have expected to give in. I'll stay by you until you are rested, and
then we will hurry on after our friends."

"Perhaps we shall lose them if we are separated," I answered.

The thought made me arouse myself, and rising to my feet, I staggered
on. Harry shouted to Charley and Tom, and they came back to give me
their assistance. We had not gone far after this, when Aboh shouted
out--

"Dere water, water!"

We caught sight of a bright gleam shining through the trees. Though we
were in Africa, we knew that it was no mirage, which only appears on dry
and sandy deserts. We all hurried on, knowing that our burning thirst
would soon be relieved. As we drew nearer, we saw a lake stretching out
before us, on the banks of which appeared numberless birds. There were
long-legged storks, cranes, pelicans, pink-winged flamingoes, ibises,
and similar waterfowl of various descriptions. As we appeared, those
nearest to us took to flight, the beautiful flamingoes rising in the air
with their long legs stretched out behind them. One thought, however,
occupied our minds. How to get to the water, for we feared that we
should find muddy banks, which might prove impassable. Aboh's quick
eye, however, detected a small inlet into which a rivulet fell. He led
us down to a hard, gravelly bank, where the water ran as clear as that
of an English trout-stream.

We did not stop to consider whether alligators lurked beneath the lilies
which floated on the surface, or huge snakes were concealed near at hand
waiting for their prey, but kneeling down, we plunged in our heads, and
drank huge draughts of the cooling liquid. Cooling it was to us,
although probably it would have been thought somewhat tepid in a colder
climate. In an instant I was revived, and my companions felt the same
sensations.

We could now sit down and enjoy a few mouthfuls of the food we had
brought from the wreck, which we took to stay our appetites. We
intended, before many minutes were over, to have some of the waterfowl
flying round us cooking before the fire. Charley and Harry, being
tolerable shots, agreed at once to try and knock over a sufficient
number for our wants, while Tom and I collected sticks for a fire.
Aboh, seeing them set off, started by himself in an opposite direction.

"We're not likely to starve on our journey, Mr Westerton, if we are
fortunate enough to fall in with as many birds as we see around us just
now," said Tom.

"I am afraid