Finally, I came to the conclusion that he was right and I was wrong.

It was true that by bribing Babemba, or otherwise, there was still an excellent prospect of effecting a masterly retreat and of avoiding many perils.

On the other hand, we had not come to this wild place in order to retreat.
Further, at whose expense had we come here?
At that of Stephen Somers who wished to proceed.

Lastly, to say nothing of the chance of meeting Brother John, to whom I felt no obligation since he had given us the slip at Durban, I did not like the idea of being beaten.

We had started out to visit some mysterious savages who worshipped a monkey and a flower, and we might as well go on till circumstances were too much for us.