NG'URU TO KAGEI AND UKEBEWE. 93 sell, as it would answer our purpose and save us the trouble of building another boat. Accordingly, Lieutenant Smith went over to Ukerewe to inspect the dhow, and on his return on May 3rd decided to buy her. That same day, Dr. Smith was seized with dysentery; he had been rapidly improving since he reached Kagei, and though still far from strong, yet was beginning to look more like himself.

But this terrible disease took a firm hold of him, and spite of all efforts he gradually sank. On the morning of May llth he seemed decidedly better, and when breakfast was ready we left him quietly sleeping ; after breakfast, Lieutenant Smith went into the hut to see how he was, and immediately after called O'Neill and me. " I am afraid he is going," he whispered, but it needed no one to tell us so, death was plainly written on his face ; and in a few minutes more he passed away, calmly, peacefully, like a child hushed to sleep in its mother's arms : a death strangely in contrast to that which, ere that year closed, was to overtake two of those standing round his bed. We laid him to rest that evening close by the shore of the lake, while the dusky forms of those for whose sake he gave up all, stood reverently by and wondered not to see the white men weep. We turned our steps homewards, sorrowful and silent. Few words were spoken that night, and the thought uppermost in our minds was " Who will next be called ? "