other wagon with more water.
So well had the explorer led them that they arrived within half a mile
of the camp, to be met with shouts of delight by the men and tears of
joy by the lonely Gurkha who had remained in charge. The other oxen were
found sleek and well, and Guru, who protested his entire ability, was
sent out with the second wagon, loaded with water and fresh fodder, to
meet the other.
They came in five days later without accident, the footsore and weary
Masai riding delightedly in the extra wagon. After a rest of two days,
the load was divided between the two wagons and all set forth for the
last trek across the first plain they had crossed. But this was not so
bad as that other, and with the aid of an opportune rainstorm that
lasted all night, they reached the friendly foothills once more and
gained the villages of the Samburo.
From here on to Yonge's Station was play compared to what they had been
through. The commissioner met them with great delight, and they
outspanned the oxen for a three-days' rest before going on. The Masai
were paid and dismissed, each with a handsome gift that sent them away
rejoicing.
"Here," said Captain Yonge, holding out an envelope, "is a cable that
was forwarded by runner. It came in two days since."
Schoverling reached across the dinner-table and tore it open. He scanned
it, then broke into a laugh and read it aloud:
"'_Louis Schoverling, care Captain Yonge, Commissioner
District, B. S. A._:
"'Best wishes. Bags valued seventy pounds. Got ahead of you there.
"'SELIM BEN AMOUD'"
They related the story of their trip to Yonge. Schoverling had been in
some doubt as to the advisability of saying anything about the
gold-dust, but von Hofe overruled him. When they had finished, the
captain dissipated their doubts.
"Why, of course, my dear fellow! There will be no objection in the least
to your keeping the ivory. You have brought back great news. Poor
Mowbray! He was a plucky fellow, and we always regretted orders to go
out after him--though he licked us every time. But that news about the
new country up north is great! I shouldn't wonder if you got an F. R. G.
S. out of it, Schoverling."
Taking it easy, they arrived in due course of time at the end of their
trip. Runners had gone on ahead, and for the last two days Piet Andrus
with a dozen more rode with them, having gone out to meet the wagon
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