"I am glad you are going to leave and hope you will have the best of luck, and finally reach your own country. As for me, I am satisfied that I will never leave Africa."
"What, Joe? Aren't you going with us?" asked Jack Howard, in surprise.
"Oh, yes—that is, I will make the start with you. To tell the truth, I feel as—as though I am not going to live long."
"Nonsense!" cried all hands in a breath.
"I have a presentiment that way, and I know it will come true," persisted the boy.
Joe's words were spoken in such an earnest manner that a grave feeling came over all hands in spite of themselves.
During the day they walked about the city a good deal, and toward evening Joe was as happy as any of them.
Van noticed that a large number of the population had congregated to the western portion of the walled-in place.
Presently he saw the man whom he had knocked down among them, and he began to grow suspicious.
"They are getting ready to start a riot," he thought. "I must see my father and get him to start the first thing in the morning."