In the Wilds of AfricaKingston, William Henry Giles
General
In the Wilds of Africa
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Africa -- Juvenile fiction
On the third day we still found Leo's crosses, but several were out of
the straight line. The country had become open, similar in character to
that which I had passed over with Natty. Hitherto we had found springs
affording sufficient water for ourselves and the ox. Now, however, we
had to go a long way without meeting with any, though we carried enough
in our bottle for ourselves, and a small quantity for the patient ox.
Travelling on, I saw something lying on the ground a short distance off.
I pointed it out to Mango, who ran towards it, and returned with a
knapsack. "Yes," he said in a sorrowful tone, "dis Massa Leo's." I
recognised it indeed as the one Leo had with him. Fatigue alone could
have made him throw it aside; and perhaps, hoping soon to reach the
Europeans of whom he had heard, he would no longer encumber himself with
it. Securing it to the ox's back, we went on still more eagerly,
looking carefully about on every side. I expected every moment to
overtake Leo. We went on for another mile or more, when to my dismay we
found his rifle on the ground. That he certainly would not have thrown
away unless greatly overcome by fatigue. Still, perhaps, he might have
had no powder, and found it a useless encumbrance. I, however, dreaded
that, weak as he must have been before he would quit his knapsack and
rifle, he might have fallen an easy victim to some beast of prey.
Though we looked anxiously about, we could see nothing of him.
Presently Mango, who had gone ahead of me, began running very fast. I
pushed on to overtake him, when I saw, lying on the ground, a human
form, by the side of which Mango had thrown himself. Could it be Leo?
I urged the ox into a gallop, and did not stop till I reached the spot.
My worst apprehensions were fulfilled. There lay Leo extended on the
grass.
"Is he dead?" I exclaimed, in a faltering voice.
"Hope not, massa," answered Mango, looking up; "he 'till breathes."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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