Word came from New York in the early afternoon mail, and the
information sent was highly satisfactory to Randolph Rover.  The
French steamer Republique was in port, loading for Boma and other
African ports, and would set sail on the coming Saturday.  The
firm had taken upon itself the responsibility to speak of passage
for Mr. Rover and one or two others.

"Hurrah!" cried Tom.  "Uncle Randolph, you had better telegraph to
them at once for passage for the four of us."

"I will," answered, Mr. Rover, and the telegram was sent within
the hour.

The next day was a busy one.  As but little in the way of outfits
could be procured in Oak Run or the adjoining villages, it was
decided that they should go down to New York on Thursday afternoon
and spend all of Friday in purchasing in the metropolis whatever
was needed.

The only person who was really sober was Mrs. Rover, for she hated
to see her husband start on such a journey, which was bound to, be
full of grave perils.

"I am afraid you will never come back," she said, with tears in
her eyes.  "And if you and Anderson are both dead to me, what will
I do?"

"Be brave, Martha," said Mr. Rover tenderly.  "I feel certain that
a kind Providence will watch over us and bring us all back in
safety."

At last the party was ready to set off.  A fond good-by was said,
and away they rattled in the carryall for the railroad station at
Oak Run.

"Good-by to home!" shouted Tom, as he waved his cap to his aunt,
who stood beside the gateway.

"And when we come back may we bring father with us," added Dick,
and Sam muttered an amen.

The journey down to New York was without incident, and as the
Rovers had lived in the metropolis for years they felt thoroughly
at home and knew exactly where to go for their outfit and suitable
clothing for use in such a warm country was procured, and in
addition each was armed with a revolver.  Mr. Rover also purchased
a shot-gun and a rifle, and likewise a number of cheap gold and
silver trinkets.

"The natives are becoming civilized," he explained.  "But, for all
that, I am certain a small gift now and then will go a long way
toward making friends."

The found that the Republique was a stanch-built steamer of eight
thousand tons burden.  Her captain, Jules Cambion, spoke English
quite fluently and soon made them feel at home.  He was much
interested in the story Randolph Rover had to tell concerning his
missing brother.

"'Tis a strange happening, truly," he remarked.  "I sincerely
trust that your search for him proves successful and that he
returns to the arms of his family unharmed.  But it is a fierce
country.  I have visited it twice, and I know."

"I am glad to learn that you have been up the Congo," replied
Randolph Rover.  "Perhaps during your leisure hours on the trip
you will not mind giving me such information as conics to your
mind."

"I will tell you all I know willingly," answered Captain Cambion.

Exactly at noon on Saturday the Republique was ready to sail, and
with a shout from those on the wharf who had come to see the few
passengers off, she sheered away and started down the bay, past
Bedloe Island and the Statue of Liberty. Before night the shore
line had faded from view, and they were standing out boldly into
the Atlantic Ocean.

"Off for Africa at last," murmured Sam, who had been standing at
the rail watching the last speck of land as it disappeared.  "What
a big trip this is going to be!"

"Never mind how big it is, Sam," came from Tom,  "if only it is
successful."

The first few days on board were spent in settling themselves.
The party had two connecting staterooms, and Mr. Rover and Sam
occupied one, while Dick and Tom had settled themselves in the
other.

The passengers were mostly French people, who were going to try
their fortunes in French Congo.  There was, however, one
Englishman, a man named Mortimer Blaze, who was bound out simply
for adventure.


"I'm tired of England, and tired of America too," he explained.
"I've hunted through the Rocky Mountains and up in Canada, as well
as at home, and now I'm going to try for a lion or a tiger in
Africa."

"Perhaps the lion or tiger will try for you," smiled Tom.  "What
then?"

"It will be a pitched battle, that's all," drawled Mortimer Blaze.
He was rather a sleepy looking man, but quick to act when the
occasion demanded.

The weather was all that could be wished, and during the first
week out the Republique made good progress.  On a steamer there
was but little for the boys to do, and they spent all of their
spare time in reading the books on Africa which Captain Cambion
had in his library, and which were printed in English. Often they
persuaded the genial captain to tell them of his adventures in
that far-away country.

"You have many strange sights before you," he said to them one
day.  "The strange vegetation, the immense trees, the wonderful
waterfalls, some larger than your own Niagara, and then the odd
people.  Some of the natives are little better than dwarfs, while
others are six feet and more in height and as straight as arrows.

"Did you ever hear of this King Susko?" questioned Tom.

"Yes; I have heard of him several times.  He is known as the
Wanderer, because he and his tribe wander from place to place,
making war on the other tribes."

The captain knew nothing of Niwili Camp and expressed the opinion
that it had been, like many other camps, only a temporary affair.
He said that the best the party could do was to strike straight up
the Congo, along the south shore, and question the different
natives met concerning King Susko's present whereabouts.

On the beginning of the second week a storm was encountered which
lasted for three days.  At first the wind blew at a lively rate,
and this was followed by thunder and lightning and a regular
deluge of rain, which made all of the boys stay below.  The
steamer pitched from side to side and more than one wave broke
over her decks.

"This is the worse storm I ever saw," remarked Dick, as he held
fast to a chair in the cabin.  "They won't be able to set any
table for dinner today."

"Dinner!" came from Sam, with a groan.

