500 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



To satisfy their superstitious fears he was compelled to sacri- 

 fice his Shakespeare, but it was the means of saving his valuable 

 note book. 



TERRIBLE DEATH OF FRANK POCOCK. 



ON June 3d another accident occurred at Masassa whirlpool, 

 which was more deplorable than all the others. Frank Pocock, 

 who had been Stanley's mainstay and next in command to himself, 

 attempted to drive the rapids against the advice of his experi- 

 enced boatman, Uledi, who was the bravest native connected with 

 the expedition, though a Zanzibar freedman. Pocock was warned 

 of the danger of such an undertaking ; but with a rashness quite 

 unlike himself he ordered the canoe pushed out into the stream. 

 As they approached nearer and nearer the mad breakers Frank 

 realized his peril, but it was too late. They were soon caught in the 

 dreadful whirl of waters and sucked under with a mighty force 

 sufficient to swallow up a ship. Pocock was an expert swimmer, 

 but his art did not now avail him, for he was swept away to his 

 death, though his eight companions saved themselves. 



The dreadful news was borne to Stanley by the brave Uledi. 

 This last and greatest calamity, coming in the midst of his already 

 heavy weight of woe, so overcame the great explorer that he 

 wept bitter tears of anguish. 



" My brave, honest, kindly-natured Frank," he exclaimed, 

 "have you left me so? Oh, my long-tried friend, what fatal 

 rashness! Ah, Uledi, had you but saved him, I should have 

 made you a rich man." 



Of the three brave boys who sailed away from England with 

 Stanley to win the laurels of discovery in the unknown wilds of 

 Africa, not one was left, but all were now slumbering for 

 eternity in that strange land, where the tears of sorrowing 

 friends and relatives could never moisten their rude beds of 

 earth. 



The repeated calamities of the expedition had by this time so 

 discouraged the people that it was with the greatest effort Stan- 

 ley could induce them to proceed. They seemed to think they 

 were going to certain destruction, and became languid, sullen, 



