288 FROM THE NIGER TO THE NILE 



most of the afternoon and did not pass such a very bad night, 

 sleeping off and on. Dr. Cammermeyer was able to give him 

 some champagne from his medicine store ; the last of our 

 own supply had been finished in his first illness ; indeed, 

 we had absolutely no comforts left, so that we can never fail 

 to be thankful for the wonderful providence that brought 

 him in his last hour to a haven where there were kind 

 friends and comfort to soften the bitterness of the end. The 

 next day the symptoms remained as persistent as ever. 

 Having watched by him in his first attack I could not fail 

 to see the marked change in him now ; he was very weak and 

 seemed as if he no longer had the wish to fight. He sank 

 rapidly and hardly ever spoke. At that hour I do not think 

 he acknowledged defeat, but weakness had assailed him so 

 suddenly that he had not the power to realise his state, and 

 so he did not suffer. 



The next morning the doctor could give no hope, and at 

 about three o'clock in the afternoon a decided change for the 

 worse set in, after which he was seldom conscious again. 



It was towards midnight and I had turned a moment 

 from his side, when, with a great effort, he rose from the bed 

 and before I could get to him had reached the other end of 

 the Httle room. It seemed as if it was then that his spirit 

 had received its call, and the poor, weak body had struggled 

 up in the endeavour to obey and follow. With the help of his 

 boy, Quabena, who sat watching always at the door like a 

 faithful dog, I lifted him on to the bed again, but the strain of 

 his effort had been too much for him ; his breath quickened, 

 and at half -past eleven he died suddenly and peacefully. 

 Turning to Quabena, who was still crouching in the doorway. 