"Who wants any dinner, when a fellow feels as if he was going to
be turned inside out!"  So far none of the boys had suffered from
seasickness, but now poor Sam was catching it, and the youngest
Rover felt thoroughly miserable.

"Never mind, the storm won't last forever," said Dick
sympathetically.  "Perhaps you had better lie down, Sam."

"How can I, with the ship tossing like a cork?  I've got to hold
on, same as the rest, and be glad, I suppose, that I am alive,"
and poor Sam looked utterly miserable.

It was very close in the cabin, but neither door nor port-hole
could be opened for fear of the water coming in.  Dinner was a
farce, to use Tom's way of expressing it, for everything was cold
and had to be eaten out of hand or from a tin cup.  Yet what was
served tasted very good to those who were hungry.

"I believe we'll go to the bottom before we are done," began Sam,
when a loud shout from the deck reached the ears of all of the
Rovers and made Tom and Dick leap to their feet.

"What's that?" cried Dick.  "They are calling to somebody!"

Above the wind they could hear a yell from a distance, and then
came more cries from the deck, followed by a bump on the side of
the steamer.

"We've struck something!" ejaculated Tom.

"But I guess it wasn't hard enough to do much damage."

"That remains to be seen," answered Dick.  "Storm or no storm, I'm
gong on deck to learn what it means," and he hurried up the
companionway.





CHAPTER XIII

A RESCUE IN MID-OCEAN

Dick found that he could remain on the deck only with the greatest
of difficulty.  Several life lines had been stretched around and
he clung to one of these.

"What has happened?" he asked of one of the sailors.  "What did we
strike?"

"Struck a small boat," was the answer.  "It had a colored man in
it.  We've just hauled the fellow on deck."

"Is he all right?"

"No; he's about half dead.  But the captain thinks he may get over
it, with care," and the sailor hurried away.

Dick now saw several men approaching, carrying the form of the
rescued one between them.  He looked at the unconscious man and
gave a cry of amazement.

"Alexander Pop!  What a strange happening!"

"Do you know the man?" questioned Captain Cambion.

"I know him very well," answered Dick.  "He used to work at the
military academy where my brothers and I were cadets."  And the
boy told Captain Cambion the particulars of Alexander Pop's
disappearance from Putnam Hall.  "I am glad that I will be able to
tell him that his innocence is established," he concluded.

"All providing we are able to bring him around to himself, Master
Rover," returned the captain gravely.

"You think, then, that he is in bad shape?"

"I hardly know what to think.  We will take him below and do all
we can for him."

It was no easy matter to transfer Pop to one of the lower
staterooms, but once placed on a soft berth the Rovers did all
they could for him.

"It is like a romance," said Sam, while Randolph Rover was
administering some medicine to the unconscious man.  "How thin he
looks."

"He's been suffering from starvation," put in Dick.  "I suppose he
gave that yell we heard with his last breath."

All of the party watched over the colored man with tender care,
and feeling that he could be in no better hands the captain left
him entirely in his friends' charge.  "When he comes to his senses
you can let me know," he said.

Dick was watching by Pop's side, and Tom was at the foot of the
berth, when the colored man opened his eyes.  As they rested on
first one Rover and then the other he stared in utter
astonishment.

"My gracious sakes alive!" he gasped.  "Am I dreamin', or am I
back to Putnam Hall again?"

"Neither, Aleck," replied Dick.  "You are safe on board an ocean
steamer."

"An' yo' -- whar yo' dun come from?"

"We are passengers on the steamer," said Tom.  "You were picked up
several hours ago."

"Yes, but -- but I can't undersand dis nohow!" persisted the
colored man, and tried to sit up, only to fall back exhausted.

"Don't try to understand it, Aleck, until you are stronger," said
Dick.  "Would you like some hot soup?"

"Anyt'ing, sah, anyt'ing!  Why, I aint had, no reg'lar meal in
most a week!" moaned the sufferer.  "Glory to Heaben dat I am
sabed!"

And then he said no more for quite a long, while.

The soup was already at hand, and it was Dick who fed it slowly
and carefully, seeing to it that Pop should have no more than his
enfeebled stomach could take care of, for overfeeding, so Mr.
Rover had said, might kill the man.

The next day Pop was able to sit up, although still too weak to
stand on his legs.  He was continually praising Heaven for his
safety.

"I dun Vink I was a goner more dan once," he said.  "I was on de
ocean all alone about a week, I reckon, although I lost time ob
days after I'd been out two or Vree nights.  I Vink I was most
crazy."

"Perhaps you were, Aleck," said Sam.  "But tell us how you got in
that position."

"Dat am de queerest part ob it, Master Rober -- de queerest part
of it.  I got into de small boat fo' a sleep, and de fust Ving I
knowed I was miles an' miles away from eberyt'ing; yes, sah-miles
an' miles away on de boundless ocean, an' not so much as a fishin'
smack sail in sight.  Golly, but wasn't I scared -- I reckon I dun
most turn white!"  And Aleck rolled his eyes around impressively.

"You were in a small boat attached to some steamer?"

"Dat's it.  Da had been usin' de small boat fo' surnt'ing, and
left her overboard."

"Were you cut adrift?"

"I don't tink I was -- but I aint shuah nohow."

"What boat was it?"

