by a tremendous roar of thunder. I
could see the flame dancing along over the water, mercifully avoiding
our canoe, leaving all in darkness beyond. The blacks for a moment
ceased paddling.

"Go on, go on," I cried out to Aboh; "this is no time to stop; the
sooner we reach the shore the sooner we shall be in safety."

Aboh repeated what I had said to his companions, and, thus encouraged,
all hands paddled away as before. As no land was in sight, I could not
make out how they managed to steer a straight course, but they seemed
perfectly satisfied that they were going right. Probably they were
guided by the wind on one side. Had it shifted, they would have been
thrown out. This I greatly feared would be the case; and after all,
might we be paddling up the lake instead of across it. Charley got out
his pocket compass, but the wind prevented us striking a light, and it
was consequently of no use. He kept it before him, however, in case
another flash of lightning should enable him to see it. He had not long
to wait. A vivid flash darted directly across the canoe.

"Hurrah!" he exclaimed; "we are all right; we are steering due north."

We had no longer, after this, any doubt about the judgment of our
African friends. The thunder rolled, the lightning flashed, and we
continued to bale away as the water washed into the canoe. For some
moments the lightning ceased, and we hoped the storm was over; but we
were mistaken. Another flash darted from the sky, more vivid than its
predecessors, with a loud hissing, crackling sound.

"Hurrah! I caught sight of some trees and a hut," exclaimed Charley.

He was not mistaken, in less than a quarter of an hour after this, the
canoe ran alongside the bank in a little bay, and our crew, jumping out,
welcomed us on shore.

Their loud shouts brought a number of people out of the neighbouring
huts, who quickly unloaded the canoe; while we were conducted by Aboh
and Shimbo to a hut which they said was prepared for our reception.
Within we found Tom seated on a couch formed of bamboos.

"Glad to see you, gentlemen, that I am," he exclaimed. "To say the
truth, I had begun to fear that you would never come at all, as I have
had some doubts about the intentions of our friends here. They were
very kind, howsomever, for they fed me well and tried their skill at
doctoring my foot, but I cannot say that they have done it any good; so
I hope, Mr Westerton, that you will again take me