"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. I betrayed myself!
"Good-bye, Doctor - dear friend!"
"Good-bye!"
The FAREWELL between Livingstone and myself had been spoken. We
were parted, he to whatever fate Destiny had yet in store for him,
to battling against difficulties, to many, many days of marching
through wildernesses, with little or nothing much to sustain him
save his own high spirit, and enduring faith in God - "who would
bring all things right at last;" and I to that which Destiny
may have in store for me.
But though I may live half a century longer, I shall never forget
that parting scene in Central Africa. I shall never cease to think
of the sad tones of that sorrowful word Farewell, how they
permeated through every core of my heart, how they clouded my
eyes, and made me wish unutterable things which could never be.
An audacious desire to steal one embrace from the dear old man came
over me, and almost unmanned me. I felt tempted to stop with him
and assist him, on his long return march to the fountain region,
but these things were not to be, any more than many other
impulsive wishes, and despite the intensified emotions which filled
both of us, save by silent tears, and a tremulous parting word,
we did not betray our stoicism of manhood and race.
