seemed to object to his playing with it.

"Now lift me up, Jack," said Bella; "and I am sure it will let you lead
it about."

In a short time the little creature seemed perfectly contented with its
new employment, and Bella was able to ride it round and round the yard,
without its showing any wish to throw her off. The koodoo ran by her
side, every now and then looking round into the zebra's face, as much as
to ask how he liked it. She, however, did not try it too far; and after
riding about for half an hour or so, she jumped off its back, and
relieved it of its saddle, patting its head and talking to it all the
time. She then, leading it back to its pen, took off its bridle and
gave it some more food. The following day she tried it in the same way;
and though at first it seemed rather disinclined to allow the bit to be
put into its mouth, after she had coaxed it, and talked to it for some
time, it allowed her to put it in; and Jack again bringing out the
saddle, it went through the duty of the previous day.

"I think now," said Bella, "if we have to make a journey, that I shall
have a steed ready to carry me. I wish, Kate, we could find an animal
for you."

"No fear about dat, Miss Bella," said Timbo. "If we no get horses we
get oxen, and dey do better dan any other animal in dis country."

Timbo had been making inquiries, it appeared, about the natives further
to the south, and had been told that at some distance there were herds
of oxen, which the people were accustomed to ride. This gave us hopes
that we might be able to procure some, and that we might proceed on our
journey without waiting for Senhor Silva and Chickango. As yet no news
had been received from them, though we were now in daily expectation of
the arrival of a messenger whom they had promised if possible to send
back to us, with an account of their progress. Our days were beginning
to grow somewhat monotonous, from the fact that we had no great
difficulty in supplying ourselves with food, and were unwilling to go
out and kill creatures merely for the sake of amusement. Stanley made a
second excursion to assist our friends in the northern village, and
succeeded in killing two more lions, which the people declared were
man-eaters.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN.

ADVENTURES ON THE LAKE.

Leo and Natty had been frequently begging me to accompany them to visit
our friends to the south.

We agreed that we should greatly shorten the land journey