slough nor a stream hidden in the earth's
fissures, and Kali with troubled face would announce: "Madi apana" (no
water).

Stas understood that this last journey would not be any easier than the
previous ones and began to worry about Nell, as changes were taking
place in her. Her little face, instead of tanning from the sun and
wind, became each day paler and her eyes lost their usual luster. On
the dry plain, free from mosquitoes, she was not threatened with fever,
but it was apparent that the terrible heat was wasting the little
maid's strength. The boy, with compassion and with fear, now gazed at
her little hands, which became as white as paper, and bitterly
reproached himself because, having lost so much time in the preparation
and in drilling the negroes to shoot, he had exposed her to a journey
in a season of the year so parching.

Amid these fears day after day passed. The sun drank up the moisture
and the life out of the soil more and more greedily and unmercifully.
The grass shriveled and dried up to such a degree that it crumbled
under the hoofs of the antelopes, and herds, rushing by, though not
numerous, raised clouds of dust. Nevertheless, the travelers chanced
once more upon a little river, which they recognized by a long row of
trees growing on its banks. The negroes ran in a race towards the trees
and, reaching the bank, lay flat on it, dipping their heads and
drinking so greedily that they stopped only when a crocodile seized the
hand of one of their number. Others rushed to their companion's rescue
and in one moment they pulled out of the water the loathsome lizard,
which, however, did not let go of the man's hand though his jaws were
opened with spears and knives. The matter was only terminated by the
King who, placing his foot on him, crushed him as easily as if he were
a mouldy mushroom.

When the men finally quenched their thirst, Stas ordered the erection
in the shallow water of a round enclosure of high bamboos with only one
entrance from the bank, in order that Nell might bathe with perfect
safety. And at the entrance he stationed the King. The bath greatly
refreshed the little maid and a rest restored her strength somewhat.

To the great joy of the whole caravan and Nell, "Bwana kubwa" decided
to stop two days near this water. At this news the men fell into
excellent humor and at once forgot the toils they had endured. After
taking a nap and refreshments the negroes began to wander among the