Five Weeks in a Balloon Page #6

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of warfare:
No fighting after sundown.

Well, I hope the natives

know the rules.

Three hundred miles today,

gentlemen. 'Tis a bonny pace.

If the wind holds, we'll beat

the slavers with time to spare.

Coming down!

Easy, boy. Easy.

Slowly now.

There's no place to land down there.

Gently now.

It's a forest full of trees.

Steady, Jacques.

Not a sidewalk caf in sight.

Aye, they don't serve

the guests here. They eat 'em.

Nothing worse than a man-eating lion.

I hope I'm not his man.

General, what do you think that is?

You're the expert

on African affairs.

I've heard that often.

That is a rampaging rhinoceros.

Vicious brutes. Better get your gun.

Aye, a vicious brute indeed.

Another rhinoceros, General?

Careful, boy.

That's my prize teapot.

My constant companion

since Khartoum.

Never fear, General.

I'll guard it with my life.

Dinner's ready, Mr. O'Shay.

Ah, boiled rice, eh?

Got any chutney?

Mr. O'Shay, this

is not a fashion parade.

My dear Professor,

I always dress for dinner.

I must say, Professor,

the lad shows good breeding.

I have always felt that

the mark of a gentleman-

- Spare us your platitudes. The vittles'll be getting cold.

- Oh.

And spare us your bickerings, and let us

drink to the success of a very worthy mission.

I'll drink to the success of my mission...

which is to get back to civilization...

and have Uncle Cornelius sue you

for breach of contract.

- Uncle Cornelius.

- What? So you're Randolph's nephew.

Now I understand why he wanted

to get you out of his hair.

Be that as it may,

you're not honoring your contract.

My contract with your uncle

was to traverse East Africa.

- That's right.

- And we are traversing it.

I never said we would not travel further.

So here's to the good ship Jupiter.

Well, I could have sworn

I had not touched my wine.

There's plenty more, Professor.

Don't I get any chicken?

- Well, I gave you some!

- Where?

I must be getting

jungle fever. Here's a nice wing.

Great Scott!

A stowaway!

- Hi.

- Where'd you come from?

Oh, Makia hide up there, then hide here.

Why'd you do such a silly thing?

Pasha O'Shay, he save me.

Pasha O'Shay, he own me now.

- No?

- No.

Where you go, me go.

I don't want her.

Well, give her away.

Yeah, that's a good idea.

- You take her, Jacko.

- Not me.

- I pass to the general.

- Oh, good heavens, no.

Lady Vining would never approve.

She's yours, Professor.

You flatter me, General.

No one wish me?

- Me go back to Zanzibar.

- Stop that girl.

Hey, wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

You can't go anywhere.

You'll never get past the first lion.

Then me stay.

All own me now. Me eat.

Well, it seems we have no alternative.

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