502 
AFRICA AND ITS EXPLORATION. 
tionecl him against being too venturesome, and kept him 
to his land duties. The success of Nubi, who was also a 
good swimmer, at the whirlpool of the Lady Alice Rapids, 
confirmed him in his idea that a perfect swimmer ran no 
danger from them. At this moment he forgot all my 
caution, and probably his high spirit had secretly despised 
it. But he was also goading brave men to their and his 
own destruction. His infirmity manifested itself in jeer- 
ing at the men for whom with me he had not sufficient 
adjectives at command to describe their sterling worth ; 
for he, as well as I, was well aware of Uledi’s daring, and 
of his heroic exploit at the Fifth Cataract of the Stanley 
Falls he was himself a witness. Poor Frank, had some 
good angel but warned me of this scene, how easily he 
had been saved ! 
“ Little master,” said the coxswain gravely, stung to 
the quick, “ neither white men nor black men can go 
down this river alive, and I do not think it right that 
you should say we are afraid. As for me, I think you 
ought to know me better. See ! I hold out both hands, 
and all my fingers will not count the number of lives 
I have saved on this river. How then can you say, 
master, I show fear ? ” 
“ Well, if you do not, the others do,” retorted Frank. 
“ Neither are they nor am I afraid. We believe the 
river to be impassable in a canoe. I have only to beckon 
to my men, and they will follow me to death— and it is 
death to go down this cataract. We are now ready to 
hear you command us to go, and we want your promise 
that if anything happens, and our master asks, ‘ AVhy 
did you do it ? ’ that you will bear the blame.” 
“ No, I will not order you. I will have nothing to do 
with it. You are the chief in this canoe. If you like to 
go — go, and I will say you are men, and not afraid of the 
water. If not, stay, and I shall know it is because you 
are afraid. It appears to me easy enough, and I can 
advise you. I don’t see what could happen.” 
Thus challenging the people to show their mettle, poor 
Frank steadily hastened his fate. 
Uledi then turned to the crew, and said, “ Boys, our 
