The enterprise had been begun and must be carried
through, until it ended in success--or death.
An hour later they started. First walked Alan as leader of the
expedition, carrying a double-barrelled gun that could be used either
for ball or shot, about fifty cartridges with brass cases to protect
them from the damp, a revolver, a hunting-knife, a cloth mackintosh, and
lastly, strapped upon his back like a knapsack, a tin box containing
the fetish, Little Bonsa, which was too precious to be trusted to anyone
else. It was quite a sufficient load for any white man in that climate,
but being very wiry, Alan did not feel its weight, at any rate at first.
After him in single file came the four porters, laden with a small tent,
some tinned provisions and brandy, ammunition, a box containing beads,
watches, etc. for presents, blankets, spare clothing and so forth. These
were stalwart fellows enough, who knew the forest, but their dejected
air showed that now they had come face to face with its dangers, they
heartily wished themselves anywhere else. Indeed, notwithstanding their
terror of Jeekie's medicine, at the last moment they threw down their
loads intending to make a wild rush for the departing boat, only to be
met by Jeekie himself who, anticipating some such move, was waiting for
them on the bank with a shotgun.
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