GONJA TO LONIJOK 
319 
suppose that had some effect; at any rate, whether it 
was current, wind, or oars, we must have had some 
motive-power, because at four o’clock we were off the 
island of Zanzibar, and by seven in the evening we 
had reached the town and harbour of that name. I 
left my servants on board to guard the luggage, and 
went alone into the lamp-lit streets. I could hardly 
walk soberly, nor keep my lips from parting in exultant 
smiles when I thought how I was going to take Sir 
John Kirk by surprise. Here he was, if he thought 
about me at all, imagining that I must be still living 
with Mandara on Kilima-njaro, and yet I was within but 
a few strides of his house, I pictured my entry—1 
would hastily explain to the servant, and run upstairs 
unannounced, and knock at Sir John’s door as he 
was dressing for dinner. What astonishment, what 
laughing explanations there would be ! How we 
would sit and talk half the night over our coffee and 
grog in the pretty drawing-room, hung with Oriental 
porcelain ! Thus musing, I reached the Consulate and 
knocked at the outer door, which I was surprised to 
see closed. After a long delay, bolts and bars were 
withdrawn, and a sleepy janitor looked out. ££ Don’t 
you remember me ? ” I asked anxiously, ££ the Bwana 
mdogo that went to Kilima-njaro ? ” ££ Ah, yes,” he 
replied, his face growing friendly with recognition, 
££ to be sure! but,” shaking his head sadly, ££ the 
Bwana mkubwa (the great master) is not here.” 
££ Hot here ?” I exclaimed, sick with disappointment, 
“ then where is he ? ” ££ Gone to Kilwa in the steamer 
—won’t return till steamer does.” I turned away 
sadly, and thought I might just as well have slept the 
night on board the smelly dan. Then I remembered 
the Judge of the Consular Court lived hard by. I went 
