And so days passed, some amid pleasant surroundings, and others in a part of the country not so agreeable.
One day they passed through a continuous jungle. The path was only a foot wide, each side being bordered with thorny plants and creepers, the spiky twigs of which were as sharp as needles. The entire party was badly scratched with these irritating twigs, and the caravan was in a sad plight when it reached Msuwa that night. The chief of this tribe was very kind to the tired and wounded party, however, and they remained in this camp two days. After leaving here, the country was open and beautiful, presenting a natural park, and the roads were good.
They reached the Ungerangeri River on the evening of the twenty-fourth day, where they encamped, and on the following morning crossed the river and entered the Wakami territory. Five days later they reached the Wassagahha district. Here several of the party were stricken with fever, and several days were lost, but all getting better at last, the caravan again moved on. Away off to the North and West, could be seen a long range of mountains, in which, Sedai informed them, was situated the hidden country of “On.”
Shortly after leaving here they entered a very wild tract. Numberless antelope, spring-bok, zebra and giraffes were seen, but upon their approach they would scamper away. Here was a hunter’s paradise. What nobleman’s reserve in civilization could compare with this vast expanse of field and forest? How small and insignificant would they seem in comparison! The first herd of elephant was also seen here, but they passed them by without disturbing them. That evening they entered the Usugara district, and although the mountains were a considerable number of miles nearer, they still looked just as far away. The atmosphere in this country is so clear it makes distances very deceiving. It was a mountain world which they looked upon, for peak beyond peak, cone beyond cone, fold above fold, they rolled away like so many waves.
“We shall soon descend into the valley and across this to those distant mountains directly west of us, at the base of which we shall find the village in which lives the old man of whom I obtained the parchment. We will reach there in four marches,” said Sedai.
“And you say there are lions and tigers in the valley?” said Mr. Bruce.
“Yes,” answered Sedai, “and this part of the journey will be very dangerous.”
And this proved to be true, for two evenings later, when the supper had been eaten and all had been made snug for the night, Harry and Enola came very near falling victims to one of these ferocious beasts. They had wandered a little distance from the camp, and had sat down on a mossy bank for a few moments’ talk before going to bed. They had been here only a short time when they heard a rustle in the bushes, and turning they saw, standing not ten yards away, with his yellow eyes glowing through the semi-darkness, and his long tail swaying from side to side, an immense lion. Harry had not brought his rifle, and they were at the mercy of the beast. The lion seemed to realize this, for he quietly settled down on his haunches and watched them intently.
“Listen,” said Harry, and his lips hardly moved, “he will make a leap for us, and when he does, stoop low and run toward him. We will try to pass under him while he is in the air, and before he alights and turns we may be able to reach camp.”
“I understand,” said Enola.