"De Harrison, from Brooklyn, bound to Cuba."

"Did you ship on her after you left Putnam Hall in such a hurry?

"I did, cos I didn't want de police to coted me.  But, say, as
true as I stand heah -- mean sit heah -- I aint guilty of stealin'
dem watches an' t'ings, no I aint!"

And Aleck raised both hands earnestly.  "Captain Putnam made a
great mistake when he dun suspect me."

"We know it," answered Dick quietly.  "We thought you innocent all
along, Aleck."

"T'ank yo' fo' dat, Master Rober -- I'se glad to see dat I'se got
one friend --"

"Three friends, Aleck -- we all stood up for you," interrupted
Tom.

"T'ank yo', t'ank yo'!"

"And we discovered who the real thief was," added Sam.

"Wot, yo' dun found, dat out!" burst out Pop.  "An' who was de
black-hearted rascal?"

"Jim Caven."

"Dat cadet wot tried to be funny wid me an' I had to show him his
place?  Hol' on -- I dun see him comin' from de attic one day."

"When he must have put those stolen articles in your trunk," said
Tom.  "Yes, he was guilty, Captain Putnam was going to have him
arrested, but he got away."

Nothing would do for Alexander Pop after this but that the boys
give him the full particulars of the affair, to which he listened
with the closest attention. But at the conclusion his face fell.

"Ise mighty glad I am cleared," he said.  "But I'd give a good
deal to face de cap'n--jest to see wot he would say, eh?"

"He said he was sorry he had suspected you," said Dick.

"What a big fool dis darkey was to run away!" murmured Aleck
meditatively.  "I wasn't cut out fo' no sailer man.  Ise been sick
most ebery day since I left shoah.  By de way, whar is dis ship
bound?" he went on.

"To Africa."

"Africa!  Shuah yo' is foolin', Massah Dick?"

"No, I am not.  We and our uncle are bound for the Congo River."

"De Congo!  Dat's whar my great gran' fadder dun come from -- so I
heard my mammy tell, years ago.  I don't want to go dar, not me!"

"I don't see how you are going to help yourself, Aleck.  The first
stop this steamer will make will be at Boma on the Congo River."

"'Wot am I to do when I gits dar? answer me dat, chile."

"I'm sure I don't know.  Perhaps the captain will let you remain
on the Republique."

"What wid dern Frenchmen?  I don't t'ink I could stand dat.  An'
what am yo' going to do in Africa?"

"We are going on a hunt for my father, who has been missing for
years."

Again Aleck had to be told the particulars and again he was
tremendously interested.  When the boys had finished he sat in
silence for several minutes.

"I've got it-jest de t'ing!" he cried suddenly.

"Got what?" asked Tom.

"De right idea, Massah Tom.  Foah gen'men like yo' don't want to
go to Africa widout a valet nohow.  Let me be de workin' man fe de
crowd.  I'll take de job, cheap, -- an' glad ob de chance."

"Hullo, that's an idea!" mused Dick.

"Will yo' do it, Massah Dick?"

"We'll have to speak to my uncle about it first."

"Well, yo' put in a good word fo' me.  Yo know I always stood by
yo' in de school," pleaded the colored man.  "I don't want to be
driftin' around jess nowhar, wid nuffin to do, an' no money comin'
in -- not but what I'll work cheap, as I dun said I would," he
added hastily.

A little later Randolph Rover joined the group and Aleck's
proposition was laid before him.  Strange to say he accepted the
colored man's offer immediately, greatly to the wonder of the
boys, and from that minute on Pop be came a member of the
searching party.

"I will tell you why I did it," explained Randolph Rover to the
boys in private. "When we get into the jungle we will need a man
we can trust and one who is used to American ways.  Moreover, if
there is any spying to be done among the natives the chances are
that a black man can do it better than a white man."

"Uncle Randolph, you've got a long head," remarked Tom.  "No doubt
Aleck will prove just the fellow desired."  And Tom was right, as
later events proved.





CHAPTER XIV

A STRANGE MEETING IN BOMA

The storm delayed the passage of the Republique nearly a week, in
a manner that was totally unexpected by the captain.  The fierce
waves, running mountain high, wrenched the screw and it was found
next to impossible to repair the accident.  Consequently the
steamer had to proceed under a decreased rate of speed.

This was tantalizing to the boys, and also to Randolph Rover, for
everyone wished to get ashore, to start up the Congo as early as
possible.  But all the chafing in the world could not help
matters, and they were forced to take things as they came.

A place was found among the sailors for Aleck, and soon he began
to feel like himself once more.  But the sea did not suit the
colored man, and he was as anxious as his masters to reach shore
once more.

"It's a pity da can't build a mighty bridge over de ocean, an' run
kyars," 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.  Did
yo'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 ob
minutes?  Did he eber dream ob talkin' to sumboddy in Chicago froo
a telephone?  Did he knew anyt'ing about electric lights, or
movin' pictures, or carriages wot aint got no bosses, but run wid
gasoline or sumfing like dat?  I tell yo, Massah Tom, we don't
know wot we is comin' to!"

"You are quite right, Alexander," said Mr. Rover, who had
overheard the talk.  "Science is making wonderful strides.  Some
day I expect to grow com and wheat, yes, potatoes and other
vegetables, by electricity," and then Randolph Rover branched off
into a long discourse on scientific farming that almost took away
poor Aleck's breath.

