38 IN AFRICA 



watched eagerly for a chance to escape. Finally 

 one dark night, when the sentinels were asleep, a 

 bunch of ten succeeded in creeping away into the 



They Made Their Way Steadily Toward the Coast 



darkness. They were unarmed and chained from 

 neck to neck, one to another. For several days they 

 made their way steadily toward the coast. All 

 seemed well. They ate fruit and nuts and herbs and 

 began to see visions of a pleasant arrival at the 

 coast. 



But, alas ! Their hopes were soon to be dispelled. 

 One night a deep rumbling roar was heard in the 

 jungle through which they were picking their 

 unanimous way. A shudder ran through the slaves. 

 "Simbaf* they whispered in terror. A little while 

 later there was another rumble, this time much 

 closer. They speedily became more frightened. 

 Here they were, ten days' march from the coast, 

 unarmed, and quite defenseless against a lion. 



Presently the lion appeared, his cruel, hungry 

 eyes gleaming through the night. They were 



