainstothe
extentofone-half,byrarefyingit.Thus,theVictoria
quicklybegantoassumeamoreroundedform.There
wasnolackofgrass;thefirewaskeptinfullblastbythe
doctor'sassiduousefforts,andtheballoongrewfullerevery
instant.
ltwasthenaquartertofouro'clock.
AtthismomentthebandofTalabasreappearedabout
twomilestothenorthward,andthethreefriendscould
heartheircries,andtheclatteroftheirhorsesgalloping
atfullspeed.
"lntwentyminutestheywillbehere!"saidKennedy.
"Moregrass!moregrass,Joe!lntenminuteswe
shallhaveherfullofhotair."
"Hereitis,doctor!"
TheVictoriawasnowtwo-thirdsinflated.
"Come,myfriends,letustakeholdofthenetwork,as
wedidbefore."
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5wiab10
"Allright!"theyansweredtogether.
lnabouttenminutesafewjerkingmotionsbytheballoon
indicatedthatitwasdisposedtostartagain.The
Talabaswereapproaching.Theywerehardlyfivehundred
pacesaway.
"Holdonfast!"criedFerguson.
"Havenofear,master--havenofear!"
Andthedoctor,withhisfootpushedanotherheapof
grassuponthefire.
Withthistheballoon,nowcompletelyinflatedbythe
increasedtemperature,movedaway,sweepingthebranches
ofthebaobabinherflight.
"We'reoff!"shoutedJoe.
Avolleyofmusketryrespondedtohisexclamation.A
bulletevenploughedhisshoulder;butKennedy,leaning
over,anddischarginghisriflewithonehand,brought
anotheroftheenemytotheground.
Criesoffuryexceedingalldescriptionhailedthedeparture
oftheballoon,whichhadatonceascendednearly
eighthundredfeet.Aswiftcurrentcaughtandsweptit
alongwiththemostalarmingoscillations,whilethe
intrepiddoctorandhisfriendssawthegulfofthe
cataractsyawningbelowthem.
Tenminuteslater,andwithouthavingexchangeda
word,theydescendedgraduallytowardtheotherbankof
theriver.
There,astonished,speechless,terrified,stoodagroup
ofmencladintheFrenchuniform.Judgeoftheiramazement
whentheysawtheballoonrisefromtherightbank
oftheriver.Theyhadwell-nightakenitforsomecelestial
phenomenon,buttheirofficers,alieutenantofmarines
andanavalensign,havingseenmentionmadeofDr.Ferguson's
daringexpedition,intheEuropeanpapers,quickly
explainedtherealstateofthecase.
Theballoon,losingitsinflationlittlebylittle,settled
withthedaringtravellersstillclingingtoitsnetwork;
butitwasdoubtfulwhetheritwouldreachtheland.At
oncesomeofthebraveFrenchmenrushedintothewater
andcaughtthethreeaeronautsintheirarmsjustasthe
Victoriafellatthedistanceofafewfathomsfromtheleft
bankoftheSenegal.
"Dr.Ferguson!"exclaimedthelieutenant.
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5wiab10
"Thesame,sir,"repliedthedoctor,quietly,"andhis
twofriends."
TheFrenchmenescortedourtravellersfromtheriver,
whiletheballoon,half-empty,andborneawaybyaswift
current,spedon,toplunge,likeahugebubble,headlong
withthewatersoftheSenegal,intothecataractsofGouina.
"ThepoorVictoria!"wasJoe'sfarewellremark.
Thedoctorcouldnotrestrainatear,andextendinghis
handshistwofriendswrungthemsilentlywiththatdeep
emotionwhichrequiresnospokenwords.
CHAPTERFORTY-FOURTH.
Conclusion.--TheCertificate.--TheFrenchSettlements.--ThePost
ofMedina.--TheBasilic.--SaintLouis.--TheEnglishFrigate.--The
ReturntoLondon.
Theexpeditionuponthebankoftheriverhadbeen
sentbythegovernorofSenegal.ltconsistedoftwoofficers,
Messrs.Dufraisse,lieutenantofmarines,andRodamel,
navalensign,andwiththesewereasergeantand
sevensoldiers.Fortwodaystheyhadbeenengagedin
reconnoitringthemostfavorablesituationforapostat
Gouina,whentheybecamewitnessesofDr.Ferguson's
arrival.
Thewarmgreetingsandfelicitationsofwhichourtravellers
weretherecipientsmaybeimagined.TheFrenchmen,and
theyalone,havinghadocularproofoftheaccomplishment
ofthedaringproject,naturallybecameDr.Ferguson's
witnesses.Hencethedoctoratonceaskedthemtogive
theirofficialtestimonyofhisarrivalatthecataractsofGouina.
"Youwouldhavenoobjectiontosigningacertificate
ofthefact,wouldyou?"heinquiredofLieutenantDufraisse.
"Atyourorders!"thelatterinstantlyreplied.