"He's a most wonderful man, yo' uncle!" whispered the colored man
to Sam afterward.  "Fust t'ing yo' know he'll be growin' corn in
de com crib already shucked!" and he laughed softly to himself.

On and on over the mighty Atlantic bounded the steamer.  One day
was very much like another, excepting that on Sundays there was a
religious service, which nearly everybody attended. The boys had
become quite attached to Mortimer Blaze and listened eagerly to
the many hunting tales he had to tell.

"I wish you were going with us," said Tom to him.  "I like your
style, as you Englishman put it."

"Thanks, Rover, and I must say I cotton to you, as the Americans
put it," laughed the hunter.  "Well, perhaps we'll meet in the
interior, 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 midsummer
the weather was extremely warm, and the smell of the oozing tar,
pouring from every joint, was sickening.  But the weather suited
Alexander 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 enough
for any man, sah, white or colored."

"Right you are," put in Dick.  "It's the greatest country on the
globe."

It was a clear day a week later when the lookout announced land
dead ahead.  It proved to be a point fifteen miles above the mouth
of 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 an
immense golden strand, backed up by gigantic forests of tropical
growth and distant mountains veiled in a bluish mist: The river
was so broad that they were scarcely aware that they were entering
its 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 anchor
among a score of other vessels; and the long ocean trip became a
thing 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, but
a fellow doesn't want too much of it."

"And yet I heard one of the French sailors say that he hated the
land," put in Sam.  "He hadn't set foot on shore for three years.
When they reach port he always remains on deck duty until they
leave again."

Mortimer Blaze went ashore at once, after bidding all of the party
a 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 lions
and tigers you wish," and so they parted, not to meet again for
many a day.

It was decided that the Rovers should not leave the ship until
morning.  It can well be imagined that none of the boys slept
soundly that night.  All wondered what was before them, and if
they should succeed or fail in their hunt.

"Dis aint much ob a town," remarked Aleck, as they landed, a
little before noon, in a hot, gentle shower of rain.  "Nuffin like
New York."

"There is only one New York, as there is but one London," answered
Randolph Rover.  "Our architecture would never do for such a hot
climate."

Along the river front was a long line of squatty warehouses,
backed up by narrow and far from clean streets, where the places
of business were huddled together, and where a good share of the
trading was done on the sidewalk.  The population was a very much
mixed one, but of the Europeans the English and French
predominated.  The natives were short, fat, and exceedingly greasy
appearing. 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 the
way.  He had discovered a general trading store, the dilapidated
sign 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 in
and see Simon Hook.  Perhaps he'll remember something about
father!" 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-looking
establishment, which was filled with boxes, barrels, and bags of
goods.

They found the proprietor sitting in an easy chair, his feet on a
desk, 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 drop
in," 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 sold
I'm going to quit."  Mr. Simon Hook paused long enough to take an
extra 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 my
brother."

"Anderson Rover?" Simon Hook thought for a moment.  "I remember
him.  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 guides
and 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 Congo never, comes back.  It's a
fool's trip among those wild people of the interior.  Stanley went
up, but look at the big party he took with him and the many fights
he 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 or
among the mountains, or else the natives have taken care of him."

"Did he say anything about the trail he was going to take?" asked
Randolph 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 these
old 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 a
pleasant adieu with his hand.  But he never stirred from his
chair.

"I guess he has grown tired of trying to sell goods," observed
Tom.

"Perhaps he knows that if folks want the things he has to sell
they are bound to come to him," said Dick.  "His store seems to
be 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 a
fountain.  It was a two-story affair, with spacious verandas and
large rooms, and frequented mostly by English and French people.

They had just entered the office; and Randolph Rover was writing
his name in the register, when Dick caught sight of somebody in
the 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 -- Dan
Baxter, just as sure as you are born!"





CHAPTER XV

CAPTAIN VILLAIRE'S LITTLE PLOT

Dick was right: the boy in the reading-room' was indeed Dan Baxter,
but so changed in appearance that for the minute neither Tom nor
Sam recognized him.

In the past Baxter had always been used to fine clothing, which he
had taken care should be in good repair.  Now his clothing was
dilapidated and his shoes looked as if they were about ready to
fall apart.

More than this, his face was hollow and careworn, and one eye
looked as if it had suffered severe blow of some sort.  Altogether
he was most wretched-looking specimen of humanity, and it was a
wonder that he was allowed at the hotel.  But the truth of the
matter was that he had told the proprietor a long tale of
sufferings in the interior and of a delayed remittance from home,
and the hotel keeper was keeping him solely on this account.

"How he is changed!" muttered Tom.  "He looks like a regular
tramp!"

"He's been in hard luck, that's certain," came from Sam.  "I
wonder how he drifted out here?"

While Sam was speaking Dan Baxter raised his eyes from the
newspaper and glanced around.  As his gaze fell upon the three
Rover boys he started and the paper fell to the floor, then he got
up and strode toward them.

"Dick Rover!" he cried.  "Where did you fellows come from?"

"From Putnam Hall, Baxter," answered Dick quietly.  "And what
brought you here?"

