risk of being seen from a distance. Led by
their guides they continued through the early part of the night until
another forest was reached, where they lay down to rest, no fires being
lighted, no sounds being uttered. The guards kept a strict watch lest a
lion might spring out on the slumbering party. Before dawn they were
again on foot and moving forward as on the previous evening. For three
days they thus advanced, until the guides assured them that they might
continue to the eastward without fear of molestation until they reached
the village of Kamwawi.

"You must be cautious how you approach it," they observed; "the people
are brave and warlike, and if they think you come as enemies they will
be sore to attack you, but if they consider you are friends they will
treat you with kindness and hospitality."

"Kamwawi!" exclaimed Ned, when he heard the name; "that surely is the
village to which Chando told us he belonged?"

"Yes, but there are others with similar names, so that we can never be
certain," answered Sayd. "I find that the one spoken of is four days'
journey from hence, and as we must camp to procure food it may be longer
than that before we reach it."

The provisions held out another day after they had parted from their
friendly guides, and they had now only their own judgment to depend
upon. Once more they were encamped. No human habitations were visible,
no signs of cultivation. The country around appeared to be deserted.
They would have, however, in consequence a better chance of meeting with
game, and Sambroko promised that he would bring enough food to feed the
whole party for several days. Ned offered to accompany him, but Sayd
was too tired after his morning march to leave the camp. Hassan and
another freed man followed, carrying spare guns. It was difficult to
say beforehand what game might be met with, whether elephants, or
buffaloes, or giraffes, or zebras, or deer, but the hunters were
prepared for any one of them. Sambroko declared that all game were
alike to him, that he knew their ways and habits. Ned, however, was the
first to shoot a deer, which they came upon suddenly before the animal
had time to fly. While the blacks were employed in cutting it up, Ned
walked on ahead in the hopes of finding some large game. Feeling
confident that he might easily make his way back to the camp again he
crept cautiously on, looking to the right hand and to the left, and
endeavouring to pe