Blind Lion of the Congo

by George Manville Fenn

  CHAPTER IV

  OUTFITTING

  The trip was begun very much as Mr. Wallace had outlined. The newsspread rapidly that Burt and Howard were going to Africa, and when thetwo boys arrived at the station early Monday morning a good-sized crowdof friends was present to see them off.

  "Take good care of yourself," cautioned Mrs. St. John as she kissed herson good-bye. "Don't be afraid to telegraph us!"

  The train pulled out with a last cheer from the frat fellows, and Burtand Howard realized that they were actually off. They arrived in NewYork at noon and Mr. Wallace took them direct to the Explorers' Club forluncheon.

  Here they first began to feel in touch with the outside world. The clubwas an institution composed of explorers, hunters and wanderers inforeign lands. Its walls were decorated with game heads, arms and armorof many savage tribes, while in glass cases were hung odd costumes andheadgear and unique relics and curios. At the dining-room tables theboys saw bronzed and bearded men who nodded to Mr. Wallace like oldfriends or spoke to him in strange tongues.

  "You fellows wait for me in the library," said the explorer as theyfinished luncheon. "I guess you'll find plenty to amuse you there. We'llstop here for to-night. I'm going down to send off some cables now andget part of our outfit ordered ahead. When I come back we'll go out andsee the town a little."

  "Did you get rooms on the steamer?" asked Critch.

  "Wired last night. The answer will be down here at the office butthere's not much doubt about getting them. See you in the library."

  The boys made themselves at home in the library and in half an hour Mr.Wallace returned with the stateroom slips. Then they took a taxi andmade a few purchases for the voyage. As there was nothing to be obtainedexcept some clean linen and a steamer rug each, they spent most of theafternoon "seeing" New York City.

  The evening spent at the club was a wonderful one to the boys. Ontalking it over later they found that they had only a confused memoryof meeting several famous men and of hearing some surprising stories.

  "Critch!" whispered Burt as they lay in bed. "'Member that thin fellowwith the scar on his chin? S'pose his yarn was true!"

  "What? About being tortured by New Guinea cannibals?" returned his chum."Prob'ly. That sure was a whopper though that the man with the blackbeard told! The one that'd been in China, I mean."

  "Said he had photos of the Forbidden City, didn't he?" asked Burt. "Gee!That story of his about the joss with the emerald eyes and the ropes ofpearls--"

  So it went until long past midnight when the boys finally fell asleep.They were up early and after breakfast took a taxi again and went onboard the _Carmania_, which was to sail at ten.

  The voyage was uneventful to Mr. Wallace but proved of tremendousnovelty to the boys. By the time they reached Liverpool Burt felt likenew. His color was returning fast and the sea air had filled out hislungs once more and put him into prime condition. The question of theiroutfit was what puzzled the boys most until they put it up to Mr.Wallace.

  "Oh, we'll get all that in London," he explained. "I cabled ahead sothat most of it will be ready. You see, boys, these outfitters put upboxes of food in regular amounts for each day. All I have to do is totell 'em how long we'll be gone and how many of us there are. They packa box--chop-boxes, they're called--holding enough for so many days.According to custom the blacks only expect to carry sixty pounds, sothese boxes are made up at that weight. All are of tin, hermeticallysealed. Some firms use colored bands to distinguish the boxes but oursnumbers each box and furnishes us with lists of what they contain."

  "Some system, isn't it!" exclaimed Critch admiringly. "Do we have tocarry everything with us? Must be an awful freight bill!"

  "Can't go to Africa for nothing," laughed Mr. Wallace. "Yes, we'll getmost of that stuff here. We could get it at Boma but I'd sooner dependon the English firm."

  "Wish we could stay longer in London," sighed Burt. "I hate to rush offwithout seeing anything of the city."

  "Well, our boat leaves Tuesday afternoon and this is Friday," repliedhis uncle. "Our chop-boxes are already on board, I suppose. Ourtrunks--tin-lined by the way--will probably go down Monday night if weget our stuff Saturday. I'd like to spend a week in London myself but ifwe're to be back home by November we haven't much time to waste."

  The Liverpool customs did not delay them long as they had only a suitcase each, and they took the night express for London. The boys weremuch surprised and not a little dismayed when they entered the Englishcompartment cars, so different from the coaches they were used to. Theysoon found that it was much nicer to travel by themselves, however, asMr. Wallace interviewed the guard and provided against intrusion. In themorning they awoke to find themselves in London.

  Mr. Wallace took them to the famous Carleton House for breakfast, nowentirely rebuilt after its fire of the year before. When they hadfinished, all three went to the writing room.

  "Take out your pencils now," said the explorer, "and get busy. I knowjust about what I want to take and a list ready-made will save a lot oftime in the shops. Ready?"

  The two boys were not only ready but anxious. The lists that they wroteout were identical. Here is that of their personal effects and clothesas Burt made it out.

  Four suits underwear, Indian gauze.

  Two ditto, woolen.

  Two heavy gabardine shooting suits.

  Two flannel shirts, khaki cartridge pockets.

  Two pair high boots. One pair of soft leather.

  Extra thick leggings, two pairs.

  Camelshair poncho blanket, convertible.

  Kid-lined gloves, two pairs.

  Sleeping bag, waterproof.

  Wool socks and pajamas.

  Two khaki helmets.

  Mosquito net for head and body.

  Cholera belt, flannel.

  Zeiss field glasses.

  Large colored silk handkerchiefs, six.