Ordinarily Dan Baxter would have retorted that that was none of
Dick's business, but now he was in thoroughly low spirits, and he
answered meekly:

"I've been playing in hard luck.  I went down to New York and one
night when I was in a sailors' boarding house I drank more than
was good for me, and when I woke up in the morning I found myself
on a vessel bound for Africa."

"You were shanghaied as a sailor?" asked Tom.

"That's it, and while I was on board the Costelk the captain and
mate treated me worse than a dog.  See that eye?  The captain did
that, and when I struck back he put me in irons and fed me nothing
but stale biscuits and water."

"And the ship left you here?"

"No; she was bound for Cape Town, but stopped here for supplies,
and I jumped overboard at night and swam ashore, and here I am,
and sorry for it," and Dan Baxter drew a long breath.

The Rovers were astonished at his meek manner.  Was this really
the domineering Baxter, who had always insisted on having his own
way, and who had done so many wrong deeds in the past?

"You've had a hard time of it, I suppose? said Dick, hardly
knowing how to go on.

"Hard, Dick, aint no word," came from the former bully of Putnam
Hall.  "I've run up against the worst luck that anybody could ever
imagine.  But I reckon you don't care about that?"

"Do you think we ought to care, Baxter?"

"Well, it aint fair to take advantage of a chap when he's down on
his luck," grumbled the former bully.  "I guess I've learnt my
lesson all right enough."

"Do you mean to say you are going to turn over a new leaf?"
queried Sam with interest.

"Yes, if I ever get the chance."

Randolph Rover now joined the group, and Dick explained the
situation.  Mr. Rover questioned Baxter closely and found that he
was without a cent in his pocket and that the hotel keeper had
threatened to put him out if he was not able to pay up inside of
the next twenty-four hours.

"See here, Baxter, you never were my friend, and you never
deserved any good from me, but I don't like to see a dog suffer,"
said Dick.  "I'll give you thirty shillings, and that will help
you along a little," and he drew out his purse.

"And I'll give you the same," came from Tom.

"Ditto from me," said Sam.  "But don't forget that what Dick says
is true, nevertheless."

Ninety English shillings -- about twenty-two dollars of our money
-- was more cash than Dan Baxter had seen in some time, his other
money having been spent before he had taken his unexpected ocean
trip, and his eyes brightened up wonderfully.

"I'll be much obliged to you for the -- the loan," he stammered.
"I'll pay you back some time, remember."

"Never mind about that," replied Dick.

"My advice to you is, to take the first ship you can for home."

"And what brought you out here -- going on a hunt for your
father?"

"Yes."

"You'll have a big job finding him.  I understand the natives of
the Congo are going on the warpath before long.  They have had
some difficulty with the settlers."

"I guess we'll manage to take care of ourselves," answered Tom,
and then he and his brothers followed their uncle up to the rooms
which had been engaged for them during their stay in the town.

"He's, down in the mouth, and no mistake," was Tom's comment, when
the boys were left to themselves.  "I never saw him so humble
before."

"Perhaps knocking around has taught him a lesson," said Dick.  "I
hope he really does turn over a new leaf."

The day proved to be a busy one.  Randolph Rover gathered all the
information he could concerning the trail along the Congo, and
also tried to locate Niwili Camp.  He likewise purchased several
additions to his outfits from Simon Hook, and engaged the services
of several natives, the leader of whom was a brawny black named
Cujo, a fellow who declared that he knew every foot of the
territory to be covered and who said he was certain that he could
locate King Susko sooner or later.

"Him bad man," he said soberly.  "No et him catch you, or you
suffer big lot!"  Cujo took to Aleck from the start, and the pair
soon became warm friends.  The African inspected their outfits
with interest and offered several suggestions regarding additional
purchases.

Three days were spent in Boma, and during that time the Rovers saw
a good deal of Dan Baxter, who, having nothing better to do, hung
around them continually. He remained as meek as before, but our
friends did not know that this was merely the meekness of a savage
cur while under the whip.  Baxter was naturally a brute, and
lacked the backbone necessary far genuine reformation.

"Say, why can't you take me with you?" he asked, on the day that
the Rover expedition was to start out.  "I'm willing to do my
share of the work and the fighting, and I won't charge you a cent
for my service."

"I don't know as my uncle wants anybody along," said Sam, to whom
Baxter addressed his remarks.

"Well, won't you speak to him about it, Sam?  I can't find
anything to do here, and the captains to whom I've applied don't
want me on their ships," pleaded the former bully of Putnam Hall.

Sam was easily touched at all times, and he knew that Baxter must
feel lonely and wretched so far from home and without friends or
capital.  He at once went to his brothers and his uncle and laid
the big youth's proposition before them.

"We don't want him," said Dick promptly.

"I don't believe he would be of any use to us."

"I would rather give him some more money just for him to stay
behind," added Tom.

Mr. Rover was thoughtful for a moment.

"And what do you say, Sam?" he asked at length.

"Well, I don't like Baxter any more than the others do.  But it
seems awfully hard on him.  I don't believe he knows how to turn."

"We might give him enough money to get back to the United States
with."

"I'd rather have you do that, Uncle Randolph," said Dick.  "I
don't want him with me."

"I will have a talk with the misguided boy," was the conclusion
reached by Randolph Rover; but he got no chance to speak to Dan
Baxter until late in the afternoon, and then, to his astonishment,
Baxter's manner had changed entirely, he intimating that he wanted
nothing more to do with them.

