to understand what was said, learned from him that the stranger
was one of a band of Pangwes who were advancing towards the territory of
the Bakeles. He had come, apparently unaware that there were
inhabitants so near. He had first begun to threaten us with the
vengeance of his people should we oppose their progress; but on
Chickango telling him that a large number of Bakeles were in the
neighbourhood, and that, should his people venture to come that way,
they would speedily be driven back and destroyed, he had become alarmed,
and so, in spite of his boasting, afraid of being captured, had taken to
flight. Still the account which Chickango gave of these Pangwes made us
very anxious. The people of his tribe, he said, had for long been at
war with them, and had frequently been defeated. They had come from a
long way off in the interior, and year after year had been advancing
towards the coast. They were not only fierce and cruel warriors, but
cannibals, and capable of committing every atrocity.

"What do you think about it all?" said Stanley to Timbo, who had been
interpreting Chickango's account.

"Dog dat bark not always bite, massa," answered the black. "Me t'ink
dat dey see our rifles and run away."

"I am of Timbo's opinion," I could not help observing. "However, we
must send and let our friends at the village know of the approach of
their enemies; but unless we are attacked, we must on every account
avoid fighting. The sooner we can embark and proceed on our voyage the
better."

"I believe you are right, Andrew," observed Stanley; "but still I do not
like the thought of running away; besides, we cannot leave those two
black boys to the mercy of the savages, though if we carry them with us,
their father will not know what has become of them."

"I tell you what I do, massa," answered Timbo; "I go and tell Igubo that
he come and fetch dem, and den we send out scout to know what de Pangwes
are doing."

Our further boating for the day was, of course, put an end to; and
having concealed the canoes in the thick brushwood which grew down to
the river's bank, we proceeded homewards, with the exception of Timbo,
who hastened off to the Bakeles village.

Senhor Silva looked very grave when he heard what had occurred. "Those
Pangwes are fierce fellows," he said, "from what I know of them; and
though they may not venture to come within range of our firearms, yet
they may surround us and starve us out. We shal