Then I stood up with an air as defiant as I could possibly
assume, shouting aloud to the waiting Igova boys and telling
them to lift the things and let us clear out.
Here once again fate was auspicious. Strange to say the
Chibero men, headed by Yillum, who had mutinied with
the Unyamwenda, came forward saying that they would
continue to follow the white man. In a commanding tone
I ordered them to proceed, pointing out the bundles they
should take. They were started off at once, doubtless
labouring under the happy delusion that I was conferring a
gracious favour upon them, whereas they were positively
essential to me; although fortunately they did not know
this.W
hen everyone had started I took a searching look
around the camp, to see that nothing had been forgotten,
and then I left, the Unyamwenda meantime standing in a
motionless crowd outside of the skerm, astounded at the
suddenness of our quick despatch.
Not long afterwards John asked me how it was that I
had not brought enough men, saying that had it not been
for the Chibero men we should not have got off. With
a wink of satisfaction I replied that I had managed to
get the Chibero off before they had time or were smart
enough to see that we were once more fairly in their
clutches.
Luck like this has helped many a man, and as we marched
along I felt buoyant through a sense of even slightly
brightening prospects. We crossed the north-eastern slopes
of the divide, passing by rivers whose waters finally mingle
with those of the great Zambesi, near to Tette.
It was almost sun-down when we arrived at the Kuia
river. The camp was soon enlarged. The Igova men
received their meat and cloth. John said that the sable
antelope head shot on the previous evening, was one of the
finest he had ever seen.
A happy night was spent. Songs were sung continuously,
the shrill voices of the boys ringing out right merrily in
the still air of the night.
Amidst the festivities I was made a sort of small king.
As I lay upon a pile of long grass, which, when at hand, I
would sometimes use as a mattress, the jubilant revellers
would come and dance before me one by one, while Karemba
and a brother performer would tune up their musical instruments.
When I saw the cheerfulness of the people I felt
that my efforts had been well rewarded.
There can be no doubt that I had got out of a difficulty
which had threatened to become very serious. No sooner
had this been effected than thoughts arose about the succeeding
day, when I would again require boys to continue
the journey.
Oh, what a time it would take to reach the river at the
rate we were going ! Sometimes my thoughts would
ponder sadly in this way; but then I would reproach myself,
remembering that I was at all times in an extraordinary
hurry, among people who did not care a jot
whether I went on or not. Nevertheless unless I strained
every nerve to push onwards the disordered caravan would
inevitably become a total wreck ; for if the articles of barter
which kept us floating disappeared, we should at once be
hard fixed in the stern straits of privation, which of course
meant utter dissolution.
For the future I resolved that meal would not be regularly
carried. We would try to get on with the meat which was
shot. Meal was heavy to carry, and I thought it better to
tell the boys that it would be bought at each town we came
to. This would perhaps be an incentive towards a faster