For in the meantime something which was bound to be of great
importance to the Rovers had occurred.  In Boma were a number of
persons of mixed French and native blood who were little better
than the old-time brigands of Italy.  They were led by a wicked
wretch who went by the name of Captain Villaire.  Villaire had
been watching the Rovers for two days when he noticed the coldness
which seemed to exist between, our friends and Baxter.  At once he
threw himself in Baxter's way and began to it pump the youth
regarding the Americans.

"Zay are going into the interior, you have remarked," he said in
very bad English.  "Are zay verra rich people?"

"Yes, they are well fixed," answered the tall youth.

"And zay do carry zare money wid zem?"

"I guess not -- at least, not much of it."

"You are zare friend, eh?"

"Hardly.  Out in America we were enemies."

"So?  You hata zem?"

"Yes, I hate them," muttered Dan, and his eyes shone wickedly.
"I'm only treating them in a friendly way now because I'm out of
money and must do something."

"I see.  It ees a good head you have -- verra good," murmured
Captain Villaire.  "Do you know, I heara dem talk about you?"

"Did you?  What did they say?"

"De one boy say you should be in ze jail; didn't you robba
somebody."

"He had better keep his mouth shut."

"You lika do somet'ing wid me?" continued the French native,
closing one eye suggestively.  He was a close reader of human
nature and had read Baxter's character as if it was an open book.

"What do you mean?"

"We gitta dem people into trouble -- maka big lot of money."

"All right -- I'll do anything," answered Baxter savagely.  "So
they said I ought to be in jail, eh?  I'll fix 'em yet!"

"You helpa me, I helpa you," went on the wily French native.

He had his plan all ready, and, after sounding Baxter some more,
revealed what was in his mind, which was simply to follow the
Rovers into the interior and then make them prisoners.  Once this
was done, they would hold the prisoners for a handsome ransom.

"That's a big job," answered the big youth.  "But I like your
plan, first-rate if you can carry it out."

"Trust me," replied Captain Villaire.  "I have half a dozen of ze
best of killowers-za, nevair fail me.  But as you knowa dem you
will have to do ze lettair writing for us, so zat we git ze money
from zare people at home."

"Trust me for that," responded Baxter quickly.  The plot pleased
him immensely.   "You do the capturing and I'll make Mrs. Rover or
somebody else pay up handsomely, never fear."

And so a compact was formed which was to give the Rovers a good
deal of trouble in the near future.





CHAPTER XVI

THE START UP THE CONGO

"It was queer Dan Baxter should act so," said Sam to his uncle,
when Mr. Rover came back from his interview with the bully.  "I
thought he wanted to, go the worst way."

"He acted as if he had struck something else," answered Randolph
Rover.  "He didn't even want the money I offered.  Perhaps he has
received a remittance from home."

"Who would send it to him?" put in Dick.  "His father is still in
jail."

"Perhaps he got Mumps to send it to him," said Sam.  "But I
forgot, Mumps is away."

There was no time to discuss the situation further, for they were
to start early on the following morning, and there were yet a
dozen small matters which must be given attention.  All were busy,
and it was not until after eleven that evening that they turned
in.

The day for the departure from Boma dawned bright and clear, and
Cujo appeared with his assistants while they were still eating
breakfast.

"Werry good day for um journey," he said, with a grin.  "Make good
many miles if nothing go wrong."

"You can't do any too well for me," answered Dick.  "I hope our
expedition into the interior is both short and successful."

At eight o'clock they were off.  At first they had thought to go
on horseback; but this was abandoned by the advice of the native,
who declared that horses would prove more of a drag than a help in
many places.

"Horse canno' climb tree bridge," he explained.  "No climb high
rock, no go around bad hill. We go on foot an' make better time."

The town was soon left behind and they struck a highway which for
several miles afforded easy traveling.  On all sides were dense
groves of tropical growth, palms, mangoes, and the like, with
enormous vines festooned from one tree to the next.  Underneath
were a great variety, of ferns and mosses, the homes of countless
insects and small animals.  The ground was black and wherever
turned up gave forth a sickly odor of decayed vegetation.

"That is regular fever territory," explained Randolph Rover.
"Boys, do not sleep on the ground if you can possibly avoid it.  I
sincerely trust that none of us take the tropical fever."

"If I feel it coming on I'll take a good dose of quinine,"
declared Tom.

Fortunately they had brought along a good supply of that valuable
drug.

Two days traveling passed without special incident.  On one side
of the highway was the broad river, which glinted like molten lead
in the sunshine.  They could not travel very close to its bank,
for here the ground was uncertain. Once Sam left the highway to
get a better view of the stream, and, before Cujo noticed it,
found himself up to his knees in a muck which stuck to him like so
much glue.

"Hi! help me out!" roared the youngest Rover, and all of the party
turned, to behold him waving his hand frantically toward them.

"He dun got stuck in de mud!" exclaimed Aleck, and started to go
to Sam's assistance, when Cujo called him back.

"Must be werry careful," said the native.  "Ground bad over dare -
- lose life if urn don't have a care.  Wait fo' me."  And he
approached Sam by a circuitous route over the tufts of grass
which grew like so many dots amid the swamp.  Soon he was close
enough to throw the youth the end of a rope he carried.  The pull
that, followed nearly took Sam's arms out by the sockets; but the
boy was saved, to return to the others of the party with an
experience which was destined to be very useful to him in, the
future.

