I walked one way, then another, but could see no traces whatever of where I had been. I was lost, and the remembrance of my former experience while hunting with Oshoria, the slaves of King Mombo, and my other hunters, came vividly before me.
I began to be hungry also. I saw two big koola trees, but the boars had been there, and eaten all the nuts that had fallen. I wished I could have had a peep at these boars, I would have fired at them. Suddenly down came a nut. I made for it at once. Then I said to myself: "I will stay under this tree the rest of the day and camp here to-night, for probably more nuts will fall during that time." I looked for water, and found a little rivulet near by, which confirmed me in thinking this a good place for a camp.
Another nut fell. I rushed towards it, broke it, and soon the kernel was in my mouth. Then another nut fell, and another. No sound seemed to me sweeter than that of the falling of the koola nuts. A strong wind was evidently blowing, for the tops of the trees were shaking and the leaves were quivering. "Blow hard," said I to the wind, "blow hard, for the nuts will fall."
Listening to the sound of the nuts as they fell one after another, and putting a lot of wood on the fire, I lay down to sleep, feeling a great deal better after my meal.
The next morning I awoke perfectly fresh. During the day I came to a tolerably well-trodden path, which was more used than all those I had seen since I had been in my forest home. But I did not know in which direction to follow it. Finally, I determined to follow the right. I walked the rest of the day, but I found nothing to show me where I was going. I was very hungry, but the koola nuts had kept me alive, with the help of water.
I camped again that night in the forest. I put under my head as a pillow my revolvers, and laid "Bulldog" by my side.
PLANTAIN PEELINGS TO EAT--HUMAN FOOTPRINTS LEAD ME TO A VILLAGE--THE VILLAGERS EVIDENTLY WARLIKE--ADMITTED WITHIN THE GATE--AWE OF THE PEOPLE AT SIGHT OF THE OGUIZI
EARLY the next morning I was up, and followed the path until I came to another which crossed it. This one was well trodden, showing that it was quite frequented. The question again arose, which side must I take. I concluded to take again the right. Soon after, I discovered some plantain peelings and the remains of a fire. I was delighted at the discovery, and stopped and roasted the peelings, which were better than nothing. I did not like them, but I was very thankful that I had found them. Further on I came to a place where the ground was soft, and saw before me four well-marked human footprints. Two were much larger than the others, and were evidently the marks of a full-grown man; the others looked as if they were those of a woman.