served especially to be ranked as one.

I could see as I gazed over the plain, besides the negro army, numerous
animals scampering across it, put to flight by their appearance--herds
of quaggas, zebras, buffaloes, and various sorts of deer, the lofty
heads of a troop of giraffes appearing above them all. Innumerable
birds flew amid the boughs of the trees, and wild-fowl rose from the
sedgy shores, or gazed at us from the mud-banks as we shot by. Here and
there a huge hippopotamus raised his head, and gazed with his ferocious
eyes, wondering what new creatures had invaded his territory; while
scaly alligators lay basking in the sun, or swam about seeking some
creature to devour.

"If we get clear of the savages we shall have no fear of starving,"
observed Natty, as he saw the herds of wild animals I have described.

"You are right, Natty," said Jack; "and as to getting clear of them,
there is no doubt about that."

"I have been praying that we may escape them," said Natty; "and that
makes me think we shall."

"Right again, Massa Natty," observed Timbo. "It great t'ing to know dat
we have got One to take care of us when we can no take care of
ourselves. He hear de little boy prayer just as much as de big man."

Had Timbo joined us at an earlier hour, we might have escaped the
dangers to which we were exposed; but still I was thankful that we had
got him with us. As I looked ahead I saw that the river was making a
bend towards the east. It was what I had dreaded; but the danger--if
danger there was--must be run. Again I asked Stanley whether he thought
it would be wise to haul up the canoes, and try to escape overland,
should the river be too narrow to enable us to keep out of the range of
the poisoned arrows of our enemies.

"That must be our last resource," he answered. "We must first try the
effect of our firearms. Their blood be upon their own heads, if we kill
any. I have no wish to injure any of them, even though they may be
seeking our lives, if we can by any possibility avoid it."

I felt much as Stanley did. To desert the canoes would be to expose the
young ladies to fearful fatigue and danger, and was to be avoided by
every means.

We now entered into the reach I had expected to find. It was, however,
as broad as the part we had lately passed through. We took the centre
of the stream rather than cut off the angle, lest our enemies might be
concealed on the bank. And now, going along it for