"I was a youngster when I made this trip before," said the Lieutenant. "It was my first cruise. I shall never forget shooting at a lion and two lionesses which had climbed to the top of a bank, where they lay high and dry. I hit the lion at the first shot, whereupon he plunged and reared, and then charged desperately in the direction of the steamer. At the second shot he rolled over dead into the water. But he showed fight, I tell you, and the fury of the three animals was something to be remembered. After the lion was hit, one of the lionesses jumped into the water and swam for the steamer. She was killed alongside."
"And the other lioness?"
"I regret to state she turned tail. I have always supposed she had cubs at home."
"Hello!" cried Tom, "what's that? Some one firing on shore. Look!"
Mr. Jollytarre used his field-glass. The Captain of the Blosse Lynch sauntered up with his glass. On the banks of the river were two men firing at each other, one on either side, using the steamer apparently as a screen.
"Some of my crew tell me that those are two brothers," said the Captain, "who are fighting for the supremacy of their tribe. They keep up with us pretty well, don't they? Now look at that rascal shooting at that other fellow across the bow of the boat. By Jove! he's hit him. The man's down. Two or three men are running up to him and carrying him off. It's a dangerous country," continued the Captain, "and a bad lot of tribes all along here. They are always giving trouble, robbing grain and cargo boats at every opportunity."
Every ten or twenty miles the vessel would steam by an Arab settlement, or rather encampment, where nothing could be ruder than the huts built of mats and reeds.
The Arab boys of these villages would run along the banks shouting to the passengers, who would throw them apples and onions and cabbages. The sight of this sport fascinated Tom, who first begged a cabbage of the steward, and then hurled it toward the shore. It fell midway, however, into the water, whereupon the boys set up a shout of baffled expectation. But in the next moment two or three of them had sprung in after the precious gift, swimming fearlessly, regardless of the swift current and the wash of the steamer.
"The grown-ups are at it now," cried Mr. Jollytarre. "Look, Tom, look!"
As he spoke three men and a woman plunged into the river and exerted all their energies to seize upon a handful of onions which some of the crew just then threw overboard. Loaded with their booty they swam ashore satisfied.