On the
third day the whole of the carriers were sent out with instructions
to search the woods for native paths, to follow these to villages,
and to enlist the natives in the search. One of these men had met
one of the villagers on the search for the party of the white man.
It was another ten days before Frank was sufficiently recovered
from his fever and wounds to march back to the camp. After a stay
there of two or three more days, to enable him completely to regain
his strength, the party started again on their journey.
In another three weeks they had descended the hills, and the Fans
announced their unwillingness to travel farther. Mr. Goodenough,
however, told them quietly that they had promised to go on until
he could obtain other carriers, and that if they deserted him he
should pay them nothing. They might now expect every day to meet
people of another tribe, and as soon as they should do so they
would be allowed to depart. Finding that he was firm, and having
no desire to forfeit the wages they had earned, the Fans agreed to
go forward, although they were now in a country entirely unknown
to them, where the people would presumably be hostile. They had,
however, such faith in the arms carried by the white men and Houssas,
that they felt comparatively easy as to the result of any attack
which might be made upon them.
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