ding that their prosperous days
were forever over, swore in their souls a terrible revenge against the
king and the new arrivals.

In the meantime they buried Fumba with great solemnity at the foot of
the rock below the boma. Kali placed above his grave a cross made of
bamboo, while the negroes left a few utensils with pombe and smoked
meat "in order that he should not annoy and haunt them during the
night-time."

Mamba's body, after the conclusion of the blood brotherhood between
Kali and Faru, was surrendered to the Samburus.

XXI

"Nell, can you enumerate our journeys from Fayum?" Stas asked.

"I can."

Saying this the little maid raised her eyebrows and began to count on
her little fingers.

"At once. From Fayum to Khartum--that is one; from Khartum to
Fashoda--that is the second; from Fashoda to that ravine in which we
found the King--that is the third; and from Mount Linde to the
lake--that is the fourth."

"Yes. There probably is not another fly in the world which has flown
over such a piece of Africa."

"That fly would look queer without you."

Stas began to laugh.

"A fly on an elephant! A fly on an elephant!"

"But not a tsetse! Honestly, Stas--not a tsetse."

"No," he answered, "a very agreeable fly."

Nell, pleased with the praise, propped her little nose on his arm;
after which she asked:

"When shall we start on our fifth journey?"

"As soon as you have rested thoroughly, and I can instruct those men
whom Kali has promised to me how to shoot a little."

"And shall we ride long?"

"Long, Nell--long! Who knows whether it will not be the longest
journey?"

"And you, as usual, will be equal to it."

"I must be."

Somehow Stas had managed to shift for himself as best he could, but
this fifth journey required great preparations. They were to venture
into unknown regions in which they were threatened with manifold
dangers, so the boy desired to be protected against them better than he
previously had been. With this in view he gave instructions in shooting
from Remington rifles to forty young Wahimas who were to form the
principal armed force and in a measure Nell's body-guard. More
rifle-men he could not have, as the King carried only twenty-five
rifles and the horses bore only fifteen. The rest of the army was to
consist of one hundred Wahimas and a hundred Samburus, armed with
spears and bows, whom Faru promised to furnish, and whose presence
removed many difficulties of trave