Page:Dick Sands the Boy Captain.djvu/353

 A SLAVE CARAVAN. 325 would enable hîm to pass unnoticed), and makc his way to Dick himself ; then might not the two together élude the vigilance of the watch ? might they not follow after and overtake Mrs. Weldon in the forest ? would thcy not per- chance be able either by stealth or by force to liberate hcr, and once free they would effcct an escape to the river, and finally accomplish the undertaking in which thcy had been so lamentably frustrated. Such were the sanguine visions in which Dick permitted himself to indulge ; his tempéra- ment overcame ail tendency to despair, and kept him alive to the faintest chance of deliverance. The next thing of importance was to ascertain the destination of the caravan. It was a matter of the most serious moment whether the convoy of slaves were going to be carried to one of the dépôts of Angola, or whether they were to be sent hundreds of miles into the intcrior to Nyangwc, in the heart of the great lake district that Lîvingstone was then exploring. To reach the latter spot would occupy sonie months, and to return thence to the coast, even if they should be fortunate enough to regain their liberty, would be a work of insuperable difficulty. He was not long left in suspense. Although he could not understand the half-African, half-Arab dialect that was used by the leaders of the caravan, he noticed that the word Kazonndé occurred very frequently, and knowing it as the name of an important market in the province, he naturally concluded that it was there the slaves were to be disposed of ; whether for the advantage of the kingof the district, or of one of the rich traders, he had no means of telling. Unless his geographical knowledge was at fault, he was aware that Kazonndé must be about 400 miles from S. Paul de Loan- da, and consequently that it could hardly be more than 250 miles from the part of the Coanza whcre thcy were now encamped. Undcr favourable circumstances it was a journey that could not be accomplished in less than twelve or four- tcen days, but allowing for the retarded progress of a caravan already exhausted by a lengthened march, Dick was con- vînced that they could not reach the place forât Icast three wecks.