ful however, for having
escaped with our lives.

Undaunted by the accident, we determined to persevere, and to try and
find a canoe in which to prosecute our voyage. Ben had saved one of the
long poles, which, after sharpening at the end, would serve as a
weapon--the only one we now possessed. Selim offered to supply us with
bows and arrows, which might serve to kill birds for our meals. He
showed himself one of the most active of the party, too, and as he went
on ahead he looked into every little bay or hollow in which a canoe was
likely to be concealed.

At length we caught sight of some low, conical-shaped, thatched huts in
the distance, and Selim said he was sure he could find a canoe not far
off from thence. The only doubt was whether he should take it without
asking the owner's leave, or try to obtain the loan of it: but then we
had absolutely nothing to offer in return; and the natives might not
only refuse to give it us, but might make us prisoners--and perhaps
carry us back to the Arabs from whom we were escaping, or sell us to
some other tribe.

"Beggars must not be choosers," said Ben. "To my mind, if we can find a
canoe, we have a right to her, considering that we have been kept in
slavery, and worked pretty hard too, by the friends of these people."

Certainly, I would rather have bought the canoe; but as that was out of
the question, I could not help agreeing with Ben.

We had not gone far, when we came to a path evidently made by human
feet. "This probably leads to some plantation, or to another village,
through the forest," observed Boxall. "We must proceed cautiously, so
as not to come suddenly upon the natives."

Selim offered to go on first and explore the way.

In a short time he came running back. "I have discovered a canoe afloat
and secured to the bank," he said. "She has paddles in her, so the
owners cannot be far-off. We are indeed, fortunate, and must not lose
the opportunity of escaping, as we are not likely again to meet so good
a one."

We hurried on. There lay the canoe, as Selim had described; she was
large enough to hold us all--indeed, large enough to navigate the river
to its mouth. Without further consideration we stepped into her, and
seizing the paddles, cast off the painter, and shoved out into the
stream. We did not feel quite as happy as we might have done had we
been able to obtain her by lawful purchase from the owners. They would
naturally be enraged on