From that house I started on my journey to Ujiji;
to it I returned as to a friend, with a newer and dearer companion;
and now I leave all. Already it all appears like a strange dream.
We walked side by side; the men lifted their voices into a song.
I took long looks at Livingstone, to impress his features
thoroughly on my memory.
"The thing is, Doctor, so far as I can understand it, you do not
intend to return home until you have satisfied yourself about the
`Sources of the Nile.' When you have satisfied yourself, you will
come home and satisfy others. Is it not so?"
"That is it, exactly. When your men come back, I shall immediately
start for Ufipa; then, crossing the Rungwa River, I shall strike
south, and round the extremity of the Tanganika. Then, a south-east
course will take me to Chicumbi's, on the Luapula. On crossing
the Luapula, I shall go direct west to the copper-mines of Katanga.
Eight days south of Katanga, the natives declare the fountains to be.
When I have found them, I shall return by Katanga to the underground
houses of Rua. From the caverns, ten days north-east will take
me to Lake Kamolondo. I shall be able to travel from the lake, in
your boat, up the River Lufira, to Lake Lincoln. Then, coming down
again, I can proceed north, by the Lualaba, to the fourth lake -
which, I think, will explain the whole problem; and I will probably
find that it is either Chowambe (Baker's lake), or Piaggia's lake.
"And how long do you think this little journey will take you?"
"A year and a half, at the furthest, from the day I leave
Unyanyembe."
"Suppose you say two years; contingencies might arise, you know.
It will be well for me to hire these new men for two years; the
day of their engagement to begin from their arrival at Unyanyembe."
"Yes, that will do excellently well."
"Now, my dear Doctor, the best friends must part. You have come
far enough; let me beg of you to turn back."
"Well, I will say this to you: you have done what few men could
do - far better than some great travellers I know. And I am grateful
to you for what you have done for me. God guide you safe home, and
bless you, my friend."
"And may God bring you safe back to us all, my dear friend.
Farewell!"
"Farewell!"
We wrung each other's hands, and I had to tear myself away before
I unmanned myself; but Susi, and Chumah, and Hamoydah - the Doctor's
faithful fellows - they must all shake and kiss my hands before I
could quite turn away.
