On the other hand, time was valuable to him and he might waste
weeks looking for the man whom Oom Sam could tell him at once where
to find. On the whole, it was better to accept Da Souza's offer.
"Very well, Da Souza," he said, "I have no time to spare in this
country and the sooner I get back to England the better for all of
us. If your brother knows where Monty is, so much the better for
both of us. We will land together and meet him."
Already the disembarking had commenced. Da Souza and Trent took
their places side by side on the broad, flat-bottomed boat, and
soon they were off shorewards and the familiar song of the Kru boys
as they bent over their oars greeted their ears. The excitement
of the last few strokes was barely over before they sprang upon the
beach and were surrounded by a little crowd, on the outskirts of
whom was Oom Sam. Trent was seized upon by an Englishman who was
representing the Bekwando Land and Mining Investment Company and,
before he could regain Da Souza, a few rapid sentences had passed
between the latter and his brother in Portuguese. Oom Sam
advanced to Trent hat in hand -
"Welcome back to Attra, senor?"
Trent nodded curtly.
"Place isn't much changed," he remarked.
"It is very slowly here," Oom Sam said, "that progress is made!
The climate is too horrible.
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