Travels Of Richard And John Lander Into The Interior Of Africa For The Discovery Of The Course And Termination Of The Niger By Robert Huish
- Page 1008 of 1124 - First - Home
So Great Was His Anxiety That He Was On
The Look Out Long After Dusk, Nor Could He Sleep During The Whole Of
The Night.
The 23rd arrived, the day fixed for the departure, but to the great
joy of Lander, and the mortification of Lake, the sea breeze was so
strong that it raised a considerable surf on the bar, and prevented
them from getting out.
This was a most anxious time for Lander, and
the whole of the day his eyes were riveted to the part of the river
where he knew his brother must come. The whole day passed in tedious
watching, and the night was far spent without any tidings of him.
About midnight he saw several large canoes making their way over to
the west bank of the river, in one of which he imagined that he could
distinguish his brother. He observed them soon after landing, and saw
by the fires which they made, that they had encamped under some
mangrove trees. All his fears and apprehensions vanished in an
instant, and he was overjoyed with the thoughts of meeting his
brother in the morning.
The captain of the brig having observed them, suddenly exclaimed,
"Now we shall have a little fighting to-morrow, go you and load
seventeen muskets, and put five buck shot into each. I will take care
that the cannon shall be loaded to the muzzle with balls and flints,
and if there is any row, I will give them such a scouring as they
never had." He then directed Lander to place the muskets and
cutlasses out of sight, near the stern of the vessel, and said to
him, "The instant that your people come on board, call them aft, and
let them stand by the arms.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 1008 of 1124
Words from 277117 to 277414
of 309561
