Though the storm of the day before had ceased, the weather was still very unsettled. It was, besides, the period of the "masika," the second period of the rainy season, under this zone of the African heaven. The nights in particular would be rainy during one, two, or three weeks, which could only increase the of the .  
It set out that day in cloudy weather, and, after quitting the banks of the Coanza, made its way almost directly to the east. Fifty soldiers marched at the head, a hundred on each of the two sides of the , the rest as a rear-guard. It would be difficult for the prisoners to flee, even if they had not been chained. Women, children, and men were going pell-mell, and the overseers urged them on with the whip. There were unfortunate mothers who, nursing one child, held a second by the hand that was free. Others dragged these little beings along, without clothing, without shoes, on the sharp grasses of the soil.
 
The chief of the caravan, that Ibn Hamis, who had in the struggle between Dick Sand and his overseer, watched this whole troop, going and forwards from the head to the foot of the long column. If his agents and he troubled themselves but little about the sufferings of their captives, they must reckon more seriously either with the soldiers who claimed some additional , or with the "pagazis" who wanted to halt. Thence discussions; often even an exchange of . The slaves suffered more from the overseers' constant . Nothing was heard but threats from one side, and cries of grief from the other. Those who marched in the last ranks treaded a soil that the first had stained with their blood.
 
Dick Sand's companions, always carefully kept in front of the convoy, could have no communication with him. They advanced in file, the neck held in the heavy fork, which did not permit a single head-movement. The whips did not spare them any more than their sad companions in misfortune.
 
Bat, coupled with his father, marched before him, taxing his not to shake the fork, choosing the best places to step on, because old Tom must pass after him. From time to time, when the overseer was a little behind, he uttered various words of encouragement, some of which reached Tom. He even tried to his march, if he felt that Tom was getting tired. It was suffering, for this good son to be unable to turn his head towards his good father, whom he loved. Doubtless, Tom had the satisfaction of seeing his son; however, he paid dear for it. How many times great tears flowed from his eyes when the overseer's whip fell upon Bat! It was a worse punishment than if it had fallen on his own flesh.
 
Austin and Acteon marched a few steps behind, tied to each other, and treated every moment. Ah, how they envied Hercules's fate! Whatever were the dangers that threatened the latter in that country, he could at least use his strength and defend his life.
 
During the first moments of their , old Tom had finally made known the whole truth to his companions. They had learned from him, to their profound , that they were in Africa; that Negoro's and Harris's double treachery had first thrown them there, and then led them away, and that no pity was to be expected from their masters.
 
Nan was not better treated. She made part of a group of women who occupied the middle of the convoy. They had chained her with a young mother of two children, one at the breast, the other three years, who walked with difficulty. Nan, moved with pity, had burdened herself with the little creature, and the poor slave had thanked her by a tear. Nan then carried the infant, at the same time, sparing her the , to which she would have yielded, and the blows the overseer would have given her. But it was a heavy burden for old Nan. She felt that her strength would soon fail her, and then she thought of little . She pictured him to herself in his mother's arms. Sickness had wasted him very much, but he must be still heavy for Mrs. Weldon's weakened arms. Where was she? What would become of her? Would her old servant ever see her again?
 
Dick Sand had been placed almost in the rear of the convoy. He could neither perceive Tom, nor his companions, nor Nan. The head of the long caravan was only visible to him when it was crossing some plain. He walked, a , to the saddest thoughts, from which the agents' cries hardly drew his attention. He neither thought of himself, nor the he must still support, nor of the tortures probably reserved for him by Negoro. He only thought of Mrs. Weldon. In rain he sought on the ground, on the brambles by the paths, on the lower branches of the trees, to find some trace of her passage. She could not have taken another road, if, as everything indicated, they were leading her to Kazounde. What would he not give to find some indication of her march to the destination where they themselves were being led!
 
Such was the situation of the young and his companions in body and mind. But whatever they might have to fear for themselves, great as was their own sufferings, pity took possession of them on seeing the misery of that sad troop of captives, and the revolting brutality of their masters. ! they could do nothing to the , nothing to resist the others.
 
