In Camp on the Banks of the Coanza

           Theaspectofthecountrywasentirelychangedsincetheinundation.Ithadmadealakeoftheplainwherethetermitevillagestood.Theconesoftwentyant-hillsemerged,andformedtheonlyprojectingpointsonthislargebasin.

           TheCoanzahadoverflowedduringthenight,withthewatersofitstributariesswelledbythestorm.

           ThisCoanza,oneoftheriversofAngola,flowsintotheAtlantic,ahundredmilesfromthecapewherethe"Pilgrim"waswrecked.ItwasthisriverthatLieutenantCameronhadtocrosssomeyearslater,beforereachingBenguela.TheCoanzaisintendedtobecomethevehiclefortheinteriortransitofthisportionofthePortuguesecolony.Alreadysteamersascenditslowercourse,andbeforetenyearselapse,theywillplyoveritsupperbed.DickSandhadthenactedwiselyinseekingsomenavigablerivertowardthenorth.TherivulethehadfollowedhadjustbeenemptiedintotheCoanza.Onlyforthissuddenattack,ofwhichhehadhadnointimationtoputhimonhisguard,hewouldhavefoundtheCoanzaamilefartheron.Hiscompanionsandhewouldhaveembarkedonaraft,easilyconstructed,andtheywouldhavehadagoodchancetodescendthestreamtothePortuguesevillages,wherethesteamerscomeintoport.There,theirsafetywouldbesecured.

           Itwouldnotbeso.

           Thecamp,perceivedbyDickSand,wasestablishedonanelevationneartheant-hill,intowhichfatehadthrownhim,asinatrap.Atthesummitofthatelevationroseanenormoussycamorefig-tree,whichwouldeasilyshelterfivehundredmenunderitsimmensebranches.