owed my knife and plunged once more into the forest depths, to
return again shortly afterwards with a huge gourd full of deliciously
clear cool water.

The antelope steaks were by this time ready, and we all sat down to
breakfast together. For my own part, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed
the meal; but I was sorry to observe that Smellie ate with but little
appetite, drinking large quantities of water, however. The poor fellow
made no complaint, but I could tell by his haggard look, his flushed
cheeks, and his glittering eyes that it was quite time his wounds were
attended to, or we should be having him down with fever in the bush, and
then Heaven alone could tell when we should--if ever--be able to rejoin
the _Daphne_.

But we were not to be allowed to sink tamely into a state of despondency
or apprehension; our sable lady friend proved to be, like the rest of
her sex, a great talker, and she seized the opportunity afforded by the
discussion of breakfast to plunge into an animated conversation. She
began by introducing herself, which she managed in quite an original
fashion. Pausing for a moment, with a piece of steak poised daintily on
a large thorn, she pointed to herself and remarked "Mono;" then touched
Smellie and me lightly on the breast and added "Ingeya;" "Ingeya." We
nodded gravely to signify that we understood, or thought we did; upon
which she pointed to herself once more and observed, "Mono
Lubembabemba."

"Which, being interpreted, means, as I take it, that her ladyship's name
is Lubem by--something. Your most obedient servant, Miss Lubin by--"

She laughed a very pretty musical little laugh at Smellie's elaborate
assumption of mock gallantry and his bungling efforts to pronounce the
name.

"Lubem-ba-bemba," she corrected him; and this time the gallant second
lieutenant managed to stumble through it correctly, at which there was
more laughter and rejoicing on the lady's part. Then I was called upon
to repeat the name, which, having paid the most praiseworthy attention
whilst Smellie was receiving his lesson, I managed to do very fairly.

Then, flushed with her success, Miss Lubembabemba made a further attempt
at conversation. Pointing to herself and repeating her name, she next
pointed to Smellie and asked:

"Ingeya?"

Her meaning was so evident that Smellie answered at once, with another
elaborate bow:

"Harold Smellie; at your service."

"Halold-smellie-at-o-serveece!" she repeated wi