“The civilized part,” as Enola called it, of the journey was finished, and it remained now to make preparations for that other journey, which might prove less agreeable and a great deal more dangerous.
CHAPTER II.
INTO THE HEART OF AFRICA.
After landing at Zanzibar, the labor of equipment began. Bales of cloth and boxes of wire, innumerable colored beads and trinkets were shipped to Bagamayo in charge of reliable Zanzibari, the most trustworthy of African carriers.
Harry first looked up the reputation of Sedai, the Abyssinian, and finding this to be good, he then went in search of the man himself. He was found on the quay with a lot of natives, and upon Harry telling him what he wanted, he followed him to the hotel. Sedai was a monstrous fellow, standing fully six and a half feet high, and built like a Hercules. His skin was of a bronze color, smooth and shiny; his eyes were piercing black, his forehead high, and his face above the average in intellect for one of his race.
“You remember Mr. Boyd, do you not?” asked Mr. Graham, when the hotel had been reached.
“Perfectly well,” answered the Abyssinian.
“And you believe that the mysterious Land of On exists?”
“I do.”
“I wish to make that belief a certainty. Will you join us and get together a proper number of carriers and natives to insure comparative safety in making the journey?”
“Gladly,” said Sedai.