CHAPTER XII.
OFF FOR AFRICA
It was long after midnight before the conversation in relation tothe proposed trip to Africa came to an end. Mrs. Rover insistedthat the boys should eat something, and they sat around the tablediscussing the viands and the two letters at the same time.
"Have you any idea where this Niwili Camp is?" asked Dick of hisuncle.
"It is on the Congo, but how far froth the mouth of that stream isa question, lad. Probably we can learn all about it when we reachBoma, the capital of the Congo Free State."
"The Congo is a pretty big stream, isn't it?" questioned Sam.
"Very large indeed. At its mouth it is about ten miles wide, andit is from twelve to fourteen hundred miles long. Stanley tracedits course after an expedition in which he fought over thirtybattles with the natives."
"They must be fearfully savage."
"Those in the interior are. The natives that live close to theocean are peaceable enough, so I have been told."
"And how are we going to get there?" asked Tom. "I don't supposethere are any regular steamers running to the Congo."
"No, indeed, Tom. I have written to a shipping firm in New Yorkfor information, and they will probably send word by morning," wasthe answer.
It can well be imagined that the boys slept but little that night.In the morning they telegraphed to Putnam Hall for their trunks,and also let Captain Putnam and their chums know how mattersstood. Then began preparations for such a tour as none of themhad ever before anticipated.
Word came from New York in the early afternoon mail, and theinformation sent was highly satisfactory to Randolph Rover. TheFrench steamer Republique was in port, loading for Boma and otherAfrican ports, and would set sail on the coming Saturday. Thefirm had taken upon itself the responsibility to speak of passagefor Mr. Rover and one or two others.
"Hurrah!" cried Tom. "Uncle Randolph, you had better telegraph tothem at once for passage for the four of us."
"I will," answered, Mr. Rover, and the telegram was sent withinthe hour.
The next day was a busy one. As but little in the way of outfitscould be procured in Oak Run or the adjoining villages, it wasdecided that they should go down to New York on Thursday afternoonand spend all of Friday in purchasing in the metropolis whateverwas needed.
The only person who was really sober was Mrs. Rover, for she hatedto see her husband start on such a journey, which was bound to, befull of grave perils.
"I am afraid you will never come back," she said, with tears inher eyes. "And if you and Anderson are both dead to me, what willI do?"
"Be brave, Martha," said Mr. Rover tenderly. "I feel certain thata kind Providence will watch over us and bring us all back insafety."
At last the party was ready to set off. A fond good-by was said,and away they rattled in the carryall for the railroad station atOak Run.
"Good-by to home!" shouted Tom, as he waved his cap to his aunt,who stood beside the gateway.
"And when we come back may we bring father with us," added Dick,and Sam muttered an amen.
The journey down to New York was without incident, and as theRovers had lived in the metropolis for years they felt thoroughlyat home and knew exactly where to go for their outfit and suitableclothing for use in such a warm country was procured, and inaddition each was armed with a revolver. Mr. Rover also purchaseda shot-gun and a rifle, and likewise a number of cheap gold andsilver trinkets.
"The natives are becoming civilized," he explained. "But, for allthat, I am certain a small gift now and then will go a long waytoward making friends."
The found that the Republique was a stanch-built steamer of eightthousand tons burden. Her captain, Jules Cambion, spoke Englishquite fluently and soon made them feel at home. He was muchinterested in the story Randolph Rover had to tell concerning hismissing brother.
"'Tis a strange happening, truly," he remarked. "I sincerelytrust that your search for him proves successful and that hereturns to the arms of his family unharmed. But it is a fiercecountry. I have visited it twice, and I know."
"I am glad to learn that you have been up the Congo," repliedRandolph Rover. "Perhaps during your leisure hours on the tripyou will not mind giving me such information as conics to yourmind."
"I will tell you all I know willingly," answered Captain Cambion.