TheEnglishmenwereescortedtoaprovisionalpost
establishedonthebankoftheriver,wheretheyfoundthe
mostassiduousattention,andeverythingtosupplytheir
wants.Andtherethefollowingcertificatewasdrawnup
inthetermsinwhichitappearsto-day,inthearchivesof
theRoyalGeographicalSocietyofLondon:
"We,theundersigned,doherebydeclarethat,onthe
dayhereinmentioned,wewitnessedthearrivalofDr.
Fergusonandhistwocompanions,RichardKennedyand
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5wiab10
JosephWilson,clingingtothecordageandnetworkofa
balloon,andthatthesaidballoonfellatadistanceofafew
pacesfromusintotheriver,andbeingsweptawaybythe
currentwaslostinthecataractsofGouina.lntestimony
whereof,wehavehereuntosetourhandsandsealsbeside
thoseofthepersonshereinabovenamed,fortheinformation
ofallwhomitmayconcern.
"DoneattheCataractsofGouina,onthe24thofMay,
1862.
"(Signed),"SAMUELFERGUSON
"RlCHARDKENNEDY,
"JOSEPHWlLSON,
"DUFRAlSSE,LieutenantofMarines,
"RODAMEL,NavalEnsign,
"DUFAYS,Sergeant,
"FLlPPEAU,MAYOR,}
"PELlSSlER,LOROlS,}Privates."
RASCAGNET,GUlL-}
LON,LEBEL,}
HereendedtheastonishingjourneyofDr.Ferguson
andhisbravecompanions,asvouchedforbyundeniable
testimony;andtheyfoundthemselvesamongfriendsin
themidstofmosthospitabletribes,whoserelationswith
theFrenchsettlementsarefrequentandamicable.
TheyhadarrivedatSenegalonSaturday,the24thof
May,andonthe27thofthesamemonththeyreachedthe
postofMedina,situatedalittlefarthertothenorth,but
ontheriver.
TheretheFrenchofficersreceivedthemwithopen
arms,andlavisheduponthemalltheresourcesoftheir
hospitality.Thusaided,thedoctorandhisfriendswere
enabledtoembarkalmostimmediatelyonthesmallsteamer
calledtheBasilic,whichrandowntothemouthofthe
river.
Twoweekslater,onthe10thofJune,theyarrivedat
SaintLouis,wherethegovernorgavethemamagnificent
reception,andtheyrecoveredcompletelyfromtheir
excitementandfatigue.
Besides,Joesaidtoeveryonewhochosetolisten:
Thatwasastupidtripofours,afterall,andl
wouldn'tadviseanybodywhoisgreedyforexcitementto
undertakeit.ltgetsverytiresomeatthelast,andifit
hadn'tbeenfortheadventuresonLakeTchadandatthe
SenegalRiver,ldobelievethatwe'dhavediedofyawning."
AnEnglishfrigatewasjustabouttosail,andthethree
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5wiab10
travellersprocuredpassageonboardofher.Onthe25th
ofJunetheyarrivedatPortsmouth,andonthenextday
atLondon.
Wewillnotdescribethereceptiontheygotfromthe
RoyalGeographicalSociety,northeintensecuriosityand
considerationofwhichtheybecametheobjects.Kennedy
setoff,atonce,forEdinburgh,withhisfamousrifle,
forhewasinhastetorelievetheanxietyofhisfaithful
oldhousekeeper.
ThedoctorandhisdevotedJoeremainedthesame
menthatwehaveknownthem,exceptingthatonechange
tookplaceattheirownsuggestion.
Theyceasedtobemasterandservant,inorderto
becomebosomfriends.
ThejournalsofallEuropewereuntiringintheir
praisesoftheboldexplorers,andtheDailyTelegraph
struckoffaneditionofthreehundredandseventy-seven
thousandcopiesonthedaywhenitpublishedasketchof
thetrip.
DoctorFerguson,atapublicmeetingoftheRoyal
GeographicalSociety,gavearecitalofhisjourneythrough
theair,andobtainedforhimselfandhiscompanionsthe
goldenmedalsetaparttorewardthemostremarkable
exploringexpeditionoftheyear1862.
----------
ThefirstresultofDr.Ferguson'sexpeditionwasto
establish,inthemostprecisemanner,thefactsand
geographicalsurveysreportedbyMessrs.Barth,Burton,
Speke,andothers.Thankstothestillmorerecentexpeditions
ofMessrs.SpekeandGrant,DeHeuglinandMuntzinger,
whohavebeenascendingtothesourcesofthe
Nile,andpenetratingtothecentreofAfrica,weshallbe
enablederelongtoverify,inturn,thediscoveriesofDr.
Fergusoninthatvastregioncomprisedbetweenthefourteenth
andthirty-thirddegreesofeastlongitude.
EndofTheProjectGutenbergEtextofFiveWeeksinaBalloon,byJulesVerne
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