be despatched expressly for their rescue. For greater
certainty, besides English and French inscriptions he added Arabian,
which was not difficult for him, as he knew the Arabian language
perfectly.

Soon after starting from the resting-place, Kali announced that in the
mountain chain, which he saw in the east, he recognized some of the
peaks which surrounded Bassa-Narok; nevertheless, he was not always
certain, as the mountains assumed different shapes, according to the
place from which they were viewed. After crossing a small valley
overgrown with cusso bushes and looking like a lake of roses, they
chanced upon a hut of lone hunters. There were two negroes in it and
one of them was sick, having been bitten by a thread-like worm.* [*
Filandria medineusis, a worm as thin as thread, and a yard long. Its
bite sometimes causes gangrene.] But both were so savage and stupid and
in addition so terrified by the arrival of the unexpected guests, so
certain that they would be murdered, that at first it was impossible to
ascertain anything from them. But a few slices of smoked meat
unloosened the tongue of the one who was not only sick, but famished,
as his companion doled out food to him very stingily. From him,
therefore, they learned that about a day's journey away there lay
straggling villages, governed by petty kings, who were independent of
one another; and afterwards, beyond a steep mountain, the domain of
Fumba began, extending on the west and south of the great water. When
Stas heard this, a great load fell off his heart and new courage
entered his soul. At any rate, they now were almost on the threshold of
the land of the Wahimas.

It was difficult to foresee how their further journey would progress;
nevertheless, the boy in any event could expect that it would not be
harder or even longer than that terrible journey from the banks of the
Nile which they had undergone, thanks to his exceptional
resourcefulness, and during which he had saved Nell from destruction.
He did not doubt that, thanks to Kali, the Wahimas would receive them
with the greatest hospitality and would give every assistance to them.
After all, he already well understood the negroes, knew how to act
towards them, and was almost certain that, even without Kali, he would
have been able somehow to take care of himself among them.

"Do you know," he said to Nell, "that we have passed more than one-half
of the way from Fashoda, and that during the journey