of blacks approaching. At first he thought that they were the
villagers for whose benefit Stanley had killed the man-eating lions.
They, however, very soon exhibited their hostile intentions, by letting
fly a shower of arrows into the enclosure. Happily no one was hit.
Jack instantly roused the inmates, and fired his rifle at their
assailants, while Stanley and the rest seized their arms and rushed out
to defend the fortress. Their assailants were, however, too well
acquainted with its construction, and were now seen rushing on, each man
with a torch in his hand. These they threw among the prickly-pear
hedge, which, dried by the hot sun, was as combustible as tinder. In an
instant the whole was in a blaze. Stanley had collected his party, each
one being loaded with as much property as could be carried. Then,
sallying forth, they fired a volley, which drove the blacks to a
distance. They were thus able to secure several of their animals, and
to save a few more of their effects. They now retreated to some rising
ground, where they witnessed the utter destruction of our habitation.
The blacks had probably not expected so brave a defence. They once more
came on; but a volley killed three of their number, and the rest,
disappointed of their expected plunder, took to flight. Timbo on this
urged Stanley to set out without delay for Kabomba. They were happily
able to reach it, though my young cousins had undergone great fatigue on
the journey. After a stay of a week at Kabomba, they had received
information that a party of white travellers had appeared at some
distance to the south. Scarcely expecting that Senhor Silva could have
returned so soon, they set off in the hope of falling in with the
strangers, accompanied by an escort of the Kabomba people, who were
anxious to show their gratitude by guarding them on their way. They had
fallen in, as I have mentioned, with Chickango, and arrived safely at
Donald Fraser's camp. Timbo supposed that the attack had been made by a
tribe from the border of the lake, who had heard of the wealth possessed
by the white men. It occurred to me that they had possibly come from
the very village which our friends had advised us to avoid; and such I
found was the ease. Had we fallen into their hands, our fate would have
been sealed.

Soon after leaving the camp, we saw before us a grove of tall
palm-trees. At first they appeared to form a part of an extensive wood.
As we drew n