All the country east of the Coanza was only a forest for over an extent of twenty miles. The trees, however, whether they perish under the biting of the numerous insects of these countries, or whether troops of elephants beat them down while they are still young, are less crowded here than in the country next to the seacoast. The march, then, under the trees, would not present obstacles. The might be more troublesome than the trees. There was, in fact, an abundance of those cotton-trees, seven to eight feet high, the cotton of which serves to manufacture the black and white striped stuffs used in the interior of the province.
 
In certain places, the soil transformed itself into thick jungles, in which the convoy disappeared. Of all the animals of the country, the elephants and giraffes alone were taller than those reeds which resemble bamboos, those herbs, the stalks of which measure an inch in diameter. The agents must know the country marvelously well, not to be lost in these jungles.
 
Each day the caravan set out at daybreak, and only halted at midday for an hour. Some packs containing tapioca were then opened, and this food was distributed to the slaves. To this potatoes were added, or goat's meat and , when the soldiers had some village in passing. But the fatigue had been such, the so , so impossible even during these rainy nights, that when the hour for the distribution of food arrived the prisoners could hardly eat. So, eight days after the departure from the Coanza, twenty had fallen by the way, at the mercy of the beasts that prowled behind the convoy. Lions, panthers and waited for the victims which could not fail them, and each evening after sunset their roaring sounded at such a short distance that one might fear a direct attack.
 
On hearing those roars, rendered more formidable by the darkness, Dick Sand thought with terror of the obstacles such encounters would present against Hercules's enterprise, of the that menaced each of his steps. And meanwhile if he himself should find an opportunity to flee, he would not hesitate.
 
Here are some notes taken by Dick Sand during this journey from the Coanza to Kazounde. Twenty-five "marches" were employed to make this distance of two hundred and fifty miles, the "march" in the traders' language being ten miles, halting by day and night.
 
From 25th to 27th April.—Saw a village surrounded by walls of reeds, eight or nine feet high. Fields cultivated with , beans, "sorghas" and various arachides. Two blacks seized and made prisoners. Fifteen killed. Population fled.
 
The next day crossed an impetuous river, one hundred and fifty yards wide. Floating bridge, formed of trunks of trees, fastened with lianes. Piles half broken. Two women, tied to the same fork, into the water. One was carrying her little child. The waters are disturbed and become stained with blood. Crocodiles between the parts of the bridge. There is danger of stepping into their open mouths.
 
April 28th.—Crossed a forest of bauhiniers. Trees of straight timber—those which furnish the iron wood for the .
 
Heavy rain. Earth wet. March extremely painful.
 
Perceived, toward the center of the convoy, poor Nan, carrying a little negro child in her arms. She drags herself along with difficulty. The slave chained with her limps, and the blood flows from her shoulder, torn by from the whip.
 
In the evening camped under an enormous baobab with white flowers and a light green .
 
During the night roars of lions and leopards. Shots fired by one of the natives at a panther. What has become of Hercules?
 
April 29th and 30th.—First colds of what they call the African winter. Dew very abundant. End of the rainy season with the month of April; it commences with the month of November. Plains still largely . East winds which check and renders one more liable to take the fevers.
 
No trace of Mrs. Weldon, nor of Mr. Benedict. Where would they take them, if not to Kazounde? They must have followed the road of the caravan and preceded us. I am eaten up with anxiety. Little Jack must be seized again with the fever in this unhealthy region. But does he still live?
 
From May 1st to May 6th.—Crossed, with several halting-places, long plains, which has not been able to dry up. Water everywhere up to the waist. of adhering to the skin. We must march for all that. On some that emerge are lotus and . At the bottom, under the water, other plants, with large cabbage leaves, on which the feet slip, which occasions numerous falls.
 
In these waters, considerable quantities of little fish of the silurus species. The natives catch them by billions in wickers and sell them to the .
 
Impossible to find a place to camp for the night. We see no limit to the inundated plain. We must march in the dark. To-morrow many slaves will be missing from the convoy. What misery! When one falls, why get up again? A few moments more under these waters, and all would be finished. The overseer's stick would not reach you in the darkness.
 
Yes, but Mrs. Weldon and her son! I have not the right to abandon them. I shall resist to the end. It is my duty.
 
Dreadful cries are heard in the night. Twenty soldiers have torn some branches from trees whose branches were above water. Livid lights in the darkness.
 
This is the cause of the cries I heard. An attack of crocodiles; twelve or fifteen of those monsters have thrown themselves in the darkness on the ............