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The lagoon emptied on the south into the Momba River, which twisted and turned like so many S's to the sea; on the north was the passage by which we had come, that which led to the sea by way of the bar. But there was to be no crossing of the bar for us that night.
So we hauled her to in the dusk where, were it light, we would have seen, under its three fathom of water, Momba Bar lying white and smooth and quiet as a sanded deck as we passed on. With the wind coming low and light from the land that was; but were it a high wind and from the sea, there would be no going over that bar at night or any other time.
Here my companion, with all the party save one exceptional Seedi soldier, Mabarak Bombay who knew a little Hindustani, and acted as my interpreter stopped a day, to recover from the fatigues of the late harassing march, for they appeared thoroughly knocked up, and to revel on a feast of milk and flesh which, with great cordiality, was supplied them by Sultan Momba, a Wazegura chief.
"It made me dream of her that was never more than a dream-woman until I saw you. No longer a dream not after you stepped out onto the veranda of the Governor's house that night in Momba. I knew it again when, looking out from the shrubbery in the garden, you looked at me and said, 'And who is this? And I knew it when with you in the long-boat, when I wanted to reach out and take your hand "
"And what has become of Momba, and Captain Waller, and the Hindoos?" exclaimed Forbes, who had suddenly recollected the missing members of the party. "Lost all lost," replied the colonel sadly. "They were sold to a distant tribe in the interior two days after we arrived at the village. You see our condition. They have made us work from sunrise to sunset.
So far they do not know we are here, but before long it is bound to occur to some of them that this is the Dancing Bess and that she has made the Momba River passage and then they will crowd in and pounce on us. That is, if we don't get out before that." "I see. I must go down and tell father. He's not worrying, but he wants to know what's going on."
And that insult to Cunningham was no accident. No," he winked, "not at all. He had insulted and shot men before, but he never knew that Cunningham was a professional duellist himself. None of us in Momba knew. Did you, Captain?" "He was not." Captain Blaise banged his hand on the table. "He killed three men, yes; but bad men, and killed them in fair combat." "Hm-m.
Melton's theory was very plausible, but before anyone could reply the conference terminated suddenly, and the Arabs, drawing apart, came quickly up to the captives, and, laying hold of Sir Arthur and the colonel, led them over to the Somalis. This was repeated with Momba, Captain Waller, and the Hindoo soldiers, but, to their surprise, Guy and Melton were ordered to remain where they were.
Captain Blaise filled them up again. "Men like myself, Rimmle, are but pawns in this trading game. It is the people on the inside, the Governor of Momba and gentlemen like you, who direct the play." Rimmle smacked his lips. "M-m To be sure, the Governor of Momba "
In the harbor lay three or four Arab dhows and a neat little steamer, which the captain said belonged to the governor, and was used for transporting troops or despatches. Captain Waller anchored close by the town, and accompanied Guy, Melton, and Momba on shore in a small boat. So far, at least, all was well.
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