THE ESCAPE. 



387 



nerved and self-reliant, goes into action reckless 

 of what may happen, and unprepared for ex- 

 tremes : when he ' gets more than he bargains 

 for ' he is apt, like nnimaginative men generally, 

 to become demoralized. The Erenchman, with 

 a weaker organization, prepares himself to expect 

 the worst ; and when the worst comes, he finds 

 it, perhaps, not so bad as he expected. 



Lieut. Speke escaped as by a miracle, and 

 recovered as wonderfully from eleven spear- 

 wounds, one of which was clean through the 

 thigh. Eeturning to England, we both volun- 

 teered for the Crimean campaign ; and he found 

 his way to the Turkish Contingent, I to the 

 Bashi Buzuks. When peace was concluded he 

 agreed to explore, in company with Capt. Smyth, 

 of the Bengal Army, Circassia and other parts of 

 Central Asia. We met, however, in London, 

 and he at once proposed to dismiss his new plans 

 for another African expedition. 



The reader has seen, in the earlier chapters 

 of this book, the troubles attending our de- 

 parture, and the obstacles opposed by the Court 

 of Directors to Lieut. Speke again becoming my 

 companion ; it has also been explained how the 

 difficulties were removed. My companion did 

 not, however, ' take kindly ' to the Second Expe- 



