So I accepted the explanation with a smile, and asked
everybody to join in a morning nip.
Afterwards Stephen told me that while I was engaged with Mavovo on the
previous night, a message had reached him from Sammy who was on board
the ship in charge of our belongings, saying that he would be glad of
some company. Knowing the cook's nervous nature, fortunately enough he
made up his mind at once to go and sleep upon the /Maria/. In the
morning trouble arose as Sammy had told me. What he did not tell me
was that he was not knocked overboard, as he said, but took to the
water of his own accord, when complications with Delgado appeared
imminent.
"I understand the position," I said, "and all's well that ends well.
But it's lucky you thought of coming on board to sleep."
After this everything went right. I sent some of the men back in the
charge of Stephen for our remaining effects, which they brought safely
aboard, and in the evening we sailed. Our voyage up to Kilwa was
beautiful, a gentle breeze driving us forward over a sea so calm that
not even Hans, who I think was one of the worst sailors in the world,
or the Zulu hunters were really sick, though as Sammy put it, they
"declined their food.
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