Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 1.djvu/410

 be all right. The surest way is to take whatever comes as it comes."

During Joe's narrative, the balloon had rapidly passed over a large extent of country. Kennedy remarked a collection of huts on the horizon, and the doctor, referring to the map, declared that it was the small town of Tagelel, in the Damerghou.

"Here," he said, we shall strike Barth's route. Here he left his two companions, Richardson and Overweg. The first followed the route to Zanzibar, the second to Maradi; and you recollect that Barth was the only one who returned to Europe."

"Thus," said the Scot, tracing the course of the "Victoria" on the map, "we are going to the north."

"Due north, my dear Dick."

"And are you not disturbed by so doing?"

"Why?"

"That direction leads to Tripoli and the Great Desert."

"Oh! we shall not go so far, my friend; at least, I hope not."

"But where do you expect to stop?"

"Well, Dick, have you no curiosity to visit Timbuctoo?"

"Timbuctoo!"

"Certainly," replied Joe, "it would be absurd to come upon a journey to Africa without seeing Timbuctoo!"

"You will then be the fifth or sixth European who has visited this mysterious town."

"Let us go to Timbuctoo."

"Then we must get between the 17th and 18th degrees of latitude, and there find a favorable breeze to carry us to the west."

"Good," replied Kennedy, "but have we not still a long journey to make to the north?"

"About 150 miles."

"In that case," said Kennedy, "I shall get a little sleep."

"Do you also sleep, sir," said Joe to the doctor, "you have need of repose, for I have given you an immense amount of watching."

Kennedy lay down in the tent, but the doctor, who was little affected by fatigue, remained at his post.

After about three hours the "Victoria" was passing very rapidly over a stony tract of land with high mountains of