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But this adventure, which had unexpected consequences, needs to be related with some minuteness. It was about eleven o'clock in the morning. An overpowering heat had obliged the inhabitants of the factory to keep in their huts, and one would not even meet a single native in the streets of Kazounde. Mrs. Weldon was dozing near little Jack, who was sleeping soundly.
Alvez, doubtless to render that alcohol still sharper, had mingled with it a few handfuls of sea salt. The assistants' faces were then given that spectral lividness that the imagination ascribes to phantoms. Those negroes, drunk in advance, began to cry out, to gesticulate, and, taking each other by the hand, formed an immense circle around the King of Kazounde.
The "pagazis" had stopped on the square after having disposed of their loads of ivory, which the Kazounde dealers would deliver. Then, being paid with a few yards of calico or other stuff at the highest price, they would return and join some other caravan. Old Tom and his companions had been freed from the iron collar which they had carried for five weeks.
Alvez was furious, not expecting this result. After having lost one of the three prisoners, to see the prize confided to his care thus escape, and, with the prize, the large bribe promised him by Negoro! Never! not if the whole territory of Kazounde were submerged by a new deluge! He tried to oppose this abduction. The natives now began to mutter against him.
Tom and his companions had left Kazounde for the lake region. Not the least news of Hercules. Mrs. Weldon was not sure of any one. She must then fall back on Negoro's proposition, while trying to amend it and secure a definite result from it. June 14th, the day fixed by him, Negoro presented himself at Mrs. Weldon's hut. The Portuguese was, as always, so he said, perfectly practical.
A remarkable thing about these savages, who staggered like their master, was that each lacked a part of his body one an ear, another an eye, this one the nose, that one the hand. Not one was whole. That is because they apply only two kinds of punishment in Kazounde mutilation or death all at the caprice of the king.
The thought of the dangers her husband would pass through in coming as far as Kazounde, the little dependence that could be placed on the Portuguese's promises, the facility with which the latter could retain James Weldon, after taking the ransom agreed upon, all these reasons taken together made Mrs. Weldon refuse Negoro's proposition flatly and at once. Mrs.
"Oh, the old rascal is remarkably well," replied Harris, "and he will be enchanted to see you again." "Is he at the Bihe market?" asked Negoro. "No, comrade, he has been at his establishment at Kazounde for a year." "And business is lively?" "Yes, a thousand devils!" exclaimed Harris, "although the slave trade becomes more and more difficult, at least on this coast.
Negoro was no more, but the natives who accompanied him from Kazounde could not be far away. On not seeing him return, they would certainly seek him along the river. This was a very serious danger. Dick Sand and Mrs. Weldon took counsel as to what they should do, and do without losing an instant.
The old black man, his son Bat, Acteon and Austin had departed the day before with the trader of Oujiji's caravan, without the consolation of seeing Mrs. Weldon again, without even knowing that their companion in misery was in Kazounde, in Alvez's establishment. They had departed for the lake country, a journey figured by hundreds of miles, that very few accomplish, and from which very few return.
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