"It will teach me to be careful of where I am going after this,"
he declared.  "Why, that bog looked almost as safe as the ground
over here!"

"Tropical places are all full of just such treacherous swamps,"
returned Randolph Rover.  "It will be wise for all of us to
remember that we are now in a strange territory and that we must
have our eyes and ears wide open."

At half-past eleven they came to a halt for dinner.  The sun was
now almost overhead, and they were glad enough to seek the shelter
of a number of palms standing in front of a -- native hostelry.

"We will rest here until two o'clock," said Mr. Rover.  "It is all
out of the question to travel in the heat of the day, as we did
yesterday, in such a climate as this.  Even the natives cannot
stand that."

They found the hostelry presided over by a short, fat native who
scarcely spoke a word of English.  But he could speak French, and
Mr. Rover spoke to him in that language, while Cujo carried on a
talk in the native tongue.  The midday repast was cooked over a
fire built between several stones.  The boys watched the cooking
process with interest and were surprised to find, when it came to
eating, that the food prepared tasted so good.  They had antelope
steak and a generous supply of native bread, and pure cocoa, which
Tom declared as good as chocolate.

After the meal they took it easy in a number of grass hammocks
stretched beneath the wide spreading palms surrounding the wayside
inn, if such it might be called.  Aleck and Cujo fell to smoking
and telling each other stories, while the Rovers dozed away, lulled
to sleep by the warm, gentle breeze which was blowing.

"I don't wonder the natives are lazy," remarked Dick, when his
uncle aroused him.  "I rarely slept in the daytime at home, and
here I fell off without half trying."

"The climate is very enervating, Dick.  That is why this section
of the globe makes little or no progress toward civilization.
Energetic men come here, with the best intention in the world of
hustling, as it is termed, but soon their ambition oozes out of
them like -- well, like molasses out of a barrel lying on a hot
dock in the sun.

"A good comparison," laughed Dick.

"Come, Tom; come, Sam!" he called out, and soon the party was on
its way again.

The highway was still broad, but now it was not as even as before,
and here and there they had to leap over just such a treacherous
swamp as had caused Sam so much trouble.  "It's a good thing we
didn't bring the horses," said Mr. Rover.  "I didn't think so
before, but I do now."

The jungle was filled with countless birds, of all sorts, sizes,
and colors.  Some of these sang in a fairly tuneful fashion, but
the majority uttered only sounds which were as painful to the
hearing as they were tiresome.

"The sound is enough to drive a nervous fellow crazy," declared
Tom.  "It's a good thing nature fixed it so that a man can't grow
up nervous here."

"Perhaps those outrageous cries are meant to wake a chap up,"
suggested Dick.

"I've a good mind to shoot some of the little pests."

"You may take a few shots later on and see what you can bring down
for supper," answered his uncle.  "But just now let us push on as
fast as we can."

"Yes," put in Tom.  "Remember we are out here to find father, not
to hunt."

"As if I would ever forget that," answered Dick, with a
reproachful glance.

They were now traveling a bit of a hill which took them, temporarily,
out of sight of the Congo.  Cujo declared this was a short route
and much better to travel than the other.  The way was through a
forest of African teak wood, immense trees which seemed to tower
to the very skies.

"They are as large as the immense trees of California of which you
have all heard," remarked Randolph Rover.  "It is a very useful
wood, used extensively in ship building."

"After all, I think a boat on the Congo would have been better to
use than shoe leather," said Sam, who was beginning to grow tired.

"No use a boat when come to falls," grinned Cujo.  "Soon come to
dem, too."

Aleck had been dragging behind, carrying a heavy load, to which
he was unaccustomed.  Now he rejoined the others with the
announcement that another party was in their rear.

"They are on foot, too," he said.  "Cujo whar you dun t'ink da be
gwine?"

"To the next settlement, maybe," was Randolph Rover's comment,
and Cujo nodded.

They waited a bit for the other party to come up, but it did not,
and, after walking back, Cujo returned with the announcement that
they were nowhere in sight.

"Perhaps they turned off on a side road," said Tom, and there the
matter was dropped, to be brought to their notice very forcibly
that night.

Evening found them at another hostelry, presided over by a
Frenchman who had a giant negress for a wife.  The pair were a
crafty looking couple, and did not at all please the Rovers.

"Perhaps we may as well sleep with one eye open tonight," said
Randolph Rover, upon retiring.  "We are in a strange country, and
it's good advice to consider every man an enemy until he proves
himself a friend."

The hostelry was divided into half a dozen rooms, all on the
ground floor.  The Rovers were placed in two adjoining apartments,
while the natives and Aleck were quartered in an addition of
bamboo in the rear.

"Keep your eyes and ears open, Aleck," whispered Dick, on
separating from the faithful colored man.  "And if you find
anything wrong let us know at once."

"Do you suspect anyt'ing, Massah Rober?" was Pop's anxious
question.

"I do and I don't.  Something in the air seems to tell me that
everything is not as it should be."

"Dat Frenchman don't look like no angel, sah," and Aleck shook his
head doubtfully.

"You're right, Aleck, and his wife is a terror, or else I miss my
guess."

