132 
THOMAS J. COMBER. 
“ fancy we have made a mistake, and the Gospel is 
not to be preached in Central Africa ? Let them 
take a lesson from the Soudan. When Hicks Pasha 
and party are cut off, they only send out a bigger 
pasha and a bigger party. Gordon is coming out, we 
hear, in Stanley’s place. We want some good men 
of Gordon’s stamp, fearless and resolute, to whom 
death is not bitter, and whom trial and difficulty do 
not daunt. Men with unswerving purpose, who glory 
in the hard, fast bonds of duty ; men to whom the 
Congo Mission shall be the one thing in life — all- 
absorbing, all-engrossing, and who will be ready for 
any phase of its many-sided work. I wish I could 
stay out here until we had a great story to tell of the 
power of the Cross of Christ in and over the hearts 
and lives of men ; but this is like the sunrise in our 
own country — slow and gradual, heralded by a slowly 
perceptible dawn.” 
Mr. Comber was much sustained at this time by 
the fact of Mr. Bentley having gone to England, 
knowing, as he did, that he was fully qualified to 
represent the circumstances and needs of the Mission, 
as well as to prosecute the literary pursuits which had 
taken him home — pursuits necessary for the prepara- 
tion of the Congo Dictionary and Grammar. 
We have already referred to the successful launch 
of the Peace, Great was Mr. Comber’s delight 
when, on his return to Stanley Pool, after settling 
his brother in the new station of Ngombe, he saw the 
steamer floating prettily alongside a wharf on the 
beach. The trial trip at once took place, and with 
great success ; and then, with as little delay as pos- 
sible, Mr. Comber prepared for the realisation at last 
of his ardently cherished desire — a long journey on 
the Upper Congo into the far interior of the ‘‘Dark 
Continent.” It was fitting that the old companion of 
Cameroons days — Mr. Grenfell — ^and himself should 
take this first expedition. They had on board with 
them one distinguished passenger — Sir Francis de 
