46 THE AFRICAN TRADER.

me in keeping him quiet. When I got back to the
cabin, I told the captain what Radforth had said.
‘Oh, that’s only the poor fellow’s raving. It will
never do to leave the river without our cargo, for
if we do some other trader will sure to be in directly
afterwards and take advantage of what has been
collected for us. However, I have had notice that
lots of oil will be brought on board in a few days,
and when we get that, we will put to sea even
though we are not quite full.’

The captain shortly afterwards paid Radforth a
visit; but the boatswain was raving at the time, and
never again spoke while in his senses. The follow-
ing day we carried him to his grave on shore. The
death of one who was looked upon as the most
seasoned and strongest man, had, as may be sup-
posed, a most depressing effect among the crew. It
was soon also evident that the first mate was ill
with the fever, and indeed more than half our
number were now down with it.

Still the captain could not bring himself to quit the
river, ‘In a few days very possibly we shall have
a full cargo Harry,’ he said to me. ‘In the mean-
time, I daresay, the rest will hold out. Radforth
overworked himself, or he would not have caught