"Dat's right, Massah Rober; nebber saw sech sharp eyes.  Yes, I'll
look out-fo' my own sake as well as fo' de sake ob Ye and de
rest," concluded Aleck.





CHAPTER XVII

THE ATTACK AT THE HOSTELRY

The night was exceptionally cool for that locality; and, utterly
worn out by their tiresome journey, all of the Rovers slept more
soundly than they had anticipated.

But not for long.  Dick had scarcely dropped off when he heard a
noise at the doorway, which was covered with a rough grass
curtain.

"Who is there?" he demanded, sitting up.

"Dat's all right," came in a whisper from Aleck.  "Is dat yo',
Massah Dick?"

"Yes, Aleck.  What brings you?"

"I dun discovered somet'ing, sah."

"What?"

"Dat udder party dun come up an' is in de woods back ob dis,
house."

"In camp?"

"No; dare is a Frenchman wot is talkin' to dah chap wot runs dis
shebang, sah."

"Perhaps he wants accommodations," mused Dick.

"Can't say about dat, sah.  But de fellers who come up hab a lot
ob ropes wid 'em."

"That's certainly queer."

"What's the row?" came sleepily from Tom, and presently Randolph
Rover and Sam likewise awoke.

In a few words the colored man explained the situation.  He had
just finished when the wife of the proprietor of the resort came
up to the doorway.

"The gentleman is wanted outside by my husband," she said in
broken French.

"What does he want?" asked Mr. Rover.

"I can't say.  But he says please to step out for a moment."

Mr. Rover repeated the woman's words to the boys.  "What do you
make of this?" he asked.

"I tell you something is wrong," declared Dick.  "I have felt it
all along."

"But what can be wrong, my lad?"

"If you go outside I'll go with you, Uncle Randolph."

"Well, you can do that if you wish."

The pair arose and speedily slipped on the few garments which they
had taken off.  Then Dick pulled out his pistol.

"Do you think it is as bad as that?" asked Sam.

"I don't know what to think.  But I'm going to take uncle's advice
and count every man an enemy until he proves himself a friend."

Soon Mr. Rover and Dick were ready to go out, and they did so,
followed by Aleck and preceded by the native woman.  As it was
dark the Rovers easily concealed their weapons in the bosoms of
their coats.

They walked past the bamboo addition and to the grove of trees
Aleck had mentioned.  There they found the Frenchman in
conversation with Captain Villaire.

"You wish to see me?" demanded Randolph Rover.

"Very much," answered Villaire in French.  "If You are Mr.
Randolph Rover, are you not?"

"I am."

"And this is one of your nephews?"

"Yes."

"I believe you are hunting for the young man's father?" went on
Villaire.

"We are.  Do you know anything of him?" demanded Randolph Rover
eagerly.

"I do.  He sent me to you."

"He sent you!" cried Randolph Rover in amazement.  "He is, then,
alive?"

"Yes; but a prisoner, and very sick.  He heard of your being in
Boma by accident through a native of King Susko's tribe who was
sent to the town for some supplies.  I heard the story and I have
been employed to lead you to him, and at once."

"But -- but this is marvelous," stammered Randolph Rover.  "I must
say I do not understand it."

"It is a very queer turn of affairs, I admit.  The other Mr. Rover
must explain to you when you meet.  He wishes you to come to him
alone.  It will not be safe for more."

As well as he was able Randolph Rover explained matters to Dick.
In the meantime, however, the youth had been looking around
sharply and had noted several forms gliding back and forth in the
gloom under the trees.  Dick was more suspicious than ever.

"Uncle Randolph, I don't believe this man," he said briefly.  "The
story he tells is too unnatural."

"I think so myself, Dick; but still -"

"Why didn't this man come straight to the house to tell us this?"

"I'm sure I don't know."

"Ask him."

Randolph Rover put the question to Captain Villaire.  The
Frenchman scowled deeply and shrugged his shoulders.  "I had my
reason," he said briefly.  "Will you come with me?"

Before Randolph Rover could answer there came a shout from behind
several trees.

"Look out fo' yourselves!" came in Aleck's voice.  "Dis am a
trap!"

"A trap!" repeated Dick, when of a sudden a half dozen men rushed
at him and Randolph Rover and surrounded the pair.  In a twinkle,
before either could use his pistol, he was hurled flat and made a
prisoner.

"Bind them, men," ordered Villaire sternly.  "And bind them well,
so that escape is impossible."

"Run for the house, Aleck!" yelled, out Dick, before those on top
of him could choke him off.  "Save Tom and Sam!

"I will!" came from the faithful black.  And off he sped at top
speed, with three or four of Captain Villaire's party after him.
Cujo also went to the house, bewildered by what was going on and
hardly knowing how to turn.

Randolph Rover fought desperately and so did Dick.  But the two
were no match for the six men who had attacked them, and ere they
knew it the Rovers were close prisoners, with their hands bound
behind them and each with a dirty gag of grass stuffed in his
mouth.

"Now march, or you will be shot," came in bad English from one of
the Villaire party.  And as there seemed nothing better to do they
marched, wondering why they had been attacked and where they were
to be taken.  Their arms had been confiscated, so further
resistance was useless.  When Dick lagged behind he received a
cruel blow on the back which nearly sent him headlong.