Me; though, in such an event as this, the
order would be, perhaps, to `Come home.'"
"As it has turned out, though, don't you think I did right?"
"Most certainly it would be useless for you to go to search for
and relieve Livingstone now, because he has already been sought,
found, and relieved; but perhaps you had other orders."
"Only, if I went into the country, I was then to direct my
attention to exploration; but the primary object having been
forestalled by you, I am compelled to return home. The Admiralty
granted me leave of absence only for the search, and never said
anything about exploration."
That evening I despatched a boy over to the English Consulate
with letters from the great traveller for Dr. Kirk and Mr. Oswell
Livingstone.
I was greeted warmly by the American and German residents,
who could not have shown warmer feeling than if Dr. Livingstone had
been a near and dear relation of their own. Capt. H. A. Fraser
and Dr. James Christie were also loud in their praises. It seems
that both of these gentlemen had attempted to despatch a private
expedition to the relief of their countryman, but through some
means it had failed. They had contributed the sum of $500 to
effect this laudable object; but the man to whom they had
entrusted its command had been engaged by another for a different
purpose, at a higher sum.
