They stuck again in the vegetation and the sand as well.
The Marquis’s trousers were soaking wet over his knees and extremely dirty long before the river was in sight.
Several times Shamara had to climb out and walk along the sandy bank while the two men carried the boat to where the water was deeper and they could proceed more quickly.
The stars were now beginning to fade and the Marquis kept looking up at the sky.
He knew that at dawn their room would be found to be empty and the horsemen would be out in force searching for them.
Then at last there was the river, not very wide or very deep by English standards, but for Africa water meant life.
Shamara felt as if she too was ready to worship it.
Instead she said a prayer of thanks to God.
She had been praying fervently all the tim
