FROM BUSSA TO THE SEA 495 The Davoust too had received many wounds, and what was more serious still, oxidation was beginning to work havoc in her sections.

Ten times at least, face to face with some specially bad rapids, I had made up my mind to lose one of the three, if not all ; but, as the English said, they were gallant ships. Bravely, in spite of rapids, whirlpools, and rocks, they had made for the appointed goal, the mouth of the river, bringing there without faltering the whole expedition : we white men, the coolies, all our goods, and the French flag!

No doubt it was Aube, Dantec, and Davoust, their sponsors, our comrades, who had died at the task of the conquest of the Niger, who had brought good luck to our three boats.

Thanks to them, I had kept my oath of 1888.

It was not therefore without emotion, without a sadness which may have been childish, but which many will understand, that we parted finally with the companions of so many dangers.

Have not boats souls ? Sailors love them like old friends, like heirlooms. We must attach ourselves affectionately to something in this life, must we not ? The Axim took us to Forcados ; the Forcados to Lago ; the Olinday chartered specially for us, to Porto Novo.

On November i, at five o'clock in the morning, there was great excitement at the house of the officers of Porto Novo. Some people had suddenly arrived, and were banging against the shutters. The door was soon half-opened and a voice inquired, " Who are you ? " — " Hourst ! " — " Where do you come from ? " — " Timbuktu " — and the next moment, without any further questioning, we all fell into each other's arms.