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Updated: May 23, 2025
There was great risk in the merciful task we were about to perform, but Charley, setting the example, we quickly knocked off the manacles of Aboh and the slaves nearest to us, and, with the assistance of the former, made them understand that they were to perform the same operation to their fellow-captives. Some obeyed, but others rushed immediately on deck.
Fortunately for us, the names of three other persons were shouted out as having taken part in the enchantment which had destroyed the queen. As the mob were occupied with them, we beat a retreat in a dignified war to our house. Without telling Aboh what had happened, we placed him in our midst, and avoiding the excited multitude, made our way down to the river.
I went up to three or four, and was convinced from the nature of their hurts that I could do nothing for them; indeed, the spirits of most of them fled while I stood by. Aboh then, seizing my arm, hurried me away.
"They are not likely to remain here all night, and will probably go to the lake to drink, and give us time, at all events, to get down and recover our rifles." "What does Aboh think about the matter?" asked Charley. I inquired of the black, making the usual signs by means of which we carried on a conversation with him, and using such simple words as he was likely to understand.
He made signs to Aboh that we wished to move on, and being anxious to find water, we begged that he would lead us to it as soon as possible. He nodded, and pointed to the east. We were too thirsty to hesitate about going in that direction, although we should thus be led farther than we wished from the coast.
The water kept tumbling on board, but we continued baling it out as fast as we could. "I'm afraid that we must heave the birds and venison overboard," said Charley. I made Aboh understand what we proposed doing. "No, no," was the answer; "dat all right." He and his companions paddled on bravely for another half hour.
As we were glad of something to do, we accepted the offer, and all four of us, with Aboh and Shimbo, set out with the party the prince had already collected, and who were waiting at the outskirts of the village. It was too dark, however, by the time we reached the part of the forest where the elephants had been seen to go in search of them.
Aboh, on examining them, said that they were made by leopards, those savage animals abounding in the forest through which we were passing. On the shore of the lake, however, we caught sight of numerous crocodiles, some poking their ugly snouts above the surface of the water, others basking on sandbanks, or on the points projecting out into the water.
Finding that the king, in spite of the lateness of the hour, was ready to receive us, taking our two black friends, Aboh to act as interpreter, we carried with us the leopard skin, some venison, and three strings of beads of various colours. His majesty was a tall, ungainly looking man, with as hideous a countenance as can well be imagined.
Aboh had been watching us all the time while he munched his share without showing a sign of dissatisfaction. "As we shall want some more water for poor Tom's foot, I wish you would go down, Harry, to the lake and fill the saucepan," said Charley.
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