one, big and light, was let go in a
western wind; it shot up at once very high, and when Stas cut the
string, flew, carried by a powerful current of air, to the Karamojo
mountain chain. Stas watched its flight with the aid of the field-glass
until it became as small as a butterfly, a little speck, and until
finally it dissolved in the pale azure of the sky. The following day he
let go others made of fish bladder, which shot up still higher, but on
account of the transparency of the membranes soon disappeared entirely
from view.

Nell worked, however, with extraordinary zeal, and in the end her
little fingers acquired such skill that neither Stas nor Mea could keep
up with her work. She did not lack strength now. The salubrious climate
of Mount Linde simply regenerated her. The period during which the
fatal third attack could come, had definitely passed. That day Stas hid
himself in a banana thicket and wept from joy. After a fortnight's stay
on the mountain he observed that the "Good Mzimu" looked entirely
different from what she did below in the jungle. Her cheeks were
plumper, her complexion from yellow and transparent became rosy again,
and from under the abundant tufts of hair, merry eyes full of luster
gazed upon the world. The boy blessed the cool nights, the translucent
spring-water, the flour of dried bananas, and, above all, Linde.

He himself became lean and swarthy, which was evidence that the fever
would not take hold of him, as sufferers from that disease do not tan
from the sun--and he was growing up and becoming manly. Activity and
physical labor intensified his bravery and strength. The muscles of his
hands and limbs became like steel. Indeed, he was already a hardened
African traveler. Hunting daily and shooting only with bullets, he
became also a matchless shot.

He did not at all fear the wild animals, for he understood that it was
more dangerous for the shaggy-haired and the spotted hunters of the
jungle to meet him than for him to meet them. Once he killed with a
single shot a big rhinoceros, which, aroused from a light nap under an
acacia, charged at him unexpectedly. He treated with indifference the
aggressive African buffaloes, which at times disperse whole caravans.

Aside from the gluing of kites and other daily engagements, he and Nell
also began the work of converting Kali, Mea, and Nasibu. But it was
harder than they expected. The black trio listened most willingly to
the instructions,