CHAPTER XIV
A STRANGE MEETING IN BOMA
The storm delayed the passage of the Republique nearly a week, ina manner that was totally unexpected by the captain. The fiercewaves, running mountain high, wrenched the screw and it was foundnext to impossible to repair the accident. Consequently thesteamer had to proceed under a decreased rate of speed.
This was tantalizing to the boys, and also to Randolph Rover, foreveryone wished to get ashore, to start up the Congo as early aspossible. But all the chafing in the world could not helpmatters, and they were forced to take things as they came.
A place was found among the sailors for Aleck, and soon he beganto feel like himself once more. But the sea did not suit thecolored man, and he was as anxious as his masters to reach shoreonce more.
"It's a pity da can't build a mighty bridge over de ocean, an' runkyars," he said. "Den nobody would git seasick."
"Perhaps they'll have a bridge some day resting on boats, Aleck,"answered Tom.
"But I don't expect to live to see it."
"Yo' don't know about dat, chile. Look at uddert'ings. Didyo'gran'fadder expect to ride at de rate ob sixty miles an hour?Did he expect to send a telegram to San Francisco in a couple obminutes? Did he eber dream ob talkin' to sumboddy in Chicago frooa telephone? Did he knew anyt'ing about electric lights, ormovin' pictures, or carriages wot aint got no bosses, but run widgasoline or sumfing like dat? I tell yo, Massah Tom, we don'tknow wot we is comin' to!"
"You are quite right, Alexander," said Mr. Rover, who hadoverheard the talk. "Science is making wonderful strides. Someday I expect to grow com and wheat, yes, potatoes and othervegetables, by electricity," and then Randolph Rover branched offinto a long discourse on scientific farming that almost took awaypoor Aleck's breath.
"He's a most wonderful man, yo' uncle!" whispered the colored manto Sam afterward. "Fust t'ing yo' know he'll be growin' corn inde com crib already shucked!" and he laughed softly to himself.
On and on over the mighty Atlantic bounded the steamer. One daywas very much like another, excepting that on Sundays there was areligious service, which nearly everybody attended. The boys hadbecome quite attached to Mortimer Blaze and listened eagerly tothe many hunting tales he had to tell.
"I wish you were going with us," said Tom to him. "I like yourstyle, as you Englishman put it."
"Thanks, Rover, and I must say I cotton to you, as the Americansput it," laughed the hunter. "Well, perhaps we'll meet in theinterior, who knows?"
"Are you going up the Congo?"
"I haven't decided yet. I am hoping to meet some friends at Boma.Otherwise I may go further down the coast."
The steamer bad now struck the equator, and as it was midsummerthe weather was extremely warm, and the smell of the oozing tar,pouring from every joint, was sickening. But the weather suitedAlexander Pop perfectly.
"Dis am jest right," he said. "I could sleep eall de time,'ceptin' when de meal gong rings."
"Blood will tell," laughed Randolph Rover. "When you land,Alexander, you ought to feel perfectly at home."
"Perhaps, sah; but I dun reckon de United States am good enoughfor any man, sah, white or colored."
"Right you are," put in Dick. "It's the greatest country on theglobe."
It was a clear day a week later when the lookout announced landdead ahead. It proved to be a point fifteen miles above the mouthof the Congo, and at once the course was altered to the southward,and they made the immense mouth of the river before nightfall.
It was a beautiful scene. Far away dashed the waves against animmense golden strand, backed up by gigantic forests of tropicalgrowth and distant mountains veiled in a bluish mist: The riverwas so broad that they were scarcely aware that they were enteringits mouth until the captain told them.
When night came the lights of Boma could be distinctly seen,twinkling silently over the bay of the town. They dropped anchoramong a score of other vessels; and the long ocean trip became athing of the past.
"I'm all ready to go ashore," said Tom.
"My, but won't it feel good to put foot on land again!"
"Indeed it will!" cried Dick. "The ocean is all well enough, buta fellow doesn't want too much of it."
"And yet I heard one of the French sailors say that he hated theland," put in Sam. "He hadn't set foot on shore for three years.When they reach port he always remains on deck duty until theyleave again."
Mortimer Blaze went ashore at once, after bidding all of the partya hearty good-by. "Hope we meet again," he said. "And, anyway,good luck to you!"
"And good luck to you!" cried Tom. "Hope you bag all of the lionsand tigers you wish," and so they parted, not to meet again formany a day.
