BACK TO AFRICA. 177 



of the forest and might reasonably consider ourselves out 

 of danger. Thursday assured me of this joyful fact, 

 adding. — 



•' And now I must return." 



'•And leave me?" 



" Thursday must go back after his wife and child." 



"True; I had forgotten. And I?" 



" Travel straight toward the south, keeping that star 

 always on your left hand, and at daybreak you will 

 reach the stream we crossed yesterday and have nothing 

 further to fear from wild beasts. It will then, and not 

 till then, be safe to sleep." 



-All right." 



'• I will join you at our last camp with everything left 

 behind us in the jungle." 



" I shall not soon forget your devotion to my interests, 

 Thursday, and — " 



My guide grasped my arm and drew me behind a bush. 



'• I heard a twig snap," whispered he. " We are 

 followed ! " 



•' By elephants ?" 



'• Oh, no ; we should hear them fast enough, without 

 any difficulty." As he said this he imitated the note of 

 a bird, clear and delicious. The same note was echoed 

 by a voice not far distant, and in a moment we had the 

 very welcome sight of Thursday's wife and boy coming 

 out of the trees' shadow and approaching us. This, of 

 course, altered our plans ; and we took up our march in 



12 



