The folding tubs they all used were more like little canvas rooms, open at the top. The crew of their launch consisted of two Bantus. One of these helped John fill the tub by the simple method of standing1 on a chair and pouring water on the head of the occupant of the tiny chamber2 after his clothes had been thrown out.
The boys were watching the proceedings3 and intended to follow the captain's example. As he finished he told the Bantu boy to hand him his clothes and stretched out an arm through the slit4 in the canvas walls. As it happened, this opening faced the boys.
The Bantu held up the bundle of clothes. As Captain Montenay took them the boys saw the black recoil5 suddenly and sink to his knees with a low groan6, his face gray. Burt immediately leaped to his feet and caught the Bantu but the latter thrust him away and staggered back to the[Pg 72] engine. Here he sank on a locker7 and buried his face in his knees.
"Well I'll be jiggered!" exclaimed Burt half angrily. "What's the matter with him?" He was about to call his uncle who was up under the forward awning8 when Critch caught his arm.
"Shut up!" the red-haired boy whispered excitedly. "Come over here." When they reached the rail he turned on Burt. "Didn't you see it, you chump? What's the matter with you, anyway?"
"Thought you saw it sure," interrupted his chum hurriedly. "Didn't you see Cap'n Mac's arm?"
"No," returned Burt shortly. "Like any other arm, ain't it? I was lookin' at the sick nigger."
"Sick nothin'," retorted Critch. "Cap'n Mac's got a shoulder on him enough to scare a cat! When he shoved the canvas back I could see it all twisted up an' dead white, with a big red scar on the corner o' the shoulder. That nigger wasn't sick—he was scared!"[Pg 73]
"Scared!" Burt stared at Critch and then turned to look at the Bantu boy crouched11 on the locker. "Golly! Mebbe he is! Say, what was the scar like?"
"Looked to me like a cross but I didn't see it well. Come on, we'll ask the coon. He talks French some."
They stopped beside the Bantu. The second black was sitting in the bow at the wheel and had noticed nothing. Critch took the black by the shoulder and gave him a shake, while Burt addressed him in French.
"Wake up, boy! What scared you?"
The Bantu gave one terrified shudder12 and his eyes were rolling wildly as his head came up "Pongo! L'emblème de Pon—" he began with a frightened gasp9 and then stopped. His face resumed its normally blank expression and he glanced around quickly.
"What's Pongo?" questioned Burt. "What do you mean by the sign of Pongo?"
"No savvy13, m'sieu, no savvy." The Bantu shook his head and absolutely refused to say another word in spite of threats and commands.
"Come on," said Critch disgustedly. "He's wise to something but he won't[Pg 74] let on. There's Cap'n Mac. Shut up."
They rejoined the captain and Mr. Wallace in the bow. Evidently the Scotchman had neither seen nor heard anything unusual, for he at once plunged14 into discussing plans with Mr. Wallace.
"Look here," he said finally. "I can't give up that cook o' yours, Wallace! Ye've got a good Scots name too. S'pose we make one party?"
"One party!" exclaimed Mr. Wallace. "I thought you were going more to the east?"
"Aye, but I ain't over parteec'lar. Mind, I'm no sayin' I'll go clear to the Makua wi' ye, but I may."
"Here's John with the dinner," said Mr. Wallace. "We'll talk it over while we eat. Looks mighty15 good to me, Montenay! I'd like you to go with us if you will."
"Hello, what's this stuff?" cried Burt as he leaned over his bowl and sniffed16 suspiciously. John stood by with a triumphant17 grin.
"Smells good," commented Critch. Captain Mac, as they had come to call him, winked18 at Mr. Wallace.
"It's vera good for fever," he said solemnly. "They make it out o' chopped[Pg 75] snakes an' nigger bones."
The boys looked up in dismay but were reassured19 by Mr. Wallace's smile and John's ever present grin. Burt put the question to the latter.
"Palm-oil chop, sar! Chicken chop-chop, palm-oil, peppers, hother t'ings halso, sar. Hit be good."
The boys cautiously sampled the concoction20 and found it to be new but not unpleasant. Before they had been in the country another week they were vociferously21 demanding palm-oil chop from John every day. The launch tied up at a plantation22 dock for the night and at daylight proceeded on her way.
"Hello!" exclaimed Critch as he emerged from the tiny cabin for breakfast. "That's funny! Thought it was in my outside pocket."
"What's bitin' you?" asked Burt with a rather sickly smile. He also was fishing in his pockets.
"My compass—it's gone!"
"Same here," confessed Burt after a moment. "I'll be jiggered! My coin's all right!"
"What's the matter?" inquired Mr. Wallace. He was just coming out and behind him was Captain Mac. The boys explained their strange loss and[Pg 76] Montenay frowned.