It was decided that the Rovers should not leave the ship untilmorning. It can well be imagined that none of the boys sleptsoundly that night. All wondered what was before them, and ifthey should succeed or fail in their hunt.
"Dis aint much ob a town," remarked Aleck, as they landed, alittle before noon, in a hot, gentle shower of rain. "Nuffin likeNew York."
"There is only one New York, as there is but one London," answeredRandolph Rover. "Our architecture would never do for such a hotclimate."
Along the river front was a long line of squatty warehouses,backed up by narrow and far from clean streets, where the placesof business were huddled together, and where a good share of thetrading was done on the sidewalk. The population was a very muchmixed one, but of the Europeans the English and Frenchpredominated. The natives were short, fat, and exceedingly greasyappearing. Hardly a one of them could speak English.
"I don't see any Americans," remarked Dick. "I suppose--"
"There is an American store!" burst out Sam, pointing across theway. He had discovered a general trading store, the dilapidatedsign of which read:
SIMON HOOK,
Dealer in Everything. English Spoken by an American. Horn of All Kinds Bought. Yankee Boots Are the Best!
"He believes in advertising," laughed Dick. "I'd like to go inand see Simon Hook. Perhaps he'll remember something aboutfather!" he added suddenly.
"That's an idea!" returned Tom. "Let us go in, Uncle Randolph."
Mr. Rover was willing, and they entered the low and dingy-lookingestablishment, which was filled with boxes, barrels, and bags ofgoods.
They found the proprietor sitting in an easy chair, his feet on adesk, and a pipe in his mouth.
"Is this Mr. Hook?" asked Randolph Rover.
"That's me," was the answer; but Mr. Hook did not offer to rise,nor indeed to even shift his position.
"We saw your sign and as we are Americans we thought we would dropin," went on Mr. Rover.
"That's right; glad to see you," came from the man in the chair;but still he did not offer to shift his position.
"Been here many years?" asked Dick.
"About twenty."
"How is business?" put in Tom, bound to say something.
"Aint none, sonny."
"You don't look very busy."
"It's a fool's place to come to, sonny. When these goods are soldI'm going to quit." Mr. Simon Hook paused long enough to take anextra whiff from his pipe. "What brought you here?"
"We are on a hunt for a missing man," answered Randolph Rover."Did you ever meet him? His name is Anderson Rover, and he is mybrother."
"Anderson Rover?" Simon Hook thought for a moment. "I rememberhim. He was a gold hunter from Californy, or somethin' like that."
"Yes; he was a mine owner."
"Went up the Congo four or five years ago--maybe longer?"
"Yes."
"I remember him. He had lots of money, and took several guidesand a number of other, natives along."
"Have you seen or heard of him since?" questioned Dick eagerly.
Simon Hook shook his head. "No, sonny. 'Twasn't to be expected."
"And why not?" put in Tom.
"Because them as goes up the Co
ngo never, comes back. It's afool's trip among those wild people of the interior. Stanley wentup, but look at the big party he took with him and the many fightshe had to get back alive."
At this announcement the hearts of the Rover boys fell.
"You never heard one word of him?" persisted Sam.
"Nary a word, sonny. I reckon he's either lost in the jungle oramong the mountains, or else the natives have taken care of him."
"Did he say anything about the trail he was going to take?" askedRandolph Rover. "I understand there are several."
"He was going to take the Rumbobo trail, most all of 'em do."Simon Hook drew a long breath. "Say, can I sell you any of theseold things of mine cheap?"
"Perhaps you can," said Randolph Rover.
"We are bound for the hotel now. We will come in later."
"Glad to see you," and as they left the shopkeeper waved them apleasant adieu with his hand. But he never stirred from hischair.
"I guess he has grown tired of trying to sell goods," observedTom.
"Perhaps he knows that if folks want the things he has to sellthey are bound to come to him," said Dick. "His store seems tobe the only one of its sort around."
The hotel for which they were bound was several squares away,located in something of a park, with pretty flowers and afountain. It was a two-story affair, with spacious verandas andlarge rooms, and frequented mostly by English and French people.
They had just entered the office; and Randolph Rover was writinghis name in the register, when Dick caught sight of somebody inthe reading room that nearly took away his breath.
"Well, I never!"
"What is it, Dick?" asked Tom quickly.
"Look at that boy reading a newspaper. It is Dan Baxter--DanBaxter, just as sure as you are born!"