Exactly at noon on Saturday the Republique was ready to sail, andwith a shout from those on the wharf who had come to see the fewpassengers off, she sheered away and started down the bay, pastBedloe Island and the Statue of Liberty. Before night the shoreline had faded from view, and they were standing out boldly intothe Atlantic Ocean.
"Off for Africa at last," murmured Sam, who had been standing atthe rail watching the last speck of land as it disappeared. "Whata big trip this is going to be!"
"Never mind how big it is, Sam," came from Tom, "if only it issuccessful."
The first few days on board were spent in settling themselves.The party had two connecting staterooms, and Mr. Rover and Samoccupied one, while Dick and Tom had settled themselves in theother.
The passengers were mostly French people, who were going to trytheir fortunes in French Congo. There was, however, oneEnglishman, a man named Mortimer Blaze, who was bound out simplyfor adventure.
"I'm tired of England, and tired of America too," he explained."I've hunted through the Rocky Mountains and up in Canada, as wellas at home, and now I'm going to try for a lion or a tiger inAfrica."
"Perhaps the lion or tiger will try for you," smiled Tom. "Whatthen?"
"It will be a pitched battle, that's all," drawled Mortimer Blaze.He was rather a sleepy looking man, but quick to act when theoccasion demanded.
The weather was all that could be wished, and during the firstweek out the Republique made good progress. On a steamer therewas but little for the boys to do, and they spent all of theirspare time in reading the books on Africa which Captain Cambionhad in his library, and which were printed in English. Often theypersuaded the genial captain to tell them of his adventures inthat far-away country.
"You have many strange sights before you," he said to them oneday. "The strange vegetation, the immense trees, the wonderfulwaterfalls, some larger than your own Niagara, and then the oddpeople. Some of the natives are little better than dwarfs, whileothers are six feet and more in height and as straight as arrows.
"Did you ever hear of this King Susko?" questioned Tom.
"Yes; I have heard of him several times. He is known as theWanderer, because he and his tribe wander from place to place,making war on the other tribes."
The captain knew nothing of Niwili Camp and expressed the opinionthat it had been, like many other camps, only a temporary affair.He said that the best the party could do was to strike straight upthe Congo, along the south shore, and question the differentnatives met concerning King Susko's present whereabouts.
On the beginning of the second week a storm was encountered whichlasted for three days. At first the wind blew at a lively rate,and this was followed by thunder and lightning and a regulardeluge of rain, which made all of the boys stay below. Thesteamer pitched from side to side and more than one wave brokeover her decks.
"This is the worse storm I ever saw," remarked Dick, as he heldfast to a chair in the cabin. "They won't be able to set anytable for dinner today."
"Dinner!" came from Sam, with a groan.
"Who wants any dinner, when a fellow feels as if he was going tobe turned inside out!" So far none of the boys had suffered fromseasickness, but now poor Sam was catching it, and the youngestRover felt thoroughly miserable.
"Never mind, the storm won't last forever," said Dicksympathetically. "Perhaps you had better lie down, Sam."
"How can I, with the ship tossing like a cork? I've got to holdon, same as the rest, and be glad, I suppose, that I am alive,"and poor Sam looked utterly miserable.
It was very close in the cabin, but neither door nor port-holecould be opene
d for fear of the water coming in. Dinner was afarce, to use Tom's way of expressing it, for everything was coldand had to be eaten out of hand or from a tin cup. Yet what wasserved tasted very good to those who were hungry.
"I believe we'll go to the bottom before we are done," began Sam,when a loud shout from the deck reached the ears of all of theRovers and made Tom and Dick leap to their feet.
"What's that?" cried Dick. "They are calling to somebody!"
Above the wind they could hear a yell from a distance, and thencame more cries from the deck, followed by a bump on the side ofthe steamer.
"We've struck something!" ejaculated Tom.
"But I guess it wasn't hard enough to do much damage."
"That remains to be seen," answered Dick. "Storm or no storm, I'mgong on deck to learn what it means," and he hurried up thecompanionway.