re than stand up. The moment he attempted to walk, the pain
returned, and we had to make up our minds for a longer stay. Charley
proposed that we should cut down a tree and scoop out a canoe in which
to cross the lake. When he explained his intentions, however, to Aboh,
the black replied that it would take us several weeks, if not months, to
construct a canoe, and that we should get round the lake much faster by
land.

"That may be the case," said Charley; "but suppose Tom's ankle is
broken, or so injured that he is unable to walk, we shall have no
alternative. We cannot leave him behind us in this wild forest, and we
must try to find a village of friendly natives, where he can remain
until he is recovered."

"I'm sorry to keep you back, gentlemen, and if it was a matter of life
or death, I'd say go on and leave me behind, but it would be a terrible
thing if that were necessary; so I would rather say, let us build a
canoe, or, if we cannot, a raft on which we can cross the lake. I don't
think it would take as long as Aboh supposes, if we could find a soft
tree. He doesn't know what our sharp axes can do; besides, we can clear
out the inside with fire. Even if I hadn't sprained my ankle, I again
say, provided that we can find the right tree, let us build a canoe."

Charley agreed with Tubbs, and Harry and I had no strong opinion the
other way. We told Aboh we wished he would hunt about to find a big
tree of soft wood.

Aboh agreed to do as we wished, at the same time he shook his head,
saying, "Too long, too long."

"No, no," answered Tom; "we will build a handsome short craft with
plenty of beam, so that we may turn her about in any of the narrow
streams through which we may have to make our way."

CHAPTER NINE.

DETERMINED TO OVERCOME OUR DIFFICULTY, WE DECIDE ON BUILDING A CANOE,
WHEN UNLOOKED-FOR HELP ARRIVES, AND ABOH FINDS A RELATIVE--A PLEASANT
BREAKFAST--TOM TAKEN ACROSS THE LAKE BY THE BLACKS--WE PREPARE A PRESENT
OF GAME FOR THE KING--LOOKING OUT FOR THE RETURN OF THE CANOE--THE
CROCODILE AND ITS VICTIM--WE CAMP FOR THE NIGHT--AN UNWELCOME VISITOR--A
FORTUNATE SHOT--THE LEOPARD'S SKIN--RETURN OF THE CANOE--WE EMBARK--
STORM ON THE LAKE--SAFE AGAIN WITH TOM TUBBS--A NATIVE DOCTOR DECLARES
THE KING BEWITCHED--WE CHANGE THE BOWL OF POISON--PRESENTED TO KING
QUAGOMOLO--THE TEST OF THE "POISON-CUP" APPLIED--THE KING'S QUICK
RECOVERY CELEBRATED WITH REJOICINGS--TOM HAVING PERFECTLY RECOVERED, WE