“Well, if you can stand the journey I certainly hope you’ll come along.”
“I don’t suppose I can stan’ it as well as I could if there was a good ship’s deck under me feet, an’ perhaps I’ll not be able to walk as fast as you like, anyway——”
“I don’t think we shall do much walking!” interrupted Trim. “We shall travel by donkey.”
“Donkeys, is it?”
“Yes. It seems that is the animal that is used in this part of the world for long journeys.”
“Well, then, if the donkeys can stan’ it I fancy an old sailor like me can.”
As it was necessary that they should have a party of attendants as well as a large supply of provisions and a quantity of articles like glass beads to give to the savages, they were kept very busy for a full day in making ready.
Trim did not regard the time as lost, for he had no hope whatever of overtaking Miller, the man he was especially interested in, before arriving at the country of the Narugas.
Besides that his ambition was thoroughly aroused now. He would not be content to return with Miller alone.
His American pride had been touched by the chief’s sneers and he wanted to return to Kimberley either with all the white criminals who had escaped justice or at least with information that they were no longer alive.