108 
THE NEW AFRICA 
brink unarmed, awaiting the approach of the canoe. But no 
nearer would they come than twenty yards from the shore, and 
Chiki, without any hesitation or fear from crocodiles or other¬ 
wise, swam out to the canoe and was hoisted on board. The 
laughter with which we greeted the sudden activity the paddlers 
displayed to get away from us, after Chiki was on board, broke 
the spell of fright they were labouring under, and they rowed off 
in the open, displaying many signs of growing confidence. Soon 
the two paddlers brought the canoe back, asking that a white 
man should go over; so, calling Franz, who by the way was not 
over willing, I begged that the canoe should be brought to the 
shore, that we might step in dry instead of swimming out, as our 
friends evidently hoped we would. With many misgivings ex¬ 
pressed in their shining visages, they approached us yard by 
yard, prepared to back off at the least attempt we might make to 
seize the canoe. But as we sat still, evidently taking it as a 
matter of course that they should fetch us, the canoe slowly 
grounded, and without any flurry Franz and I took our seats. 
His dubious remark that a man can die but once, as he 
entered the canoe, convinced me that Franz had a weak spot 
somewhere near the heart. The natives, surprised into good 
nature at our readiness to go over unarmed, paddled us quietly 
over to the island, where we stepped ashore on the sandy beach. 
