could we not have ascended it
from the sea?"

"Because we should, by so doing, pass nearly the whole distance through
the country of Prempeh, of Ashanti, one of our bitter foes. The Adoo, the
Anno, and the Jimini kings have long ago made blood-brotherhood with our
chiefs, therefore we are enabled to pass in peace by this route alone."

Before darkness fell we disembarked at a small village on the left bank,
the name of which I learnt was Tomboura, and after our evening meal were
given a hut in which to spend the night. Soon after dawn, however, we
heard Kouaga astir, giving rapid orders to the carriers, and when we went
out to go down to the canoes they were nowhere to be seen. We noticed,
however, that the carriers were preparing their loads which they had no
doubt landed during the night, and Omar, advancing towards the Grand
Vizier, asked:

"Why do we not ascend the river further? We must cross to the other side
if we would join the Great Salt Road."

"Dangers lurk there, O my Master," the negro answered, hitching his
burnouse about his shoulders. "We must travel by a circuitous route."

"Did not my mother command me to speed unto her?" Omar asked, puzzled.
"Is it not necessary that we should travel by the shortest path?"

"The safest is the shortest," Kouaga answered with a frown.

"But by following this bank we are turning our backs upon Mo. See!" and
he produced from his pocket an instrument which I did not know he
possessed, a cheap mariner's compass.

"Bah!" cried Kouaga in anger, after he had looked at it a long time.
"That clock of the white men has an evil spirit within. See! its
trembling finger points always in the direction of the Great Evil. It is
bewitched. Cast it away. Kouaga has already made fetish for this
journey."

"But why should we travel in an entirely opposite direction to Mo?" I
argued, seeing that a crowd of grinning impish-looking carriers had
gathered around us, enjoying our controversy.

"For three-score years Kouaga has lived in the forest and on the plains,"
he answered, turning to me. "He knows the direction of Mo."

"Oh, let him have his own way," Omar cried at last, finding persuasion of
no avail. Then turning to the Grand Vizier he said in a firm tone:
"Listen, Kouaga. If by your obstinacy we are delayed one single day, I
shall inform my mother of that fact, and you will assuredly lose your
office and most likely your head also. Therefore act as you think fit.
Omar, Prin