KAZONNDÉ. 351 there) the great market which would be held tvvo days hence. The pagazis^ after delîvcrîng theîr loads of ivory, would only stay to receive their payment of a few yards of calico or other stuff, and would then départ at once to join some other caravan. On being rclieved from the forks which they had carrîed for so many weary days, Tom and his companions heartily wrung each other*s hands, but they could not ventur« to utter one word of mutual encouragement. The three younger men, more fuU of life and vigour, had resisted the effects of the fatigue, but poor old Tom was nearly exhausted, and had the march been protracted for a few more days he must hâve shared Nan's fate and been left behind, a prey to the wild beasts. Upon their arrivai ail four were packcd into a narrow cell, where some food was provided, and the door was îmmediately locked upon them. The chitoka was now almost deserted, and Dick Sands was left there under the spécial charge of a havildar : he lost no opportunity of pcering into every hut in the hope of catching a glimpse of Mrs. Weldon, who, if Hercules had not misinformed him, had come on hither just in front. But he was very much perplcxed. He could well under- stand that Mrs. Weldon, if still a prisoner, would be kept eut of sight, but why Negoro and Harris did not appear to triumph over him in his humiliation was quite a mystery to him. It was likely enough that the présence of either one or the other of them would be the signal for himself to be exposed to fresh indignity, or even to torture, but Dick would hâve welcomed the sight of them at Kazonndé, were ît only as an indication that Mrs. Weldon and Jack were there also. It disappoînted him, too, that Dingo did not come back. Ever since the dog had brought him the first note, he had kept an answer written ready to send to Hercules, im- ploring him to look after Mri. Weldon, and to keep him informed of everything. He began to fear that the faithful créature must be dead, pcrhaps perished in some attempt
