It
appeared as though, in approaching the sources of the
Nile, these men came to rob them of something, and so
the Victoria had to keep out of range of their muskets.
"To land here would be a ticklish matter!" said the Scot.
"Well!" said Joe, "so much the worse for these natives.
They'll have to do without the pleasure of our conversation."
"Nevertheless, descend I must," said the doctor,
"were it only for a quarter of an hour. Without doing
so I cannot verify the results of our expedition."
"It is indispensable, then, doctor?"
"Indispensable; and we will descend, even if we have
to do so with a volley of musketry."
"The thing suits me," said Kennedy, toying with his
pet rifle.
"And I'm ready, master, whenever you say the word!"
added Joe, preparing for the fight.
"It would not be the first time," remarked the doctor,
"that science has been followed up, sword in hand. The
same thing happened to a French savant among the mountains
of Spain, when he was measuring the terrestrial meridian."
"Be easy on that score, doctor, and trust to your two
body-guards."
"Are we there, master?"
"Not yet. In fact, I shall go up a little, first, in order
to get an exact idea of the configuration of the country.
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