Return to the River.



Early on the last morning in March we roused the Kru-men; they
were eager as ourselves to leave the "bush," and there was no
delay in loading and the mission-boat. Forteune, Azizeh, and
Asunye were there to bid me God-speed, and Hotaloya did not fail
to supply a fine example of Mpongwe irresolution.

That "sweet youth" had begged hard during the last week that I
would take him to Fernando Po; carpenters were wanted for her
Majesty's consulate, and he seemed to jump at the monthly pay of
seven dollars--a large sum in these regions. On the night before
departure he had asked me for half a sovereign to leave with his
wives, and he made me agree to an arrangement that they should
receive two dollars per mensem. In the morning I had alluded to
the natural sorrow which his better semi-halves must feel,
although the absence of groaning and weeping was very suspicious,
and I had asked in a friendly way, "Them woman he make bob too
much?"

"Ye', sar," he replied with a full heart, "he cry too much."

When the last batch had disappeared with the last box I walked up
to him, and said, "Now, Andrews, you take hat, we go Gaboon."

Hotaloya at once assumed the maudlin expression and insipid
ricanement of the Hindu charged with "Sharm ki bat" (something