placed his sisters in it, trusting rather
to Jack's seamanship than to his own. His canoe being the lightest, he
took the lead, that he might give timely notice to us should any
sandbanks be encountered in our course, and, what were perhaps more to
be dreaded, any wild rapids, down which it might be dangerous to
proceed. Chico had seated himself in the bow of the canoe, as if he had
been placed there to keep a look-out. Natty had taken a paddle, and
Kate begged that she might use another till her brother had finished
attending to poor Igubo's wounds.

Not till we had got a little way down could I ask Timbo what had
occurred. "Oh, Massa Andrew," he answered, "me no like talk about it.
De Pangwes come, and stay hid in de night close to de village, and just
before de sun get up,--de sun dat is so bright and good, make de trees
grow, and cheer de heart of man,--dey steal out wid de sharp sword and
de spear, and de moment de Bakeles open de gate, rush in and kill all de
women, children, and old men; and some stay outside and kill dose dat
run away, and catch de young men and knock dem down, and tie deir hands,
and take away to de slave-dealers. Igubo jump over de wall, and kill
two or t'ree who came after him; and dough dey stuck de spear in his
side, he get away. As I got near de village I hear de cries, and know
too well what dey mean; so I hide, for I fear if I run dey see me and
follow; but when I found Igubo drop down just near where I was, I rushed
out and lift him up and bring him along; and de Pangwes just den no see
us, because some young men who had got swords and bows and arrows 'tack
dem, and fight bravely; but dey all killed, and den de Pangwes set fire
to de village, and you know de rest."

Timbo had scarcely finished his account when he shouted out, "See, see!
Dere dey are! Dey come dis way!"

We had all been so busy in paddling the canoe and watching our leader
that we had not looked either to the right hand or the left. Stanley,
for the same reason, had not seen what was taking place on shore. We
now saw a large body of black warriors shaking their spears, and beating
them against their shields, as they rushed on towards the bank of the
river. They had evidently the intention of stopping us.

"On, on!" cried Stanley. "Put your best strength into your strokes; the
river is broader a little way down, and we may escape their arrows and
spears if they attack us."

"Don't you think, sir, we had be