"If there was six of 'em when they left you, there are only four now," remarked Lank Edwards, in a grim manner. "Two of ther villains have turned up their toes."
"Yes," put in Van; "but they have got Doc Clancy with them, and he is a match for any two ordinary men, as far as wickedness goes."
"Suppose you go up to our camp with us?" said Jack Howard, after a pause.
"Certainly," returned our hero. "We have got no other place to go just at present."
Howard gave the word, and the blacks began rowing the boat up the stream with long, steady strokes.
Though Van was some years his junior, Jack Howard took a strong notion to him, and as he was one of those blunt kind of fellows, he was not long in telling him so.
"It is mutual, I assure you," returned our hero; and the two from that moment became inseparable friends.
About a mile up the river the boats came to a stop on the left bank.
It was a very picturesque spot. The gorgeous African flowers of many hues, trailing vines, broad-leafed and giant cacti could be seen on every hand.
On a little knoll in the midst of these surroundings was the camp of the English explorers.