it would prove--of that I was certain.

"Stanley is so cool and calm," observed Kate, "I have no fear."

His canoe led. In a few minutes we were in the strength of the current.
On we glided, like arrows from a bow. We had little else to do than to
guide our canoes. Still we kept paddling, so that we might the more
easily, if it were possible, turn aside from any danger ahead. Now a
huge boulder rose up on one side; now we darted through a passage which
only afforded room for the canoes to pass. Now the water ran smoothly
without a bubble; now it hissed and foamed as it passed over a shallower
bed. There was an excitement in the scene which made our spirits rise.
I felt almost inclined to shout at times as we dashed on. Yet an
instant's carelessness might have proved our destruction. We appeared
to be descending a steep hill of water at times; now wavelets rose on
either side, and threatened to leap into the boat.

Our eyes were fixed on our leader's canoe, and his on the water ahead,
through which he was to guide us. For one moment I cast my eyes on the
eastern shore, and was sorry that I had done so, for there I saw a
number of dark forms collected just below the rapids. What they were
about I had not time to observe. I said nothing; it would be time
enough when we had shot the rapids. On, on we went. We were in a sea
of foam, the water roaring, bubbling, and hissing. I feared that
Stanley's skill could scarcely carry the canoe through; but he had noted
the point, and his experience told him that there was sufficient depth.
Now a wave washed aboard on one side, now on the other, now came hissing
over our bows; but we dashed through them, and I saw before us a calm
and lake-like expanse. In another instant we were free of the rapids,
and floating calmly on the lower portion of the river.

Once more I cast my eyes to the spot where I had seen the blacks. They
were our enemies; of that I had no doubt. I pointed them out to
Stanley.

"What can they be about?" he asked.

Timbo looked at them. "Building rafts," he answered. "Dey are shoving
off even now. Dey knew we must come dis way, and hoped to cut us off.
But hurrah! hurrah! we got down sooner dan dey!"

Several rafts of reeds, such as I before described, were shoved off from
the bank. We did not stop to examine them; but plying our paddles with
might and main, we continued our course towards the point where we
believed the river made its exi