“Tails, sir!” said Frank, with a face expressive of strong disapproval. “Toss again.” He tossed again, and “tails” was again announced—and six times running “tails” won. We then tried straws—the short straws for the south, the long straws for the river Lualaba—and again we were disappointed, for Frank persisted in drawing out the short straws, and in leaving the long straws in my hands. “It is of no use, Frank. We’ll face our destiny, despite the rupee and straws. With your help, my dear fellow, I will follow the river.” “Mr. Stanley, have no fear of me. I shall stand by you. The last words of my dear old father were, ‘Stick by your master.’ And there is my hand, sir, you shall never have cause to doubt me.” [Illustration: “HEADS FOR THE NORTH AND THE LUALABA; TAILS FOR THE SOUTH AND KATANGA.”] “Good, I shall go on then. I will finish this contract with Tippu-Tib, for the Wangwana, on seeing him accompany us, will perhaps be willing to follow me. We may also recruit others at Nyangwé. And then, if the natives will allow peaceful passage through their countries, so much the better. If not, our duty says, ‘Go on.’” The next night Tippu-Tib and his friends visited me again. The contract was written, and signed by the respective parties and their witnesses. The Wangwana chiefs were then called, and it was announced to them that Tippu-Tib, with 140 guns and seventy Wanyamwezi spearmen, would escort us a distance of sixty camps, when, if we found the countries hostile to us, and no hopes of meeting other traders, we should return with him to Nyangwé. If we met Portuguese or Turkish traders, a portion of us would continue the journey with them, and the remainder would return with Tippu-Tib to Nyangwé. This announcement was received with satisfaction, and the chiefs said that, owing to Tippu-Tib’s presence, no Arab at Nyangwé would dare to harbour a runaway from the Expedition. Cowries and beads were then counted out and given that evening to Tippu- Tib, as ration money for ten days from the day of his departure from Mwana Mamba. _Oct. 24._—The next morning, being the 24th of October, the Expedition left Mwana Mamba in high spirits. The good effect of the contract with Tippu-Tib had already brought us recruits, for on the road I observed several strange faces of men who, on our arrival at the first camp, Marimbu, eleven miles north-west from Mwana Mamba, appeared before my tent, and craved to be permitted to follow us. They received an advance in cloth, and their names were entered on the muster-list of the Expedition at the same rate of pay as the other Wanyamwezi and Wangwana. _Oct. 25._—Through a fine rolling country, but depopulated, with every mile marked by ruined villages, we marched in a north-westerly direction, thirteen miles to Benangongo, from Marimbu, and, on the 25th, arrived at Kankumba, after a journey of twelve miles, crossing the Mshama stream by the way.