THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 451 



whirled a stone from his sling close over Stanley's head, a loud 

 drunken cheer applauding his boldness. 



Perceiving that they were becoming wanton on account of his 

 inaction, Stanley seized his revolver and fired rapidly into the 

 water, in the direction the stone had been flung; the effect was 

 painfully ludicrous. The bold, insolent bacchanals at the first 

 shot had sprung overboard and were swimming for dear life, 

 leaving their canoe unmanned. "Friends, come back, come 

 back; why this fear?" cried out the interpreter; "we simply 

 wished to show you that we had weapons as well as yourselves. 

 Come, take your canoe ; see, we push it away for you to seize 

 it." The savages were eventually won back with smiles. They 

 were now more respectful in their demeanor. They laughed, 

 cried out admiringly, and imitated the pistol shots, "Bum, 

 bum, bum." They then presented Stanley with a bunch of 

 bananas ! 



A few days afterward, when moving under a swift breeze, 

 Stanley's boat was hailed from the shore, and, the natives 

 appearing friendly, he landed. Immediately they were attacked 

 with stones, one of which badly wounded the steersman. Upon 

 beginning the attack a large number of natives ran to the boat 

 and seized the oars, while others began rifling the bales of goods. 

 It was time for quick action ; Stanley seized his gun and fired 

 over their heads, which so alarmed them that they ran off a 

 little distance, but began throwing their spears ; a few shots from 

 a large rifle doubled up a half-dozen, whereupon they ran off. 

 A KING'S INVITATION. 



ON the 2d of April the party proceeded in a happy mood along 

 the beautiful shore until the village of Kerudo was reached, 

 where they were received with much hospitality, and from which 

 place the Kabaka (king) of Uganda was notified by messengers 

 of the white man's approach. 



Just as Stanley was about to depart, on the following morn- 

 ing, he perceived six beautiful canoes, crowded with men, all 

 dressed in white, approaching; they were the Kabaka's people 

 conveying a messenger who carried an invitation from the king 