  Compass. Toilet articles.

  "There," exclaimed Mr. Wallace as he ran over Burt's list, "that lookspretty good to me. You won't need the wool underwear unless you getprickly heat. The leggings are the most important. If you get scratchedup by spear-grass and thorns and then step into some swamp-pool it's alloff. You'd get craw-craw sure."

  "What's that?" asked Critch. "Sounds like crow!"

  "It's a skin disease," replied Mr. Wallace. "Something frightful, too.The poncho will serve for blanket and raincoat, but this is the dryseason. Must have the mosquito net, though. When we get up the Aruwimiwe'll find little bees about as big as gnats but a whole lot worse, andit'll need thick nets to keep 'em out. New for the armament."

  Burt's "armory" consisted of the following weapons:

  Double-barreled Holland .450 cordite rifle, for close quarters.

  Winchester .405 rifle for general use.

  Twenty-gauge Parker shotgun.

  Eight-inch skinning knife.

  "Ain't we going to take revolvers?" asked Burt disappointedly as hisuncle finished.

  "No," replied the latter. "They're of no use whatever. I'll take minefrom force of habit but you chaps will never need one. Oh, theammunition! Put down a hundred solid and a hundred soft-nosed cartridgesfor the Hollands; for the Winchesters two hundred of each, and six boxesof shells. That'll be enough to last us double the time."

  "How 'bout a camera?" asked Critch anxiously. "Will we be able to toteone along?"

  "Surest thing you know!" replied Mr. Wallace. "We'll take one of thosenew moving-picture machines. They're no larger than a camera and you cantake motion pictures or straight shots on the reel."

  "Gee! That'll be great!" cried Burt delightedly. "But won't the heatspoil the reels? An' don't they cost like fury?"

  "The reels will be hermetically sealed before and after using,"explained his uncle. "Needn't worry 'bout them. The whole outfit onlycosts twelve or thirteen pounds--say sixty dollars. It's well worth it,too. Now for the tents. We're going to travel
light as possible, so putdown two double-roofed ridge tents twelve by ten, with ground-sheets.Three cots without mattresses. You'll have to do without them orpillows--they're a beastly nuisance to pack along. Canvas bath each andcondensing outfit to supply fresh water."

  "Why's that, uncle?" asked Burt in surprise. "Lots of fresh water, ain'tthere?"

  "Lots," smiled his uncle, "and lots o' guinea worms, fever germs,poisons and other things in it. Better add a four-quart canteen, glassstoppers, to your personal list. Can't take any cork or the roaches'lleat it. Two blankets for each person, and six towels. I guess that's allwe need put down now, boys."

  "Hold on there!" cried practical Critch abruptly. "How 'bout eatin'utensils and fryin' pans, medicine, can openers and all them things?"

  "All arranged for," laughed Mr. Wallace. "The cooking part of it will beup to John Quincy Adams Washington."

  "John--who?" stammered Burt. "Say it again, please!"

  For answer Mr. Wallace pressed a button and a footman appeared.

  "Send the manager here at once, please." The man bowed and withdrew andwhile the boys were still staring at the explorer in wonder a dapperlittle man appeared bowing.

  "Mr. Wallace? Glad to see you looking so well, sir! What can I do foryou?"

  "I want that fellow Washington," smiled the explorer. "Can you let mehave him for say three months? I'm going down to Africa and he'll haveto go along."

  "Certainly! I'll send him right up, sir." The manager vanished withanother bow and Mr. Wallace turned to the boys.

  "Washington--or John rather--is a Liberia boy I picked up five yearsago. He's the best cook on earth! He's been in China and South Americawith me and whenever I don't need him he has a steady job as fifth chefhere. Ah, here he is!"

  An immense black man appeared, wearing a grin that almost hid his face,as Burt expressed it. He stepped up and caught the explorer's hand, notshaking it but pressing it to his forehead as he spoke.

  "Glad to see you, sar! What for you want John now?"

  "Africa, John. This is my nephew, Mr. St. John, and my friend, Mr.Critchfield, who will go along. We leave for the Congo Tuesday."

  "Pleased to meet you, sar!" The grinning black pressed the hands of Burtand Howard to his forehead in turn. "What boat we leave, sar?"

  "The _Benguela_. African Steamship Company docks."

  "Hit's Liverpool boat, sar! What time hit leave London docks?"

  "Three o'clock, John. Here's a hundred pounds." Mr. Wallace peeled offfive twenty-pound bank notes and handed them to the negro; "that oughtto buy your outfit, eh?"

  "By hall means, sar! Thank you. Hi'll 'ave most helegant brass pots,sar!"

  "Good gracious!" exclaimed Burt as the cook withdrew. "You hand out banknotes as if you're made o' money! S'pose the coon'll ever show up withall that wad on him?"

  "Show up?" repeated Mr. Wallace. "Why, I'd turn over my bill book to himand never count it when he gave it back! He's a blamed sight more honestthan most white men you'll meet down there. And nerve! He carried mefive miles on his back once, in northern China, stopping occasionallyto fight off a bunch of bandits. That's the kind of man John is."

  "Funny accent he's got," said Critch. "I thought all coons talked likethey do down south."

  "You'll get over that pretty quick!" laughed the explorer heartily."John can use West Coast, cockney, Spanish and half a dozen otheraccents accordin' to whom he's been mixing up with latest. When westrike the Congo he'll probably fall into French. Well, let's trot alongto Piccadilly and get measured. It's gettin' on toward noon."