CHAPTER XVIII.
THE AFRICAN UTOPIA.
But what became of Van Vincent? the reader might ask.
By the time his companions started to ascend the stairs, he had reachedthe landing above.
Regardless of the fact that it was pitch dark, and that he was in astrange place, he started to walk straight for the head of thestaircase.
He did not take over ten steps before he brought up against a partitionwith a jar, which immediately gave way.
Van heard the noise made by his friends ascending the stairs, and thenhe went shooting downward with the velocity of a cannon ball.
He had a recollection of rolling over and over in some damp,foul-smelling place, and then he lost consciousness.
When he came to again he found himself in an elegantly furnishedapartment with a man bending over him.
"Where am I?" gasped the boy, gazing wildly about him.
"You are all right now," was the reply. "You had quite a fall, but Ihave examined you and find no bones broken. Here, drink this, and youwill feel first rate."
Van placed his lips to the shining metal mug that was proffered him, anddrank its contents almost at a single gulp.
It tasted like wine, only more delicious than any he had ever drankbefore.
As the strange man said it would, it made him feel better, and he aroseto a sitting posture.
Van glanced long and earnestly at the man before he uttered a word.
He saw that he was a Caucasian, attired in Oriental costume, and thatwas all there was of it.
"Who are you?" asked the boy; "and what place am I in?"
"You are in the African Utopia, which is situated in the wildest part ofthe Dark Continent," was the reply. "Now, let me ask you a question: Howdid you get here?"
"I traveled from the mouth of the Congo River," returned Van.
"What purpose had you in risking your life to make such a dangerousjourney?"
"I came here partly because I am following a man who murdered my uncle,and whom I have sworn to take back to the United States, if he is notkilled before I am able to do it."
"You said 'partly'; you must have another reason for coming here, then?"
"Yes; I fell in with some Englishmen, who were starting on an exploringtrip, and joined their party."
"Where are they now?" asked the man.
"In the house where you found me--or, at least, they were the last I sawof them."
"You say in the house where I found you. How do you know but that youare in the same house yet?"
"I might be, but I don't believe it. That building was an old,tumble-down affair, and, judging from the appearance of this room, thisis not."
"You are right, boy. You are two miles from the place where you had thefall. I had been out setting a trap to catch a lion, and on my way backstopped in the cellar of the old building. Almost the first thing Istumbled upon was your body, and, finding that you were one of my ownnationality, apparently, I threw you upon my horse's back and broughtyou here."
"Well," said Van, after a pause, "I should like to go and look up myfriends."
"You remain just where you are. I'll send out a couple of men to hunt upyour friends. You lie down and go to sleep, and you will surely see themin the morning."
"I guess I'll do as you say," returned our hero. "To tell the truth I amso sleepy I can scarcely keep my eyes open."
Whether it was the drink that caused it, or whether it was because hewas completely tired out, we cannot say, but, anyhow, five minuteslater Van Vincent was sleeping soundly upon the soft divan.
The sun was shining brightly when he awoke, which informed him thatanother day had arrived, and also that the storm had cleared.
He was in the same room he had fallen asleep in, and, rising from thedivan, Van went to the window.
As he looked out and saw that he was in a little city, a cry of surprisecame from his lips.
"So this is the African Utopia," he mused. "Well, it looks like a placewhere naught but enjoyment could be found. I never saw such a beautifulspot in my life."
Our hero's meditations were cut rather short, for at that moment a dooropened and a number of people entered.
To his great joy, he beheld his friends standing before him.
Yes, they were there in reality--Jack, Lank Edwards, Joe, and theprofessor and doctor.
Van did not utter a word till he had shook the hand of each.
"Where did you stay all night?" he then asked.
"In this house," replied Jack.
"You did?"
"Sure!" exclaimed Lank Edwards. "After we got tired lookin' for you inther old building, we went downstairs by ther horses. About half an hourafter that along comes two men, who said as how you sent for us. When wegot here ther boss of ther house explained things to us, an' said as howyou were asleep, so we concluded to wait till morning afore we seedyou."
"That's about all there is of it," said Jack, with a laugh. "But come!our host is waiting for us to come to breakfast. A deuced fine place wehave struck, I can tell you!"
Van followed his companions from the room, and then all hands entered anelegant dining room, where the man he had met the night before wasawaiting them.
A few minutes later they were seated at a table, enjoying a sumptuousrepast.
During the meal our friends learned considerable about the little citythey were in.
Three hundred years before, a band of Egyptians had discovered it almostthe same as it now was, only that it was deserted.
The race who had built it had in some way become extinct, but theirhandiwork still remained, and glad enough were the little band to takeit as their future home.
One hundred years after the band of Egyptians--numbering less thanfifty--took possession of the city within the wonderful wall, it hadover five hundred inhabitants, and with the growth of its people manyimprovements were made.
During the last century more than one exploring party--or what was leftof the original party--had reached it and found it a veritable haven ofrest and contentment.
As yet, no man who had ever reached the city had made the attempt toleave it, and thus it was that its inhabitants numbered over twothousand, nearly all modern languages being spoken by them.
Such a thing as money was not used in African Utopia. All hands worked,and the results of their different labors were freely exchanged, thusmaking everything of value equal to money.
When a man became too lazy to work for his living, he was thrown to ahungry lion as a warning to any who might chance to follow in hisfootsteps.
The people governed the beautiful place by electing a set of officersevery year, and everything went on like clockwork.
The finest of silks and morocco were produced here, and the architectsand builders were equal to any in the world.
Of course, our friends were much astonished when they learned all this,but they were forced to believe it when they looked at theirsurroundings.
They were at the breakfast table nearly two hours, and when they atlength arose their host, who gave his name as Poppet, told them tofollow him and they would see something worth looking at.
They were all glad to get outside, and when they did so they could nolonger wonder why it was that none who came to the place ever left.
The air was balmy and soft, and as our friends breathed it they feltexhilarated and refreshed.
"By Jove!" exclaimed Dr. Pestle, "I'll bet that such a thing as lungtroubles are unknown here. Never in my life before have I breathed suchpure air."
After ten minutes' walk their host halted before a pit, which had astrong iron railing around it.
"Look down there!" said he.