  After a short rest, the third march through the gloomy forest began. There were dangers in plenty and the whole caravan came near starving. Notwithstanding all Stanley’s efforts, it was not possible to save his men from their folly. Everyone was instructed, as soon as a banana grove was reached, to provide himself with food enough for several days, but these great thoughtless boys would throw away their food when it became burdensome, and thus many began to suffer for lack of sustenance, which might have been avoided by a little care. On the eighth of December, while pitching camp, Stanley noticed a boy staggering with weakness. When asked what was the trouble he said that he was hungry. He had thrown away five days’ rations hoping to find more food that day. Upon further inquiry he found that at least one hundred and fifty had followed his example and had had nothing to eat that day. The next morning Stanley sent all his effective men, two hundred in number, back to the last banana grove, expecting that they would return in two days loaded with supplies of the fruit. The small supply of meal was soon consumed and Stanley opened his European provision chest. Each one of the one hundred and thirty men was given a morsel of butter and condensed milk which was mixed with water in a kind of thin soup. At last they searched in the forest for berries and mushrooms. From day to day their anxiety increased and they moved about more slowly and feebly. Nothing was heard or seen of the expedition which had been sent out. Five days had passed already. Perhaps they were lost in the forest or had succumbed to hunger before they reached the banana trees. If so, all in the camp were doomed. In this unknown corner of the forest every trace of them would disappear. The graves would remain hidden forever, while the Pasha himself would spend month after month wondering what had become of the relief expedition. At last, on the sixth day, Stanley decided to set out with a small number of his people in search of food, leaving Bonney to care for the sick and exhausted. He left a scant stock of provisions for them, but there was no other way to save them. Sixty-five men and women and twelve boys went with him. They marched until evening and then threw themselves upon the ground to rest. No fire was kindled as they had nothing to cook. Few of them slept. Frau Sorge (“mistress anxiety”) occupied the camp and filled their minds with visions of suffering, despair, and death. When the darkness began to disappear and light fell upon the outstretched groups, Stanley, mustering up courage, shouted: “Up, lads, up! To the bananas! Up! If God so wills, we will have bananas to-day.” In a few minutes the camping place was deserted and the weary ones were once more on their way, some limping because of their hurts, some hobbling because of sores, and others stumbling because of weakness. At last Stanley heard a murmuring sound and suddenly saw a great abundance of green fruit. In a trice all weakness and every trace of despair disappeared. English and Africans, Christians and heathen, each in his own language, shouted “God be praised.” Fire was quickly kindled, the green fruit was cooked, and an enjoyable meal gave them strength for their return. In an hour they were on their way back to the camp of hunger, which they reached at half past two in the afternoon. They were given a welcome such as only the dying can give when their rescue is sure. Then all, young and old, forgot the troubles of the past in the joy of the present and agreed to be more careful in future—until the next time. |
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