Page:Two kings of Uganda.djvu/61

asked. " Very easily," he replied, " you were born with it." I could only make the rather weak and obvious retort that his not having a beard proved him to be a child — a retort which did not altogether please him.

Roma dismissed us kindly, and we managed to place all the baggage on board the canoes, and then Gordon and I took our seats. The canoemen, however, flatly refused to stir ; they said that we should all be drowned, and that the canoes were overloaded. This latter statement was undoubtedly true ; but what else could we do but make a start ? However, when we urged them to go, they remained resolute in their refusal, and so I had to get out again with my eight men, and we decided that I should do the journey on foot back to Wise, whom we had left at Musalala, and that Gordon should join Hannington at Kageye.

Soon after I had made my way down to Musalala on the west of Smith's Sound, Hannington walked into our camp, having come down on the east side and crossed over at Muleshi's ferry. He was in a very serious condition. He had had so many repeated attacks of fever, and had suffered so much, that he at last felt that he was not justified in resisting our urgent advice that he should endeavour to reach the coast.

When all was ready for the start, I accompanied him for a mile or so of the way, and then sorrowfully we said farewell and clasped hands for the last time. I stood and my eyes followed the tall receding figure, now

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