Enormous rocks, here and there, embarrassed the course of this mysterious river. The water foamed as it fell in rapids and cataracts, which confirmed the doctor in his preconceived ideas on the subject. From the environing mountains numerous torrents came plunging and seething down, and the eye could take them in by hundreds. There could be seen, starting from the soil, delicate jets of water scattering in all directions, crossing and recrossing each other, mingling, contending in the swiftness of their progress, and all rushing toward that nascent stream which became a river after having drunk them in. “Here is, indeed, the Nile!” reiterated the doctor, with the tone of profound conviction. “The origin of its name, like the origin of its waters, has fired the imagination of the learned; they have sought to trace it from the Greek, the Coptic, the Sanscrit; but all that matters little now, since we have made it surrender the secret of its source!” “But,” said the Scotchman, “how are you to make sure of the identity of this river with the one recognized by the travellers from the north?” “We shall have certain, irrefutable, convincing, and infallible proof,” replied Ferguson, “should the wind hold another hour in our favor!” The mountains drew farther apart, revealing in their place numerous villages, and fields of white Indian corn, doura, and sugar-cane. The tribes inhabiting the region seemed excited and hostile; they manifested more anger than adoration, and evidently saw in the aëronauts only obtrusive strangers, and not condescending deities. It appeared as though, in approaching the sources of the Nile, these men came to rob them of something, and so the _Victoria_ had to keep out of range of their muskets. “To land here would be a ticklish matter!” said the Scot. “Well!” said Joe, “so much the worse for these natives. They’ll have to do without the pleasure of our conversation.” “Nevertheless, descend I must,” said the doctor, “were it only for a quarter of an hour. Without doing so I cannot verify the results of our expedition.” “It is indispensable, then, doctor?” “Indispensable; and we will descend, even if we have to do so with a volley of musketry.” “The thing suits me,” said Kennedy, toying with his pet rifle. “And I’m ready, master, whenever you say the word!” added Joe, preparing for the fight. “It would not be the first time,” remarked the doctor, “that science has been followed up, sword in hand. The same thing happened to a French _savant_ among the mountains of Spain, when he was measuring the terrestrial meridian.” “Be easy on that score, doctor, and trust to your two body-guards.” “Are we there, master?” “Not yet. In fact, I shall go up a little, first, in order to get an exact idea of the configuration of the country.” The hydrogen expanded, and in less than ten minutes the balloon was soaring at a height of twenty-five hundred feet above the ground.