Page:In wild Africa - Adventures of two youths in a journey through the Sahara desert.djvu/344

326 until their departure. They accepted the invitation, and were assigned to their quarters at once. Captain Armstrong said he would expect them to dine with him at seven o'clock, and he gave orders for the doctor's retinue to be supplied with food. The doctor learned on inquiry that the steamer would leave on the next day for Bonny, and he arranged to take passage on her. He also arranged for Captain Armstrong to take charge of the camels, horses, and all the remaining goods belonging to the party. He was to sell them to the best advantage, and remit the proceeds to the doctor when all transactions had been completed.

In preparing themselves for dinner our friends abandoned the African dress and resumed their European garments. The youths regarded themselves in the mirror with some astonishment, and Ned said it would take him a few days to become acquainted with himself, after wearing outlandish clothes for so long. About noon the next day the steamboat "Wellington," of the Royal African Company, started down the Niger in the direction of Bonny, carrying with her the three travelers whom we have so long been following, and also Renaud, Yusef, and Abdullah, who were to return to Algeria.

Our friends found the lower part of the Niger flowing through a densely wooded region which abounded in savage beasts and savage men. They made brief stoppages at several stations, and in due time came to the ocean at Bonny, and greeted the blue expanse of the broad Atlantic with three ringing cheers.