never become good shots."

The ship touched twice upon its way down to the Gaboon. Once at
the Malimba river, the second time at Botauga, the latter being
the principal ivory port in equatorial Africa.

"Shall we meet with any elephants, do you think?" Frank asked his
friend.

"In all probability," Mr. Goodenough said. "Elephant shooting, of
course, does not come within our line of action, and I should not
go at all out of my way for them. Still, if we meet them we will
shoot them. The ivory is valuable and will help to pay our expenses,
while the meat is much prized by the natives, who will gladly assist
us in consideration of the flesh."

On the sixteenth day after leaving Fernando Po they entered the
Gaboon. On the right hand bank were the fort and dwellings of the
French. A little farther up stood the English factories; and upon
a green hill behind, the church, school, and houses of an American
mission. On the left bank was the wattle town of King William, the
sable monarch of the Gaboon. Mr. Goodenough at once landed and made
inquiries for a house. He succeeded in finding one, consisting of
three rooms, built on piles, an important point in a country in
which disease rises from the soil. At Bonny Mr. Goodenough had,
with the assistance of the agent, enlisted six Houssas. These people
live much higher up on the coast, but they wander a good deal and
may be met with in most of the ports. The men had formed a guard
in one of the hulks, but trade having been bad the agent had gone
home, and they were glad to take service with Mr. Goodenough. They