THREATENING COUNTRY AHEAD. 229 
hands when I told them I was going to follow the river. 
“ No one ever goes that way, —you will surely be killed by 
elephants or rhinoceroses ;” “ You had better go back to 
the Aseba,” “ and from there across good country to Boyi” 
Lake Stephanie). But the unknown is always interesting, 
and I was keener than ever to go in a straight line. 
Our first march took us across the plain in which Prince 
Ruspoli had been killed. There was no path whatever, and 
we kept stumbling continually in the deep holes made by ele- 
phants; but nevertheless, by working all the day, we accom- 
plished about fifteen miles. Taking all my best men with 
me, I ascended a small hill near the camp to get a better 
view of the mountainous region we intended crossing. 
There was much discontent shown by my boys, and I was 
afraid of their breaking out in open rebellion, as I had 
chosen to take them again through very rough country, 
notwithstanding the many hardships they had _ already 
endured. 
As I looked through my glasses toward the west, the 
mountains seémed threatening indeed. The gorge was very 
narrow, but upon closer inspection the valley appeared to 
widen a bit around the first curve of the river. Yes, there 
was certainly a way for some ten miles at any rate. I told 
my boys there might be many obstacles to encounter; that 
the river might have to be crossed, and boxes and bags car- 
ried over rough places on the men’s shoulders, but that in 
a fortnight we should probably be at Rudolf, and I prom- 
ised them a handsome present, in addition to their regular 
pay, for the excellent work they had done for me. 
My head men were very much pleased at my offer, and 
when we got back to camp we soon had all the boys in 
good humor, and once more ready to encounter whatever 
might come. We started out in excellent spirits the next 
morning, and marched fast for six hours across the widest 
