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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
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