he western and northern shores of the Victoria Nyanza, but
followed for some distance the river proceeding northwards from it,
which they held, and as we now know, correctly, to be the main stream of
the Nile. Burton, however, was still of the opinion that the honour
of being the head waters of that river belonged to Tanganyika and its
affluents. The subject excited considerable public interest and it
was arranged that at the approaching Bath meeting of the British
Association, Speke and Burton should hold a public disputation upon
the great question. Speke's attitude towards Burton in respect to their
various discoveries had all along been incapable of defence, while
Burton throughout had exhibited noble magnanimity. For example, he had
written on 27th June 1863 from the Bonny River to Staff-Commander C.
George, "Please let me hear all details about Captain Speke's discovery.
He has performed a magnificent feat and now rises at once to the first
rank amongst the explorers of the day." [208] Though estranged, the
two travellers still occasionally communicated, addressing each other,
however, not as "Dear Dick" and "Dear Jack" as aforetime--using, indeed,
not "Dear" at all, but the icy "Sir." Seeing that on public occasions
Speke still continued to talk vaingloriously and to do all in his power
to belittle the work of his old chief, Burton was naturally incensed,
and the disputation promised to be a stormy one. The great day arrived,
and no melodramatic author could have contrived a more startling, a
more shocking denouement. Burton, notes in hand, stood on the platform,
facing the great audience, his brain heavy with arguments and
bursting with sesquipedalian and sledge-hammer words to pulverize his
exasperating opponent. Mrs. Burton, who had dressed with unusual care,
occupied a seat on the platform. "From the time I went in to the time I
came out," says one who was present, "I could do nothing but admire her.
I was dazed by her beauty." The Council and other speakers filed in.
The audience waited expectant. To Burton's surprise Speke was not
there. Silence having been obtained, the President advanced and made
the thrilling announcement that Speke was dead. He had accidentally shot
himself that very morning when out rabbiting.

Burton sank into a chair, and the workings of his face revealed the
terrible emotion he was controlling and the shock he had received. When
he got home he wept like a child. At this point the gro