240 
THE NEW AFRICA 
Hamraar was, of course, only too anxious to join me, but 
that did not accord with our plans, for if by any premeditation 
harm should come to me, as Franz assured us was intended, 
then Hammar still would have a good chance to carry back 
such information as we had gathered; therefore it was not 
advisable that we should attempt the passage together. It was 
necessary, however, that two men should cross in case anything 
went wrong, for it was advisable to have a man each to 
watch the two boatmen lest they attempted any tricks on the 
passage, a not unlikely possibility, as they were apparently 
picked for abnormal size and strength from amongst their 
already over-sized compatriots. 
While I was arguing with Franz, telling him how ill his 
conduct would appear amongst the hunters at Shoshong unless 
he behaved better, Paul rose, and stretching himself, with a 
laugh said, ‘ I have been waiting to see who are cowards and 
who are men. Baas, I can’t swim, but will go with you; come 
on! ’ Giving him a loaded gun, I put him in one end of the 
canoe and took a seat at the other far end, so that we had the 
canoe men between us in the body of the canoe ; telling Paul to 
keep his gun cocked and to shoot the man in front of him 
without hesitation at the least suspicious move, being prepared 
to do likewise in my own case, we shoved off into the rapid 
eddying current. 
The boatmen, evidently impressed with the danger of their 
position, worked steadily along, but in their over-anxiety took 
us too near a jutting rock, where a small whirlpool seized the 
canoe and whisked her round twice before they steadied her on 
the course again. I had no idea that the river was so large or 
mighty before crossing it, and am inclined to give the width and 
depth as somewhat greater than before. Steadily we neared the 
opposite shore ; the tall boatmen, standing on their feet, bending 
to the work with great vigour, propelled the clumsy concern 
along until we were once more whisked round in a curling little 
bay, and then she grated on the shore. Jumping out, I seized 
the canoe, pulled her nose high and dry to prevent her from 
