Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 1.djvu/306

 or two large boats were descried during the rapid transit.

"This lake," said the doctor, "is evidently, from its elevated position, the natural reservoir of the rivers in the eastern parts of Africa. Heaven gives it again in rain what it absorbs in vapors from its effluents. It appears to me certain that the Nile ought to have its source here."

"We shall soon see," said Kennedy.

Towards nine o'clock the coast towards the west was neared: it appeared desert and wooded. The wind backed a little to the east, and they could get a glimpse of the other side of the lake. It trended so as to terminate in a very obtuse angle, about 2° 40' North latitude. High mountains stood up with arid peaks at this end of the Nyanza, but between them a deep and winding gorge gave vent to a rippling stream.

All the while he was regulating the balloon, Doctor Ferguson kept examining the country with an anxious gaze.

"There it is, my friends, there it is!" he cried; "the accounts of the Arabs were correct. They spoke of a river by which the Lake Ukéréoné discharged itself towards the north, and this river exists. We will descend with it, and it flows with a rapidity equal to ours. And this drop of water which passes under our feet is surely on its way to mingle with the Mediterranean waves. It is the Nile!"

"It is the Nile," replied Kennedy, who had yielded to the enthusiasm of Samuel Ferguson.

"Long live the Nile!" cried Joe, who cried long live anything when he was pleased.

The enormous rocks here and there hindered the course of this mysterious river. The water boiled up, forming rapids and cataracts, which confirmed the doctor in his suppositions. These surrounding mountains gave rise to numerous torrents foaming in their fall, which could be counted by hundreds. They could see little scattered jets of water springing from the earth, crossing each other, mingling together, and vying in speed, and all hastening to this newborn stream, which became a river after it had absorbed them all.

"That is really the Nile," replied the doctor, now convinced. The origin of the name has puzzled the learned as much as the source of its waters. They have declared it comes from the Greek, from the Coptic, from the Sanscrit.