"That's queer," he said thoughtfully. "Mine's safe. How's yours, Wallace?"
"Here." Mr. Wallace produced his own silver-set compass from an inner pocket. "You've probably dropped 'em around the cabin, boys."
The two turned and vanished hastily but reappeared shaking their heads. The missing instruments were not to be found on board, although a thorough search was made of the launch and men.
"Na doot they were stolen," said Captain Mac as they sat at breakfast. "These blacks will steal anythin' that ain't nailed down, an' they were prowlin' all about last night. Well, we'll get new ones at Makupa from the trader when we get there to-night."
"It's decidedly queer, Montenay!" Mr. Wallace looked out over the river with a perplexed23 frown. "Why should these two compasses vanish, when nothing else in the cabin was touched? I don't like it."
"Ye know what ju-ju is, o' course?" Captain Mac leaned back easily in his chair as the American explorer nodded. "The Bantus think compasses[Pg 77] are ju-ju."
"What's that?" asked Critch.
"Anything they don't understand and that savors24 of witchcraft25 or mystery is ju-ju," explained Mr. Wallace. "In that case, Montenay, our compasses will be looked upon as the gods of a Bantu village, eh?"
"Aye. Let's get our business done with, Wallace." Montenay deftly26 rolled himself a quinine capsule and swallowed it. "What d'ye say? Shall we combine or no?"
"I don't see why we shouldn't," returned Mr. Wallace thoughtfully. "We're both after ivory. One caravan27 will cut down expenses for each of us. You're not sure about making the Makua with us?"
"Well," replied the other slowly with a sharp glance at Mr. Wallace, "I'm no sure yet. There's some mighty queer country north o' here that I'd like to have a look at. Mind, I'm no promisin' anythin' whatever. I'll be free to come an' go."
"Of course," answered Mr. Wallace. "Then it's agreed, Captain! We'll leave Makupa together in the morning."[Pg 78]
"Vera good. Now I'll be lookin' after a letter or so under the awnin' aft where the shakin' ain't so strong." Montenay rose and strolled aft and was immediately absorbed in his traveling writing-case. Mr. Wallace gazed after him reflectively.
"There's a curious man, boys! We're in luck to have him along. There probably aren't a dozen men in Africa who haven't heard of him and there probably aren't a dozen who know him outside of officials. He always travels alone. If he strikes in at Zanzibar or Nairobi he's likely to come out at Cairo or the Cape28."
"Strikes me as a good sport," agreed Burt heartily29. "He don't say much but I'd hate to monkey with him when he gets mad. Say! Ever hear o' Pongo, Uncle George?"
"Pongo?" repeated the explorer as he stared hard at Burt. "Pongo? No, don't think I have. What is it?"
The boys explained what had taken place the previous afternoon but to their surprise Mr. Wallace frowned disapproval30. "Whatever it is, boys, it's his business. If you'll look at his arm you'll see a dozen scars. I have a few myself. That's where a native chief cuts a gash31 in his arm[Pg 79] and ours, the cuts are rubbed together and we are then termed 'blood-brothers.' It may have been some such mark that scared the black boy."
"No it wasn't," asserted Critch positively32. "It looked like a cross. Wasn't cut either. Looked like a burn more than anything else."
"Then forget it," commanded Mr. Wallace decisively. "It's none of our business. I must say that Montenay's mighty indefinite though. He says he's after ivory and wants to have a look at the country. But if I know anything he's not worrying about ivory this trip."
"Why not?" asked Burt. "D'you mean he's lying?"
"Lying is a strong term, Burt!" smiled his uncle. "It's not a nice word to use either. No, I think he's keeping us in the dark about his own projects. Probably he has some new animal or some new tribe he wants to be sure of getting all the credit for discovering. Naturally he wouldn't want to run any risk of our cutting in on him."
Just then the subject of their discussion rejoined them and the topic was changed. On up the river they went all that day while the big[Pg 80] canoes followed closely with the paddling-chants of the men rising from time to time. The breeze created by their motion relieved them of the clouds of mosquitoes and other insects but the heat was so great that it even affected33 John to some extent.
Just before sunset they reached the Makupa station. This consisted of a large native village dominated by the State trading post, a corrugated34 iron building whose whitewashed35 walls contrasted strongly with the palm thatched huts of the blacks all around. The trader met them at the landing and proved to be a Belgian, pleasant and courteous36 in every way.
They spent the night here. In the morning they were up before daybreak and Mr. Wallace mentioned the compasses as they were dressing37. At that moment Burt was speaking to Captain Montenay, and he saw a peculiar38 light flash into the little explorer's face when his uncle spoke39. That look puzzled Burt somewhat. He was still more puzzled when Montenay rushed through his dressing and hurried from the room. The sudden change in the man had evidently been caused by his uncle's words, but Burt[Pg 81] could not see any connection whatever.
