d still take them
three weeks before they could reach the coast.

Three weeks, after so many months spent in the interior, seemed nothing
to Ned, and he would not allow himself to think of the many other delays
which might occur. They had rivers to ford, swamps to cross, dense
forests to penetrate, and occasionally a desert region to get over, on
which occasions, in spite of the heat of the sun beating down on their
heads, they pushed forward as fast as they could move. Once they ran
short of provisions, but a successful hunt the following day restored
the spirits of the party. When game could not be procured they obtained
supplies of honey from the wild bees in the forests, as well as fruits
of various descriptions, including an abundance of grapes from the
vines, which grew in unrestrained luxuriance along the borders of the
forest, forming graceful festoons on the projecting branches of the
trees.

From the character they had received of the natives they had reason to
expect an unfriendly reception from the inhabitants. They did their
best to avoid these villages; or, when compelled to pass near, Sayd,
without hesitation, paid the "honga," or tribute demanded. The people,
however, generally treated them in a friendly way on observing that they
had no slaves, no chains, or men with forked sticks to their necks, and
Sayd explained that their mission was peaceable, their object being to
carry on a fair trade. There appeared, indeed, every prospect of a
satisfactory termination of their journey.

They had encamped earlier than usual one day in order to allow Sambroko,
Chando, and the other hunters to go out in search of game. In the
meantime huts were built, wood collected, and fires were lighted to be
ready for cooking it. They were expecting the return of the hunters,
when Sambroko and Chando were seen rushing at headlong speed towards the
camp, where they arrived almost breathless, exclaiming--

"To arms! to arms! The enemy are upon us. No time to lose; before many
minutes they will be here. We saw them coming in this direction."

Sayd, on further questioning the two hunters, was convinced that their
report was true. To encounter a horde of savages on the open ground on
which they were encamped would be dangerous; but near at hand was a
knoll with trees on its summit, which Ned had observed. He advised Sayd
to retreat to this spot, as they might there, should they be attacked,
defend themselves with