vicinity, the travellers--but
for the absolute impregnability of the _Flying Fish_--would have begun
to feel uneasy. About half-past four o'clock, however, as the quartette
were languidly puffing at their cigars, lolling meanwhile in the most
luxurious of deck-chairs, a huge cloud of yellow dust rising into the
air beyond the ruins announced the approach of the cavalcade, and a
minute or two later king M'Bongwele at the head of his cavalry swept
like a whirlwind into the open space occupied by the great ship, and,
charging in a solid square close up to her, suddenly wheeled right and
left into line, and came to an abrupt halt. The evolution was very
brilliantly executed, and as Lethbridge lazily scanned the performers
through the thin filmy smoke of his cigar, he could not restrain a low
murmur of admiration, followed by the remark:

"By George! what splendid soldiers those fellows would make with a
couple of months' training!"

"Y-e-s," agreed the baronet, "that was very well done; but I suppose
that particular evolution is the one in which they most excel, and of
course it was done purely for effect. Ah! the individual now
dismounting is, I suppose, our royal visitor."

The baronet was quite right in his conjecture. As the party halted,
some ten or a dozen individuals, including Lualamba, flung themselves
from their horses, and, advancing reverentially, grouped themselves
about the royal charger. Two of them then stepped to the creature's
head and grasped the bridle, whilst two more assisted the king to
dismount. The horse was then handed over to the care of a warrior, and
the king, closely followed by the members of his suite, advanced to the
foot of the rope-ladder, which had been lowered for their accommodation;
the professor at the same time stepping to the gangway and inviting the
party to ascend.

M'Bongwele looked somewhat doubtfully at the swaying ladder for a moment
or two, and then essayed the ascent; but the oscillation set up by his
movements proved too much for his nerves--or his dignity--and, much
chagrined, he was obliged to desist. The professor then in compassion
suggested the steadying of the ladder at its foot, when the king,
promptly giving the necessary order to his suite, ascended to the deck,
leaving those who followed him to manage as best they could.

The first glance of the travellers satisfied them that in king
M'Bongwele they had a man of more than ordinary intelligence to deal