When they entered the lamp-lit dining room for breakfast they found the agent and Captain Mac together. The former sprang up and greeted them effusively40, hastily stuffing something into his pocket that looked to Burt like banknotes. Still, the boy remembered his uncle's words of the day before and made up his mind not to bother about other people's affairs.
"Oh, the compasses!" ejaculated Mr. Wallace as the black boys brought in fruit and coffee. "Lieutenant41, we lost two compasses coming up the river. It would be a great assistance if you would sell us a couple from your stores."
"Alas42!" An expression of dismay rose to the Belgian's face and he spread out his hands helplessly. "My friend, I am grieved deeply to have to inform you that we have none! A trading party came down the river last week and completely cleaned me out, even to my own instrument. I am desolated43, my heart is torn, but it is impossible!"
A sudden suspicion flashed across Burt's mind but as he glanced sharply at Captain Mac he dismissed it. Montenay was the picture of dismay, but[Pg 82] to all their suggestions and queries44 the Belgian only returned a "desolated" shrug45.
"Well, never mind." Mr. Wallace smiled at Montenay in resignation. "We still have ours. Two should be enough. Now make a good breakfast, boys! We eat from chop-boxes after this."
With sunrise the caravan started north from the station. The river bottom was low but Captain Mac asserted that after a day's journey they would find themselves on the higher plains, and this proved quite true. On the second day they entered the great forests and left behind the half-civilized tribes. As they drew up to the top of a hill-crest that rose among the trees Critch caught Burt's arm and pointed46 ahead to where the jungle thinned out.
"There we are, ol' sport! Look at 'em, just look at 'em!"
And Burt saw through his glasses a number of black groups of animals, grazing and moving slowly about.
"What are they, Uncle George?" he cried in high excitement to Mr. Wallace who was also looking through his glasses.[Pg 83]
"Hartebeest, bushbuck and antelope," replied the explorer calmly. "If I'm not mistaken there's a rhino47 in that patch of bush about two miles to the right—see it? John, O John! Get those gun-boys on deck, will you?"
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1
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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proceedings
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| n.进程，过程，议程；诉讼(程序)；公报 | |
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slit
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| n.狭长的切口；裂缝；vt.切开，撕裂 | |
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recoil
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| vi.退却，退缩，畏缩 | |
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6
groan
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| vi./n.呻吟，抱怨；(发出)呻吟般的声音 | |
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7
locker
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| n.更衣箱，储物柜，冷藏室，上锁的人 | |
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awning
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| n.遮阳篷；雨篷 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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11
crouched
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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13
savvy
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| v.知道，了解；n.理解能力，机智，悟性；adj.有见识的，懂实际知识的，通情达理的 | |
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14
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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15
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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16
sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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17
triumphant
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| adj.胜利的，成功的；狂欢的，喜悦的 | |
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18
winked
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| v.使眼色( wink的过去式和过去分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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19
reassured
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| adj.使消除疑虑的；使放心的v.再保证，恢复信心( reassure的过去式和过去分词) | |
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20
concoction
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| n.调配(物)；谎言 | |
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21
vociferously
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| adv.喊叫地，吵闹地 | |
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22
plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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savors
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| v.意味，带有…的性质( savor的第三人称单数 )；给…加调味品；使有风味；品尝 | |
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25
witchcraft
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| n.魔法，巫术 | |
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26
deftly
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| adv.灵巧地，熟练地，敏捷地 | |
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caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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28
cape
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| n.海角，岬；披肩，短披风 | |
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29
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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30
disapproval
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| n.反对，不赞成 | |
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31
gash
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| v.深切，划开；n.(深长的)切(伤)口；裂缝 | |
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32
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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33
affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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34
corrugated
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| adj.波纹的；缩成皱纹的；波纹面的；波纹状的v.（使某物）起皱褶(corrugate的过去式和过去分词) | |
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35
whitewashed
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| 粉饰，美化，掩饰( whitewash的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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36
courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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37
dressing
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| n.(食物)调料；包扎伤口的用品，敷料 | |
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38
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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39
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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40
effusively
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| adv.变溢地，热情洋溢地 | |
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41
lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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42
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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43
desolated
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| adj.荒凉的，荒废的 | |
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44
queries
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| n.问题( query的名词复数 )；疑问；询问；问号v.质疑，对…表示疑问( query的第三人称单数 )；询问 | |
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45
shrug
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| v.耸肩(表示怀疑、冷漠、不知等) | |
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46
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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47
rhino
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| n.犀牛，钱, 现金 | |
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