Harris and Negoro

           ThedayafterthatonwhichDickSandandhiscompanionshadestablishedtheirlasthaltintheforest,twomenmettogetheraboutthreemilesfromthere,asithadbeenpreviouslyarrangedbetweenthem.

           ThesetwomenwereHarrisandNegoro;andwearegoingtoseenowwhatchancehadbroughttogether,onthecoastofAngola,thePortuguesecomefromNewZealand,andtheAmerican,whomthebusinessoftraderobligedtooftentraversethisprovinceofWesternAfrica.

           HarrisandNegorowereseatedatthefootofanenormousbanyan,onthesteepbankofanimpetuousstream,whichranbetweenadoublehedgeofpapyrus.

           Theconversationcommenced,forthePortugueseandtheAmericanhadjustmet,andatfirsttheydweltonthedeedswhichhadbeenaccomplishedduringtheselasthours.

           "Andso,Harris,"saidNegoro,"youhavenotbeenabletodrawthislittletroopofCaptainSand,astheycallthisnoviceoffifteenyears,anyfartherintoAngola?"

           "No,comrade,"repliedHarris;"anditisevenastonishingthatIhavesucceededinleadinghimahundredmilesatleastfromthecoast.Severaldaysagomyyoungfriend,DickSand,lookedatmewithananxiousair,hissuspicionsgraduallychangedintocertainties—andfaith—"

           "Anotherhundredmiles,Harris,andthosepeoplewouldbestillmoresurelyinourhands!However,theymustnotescapeus!"

           "Ah!Howcouldthey?"repliedHarris,shrugginghisshoulders."Irepeatit,Negoro,therewasonlytimetopartcompanywiththem.