The shooting of birds on the wing is a knack which seems to come naturally to some people, while others, practice as they will, never become good shots." The ship touched twice upon its way down to the Gaboon.

Once at the Malimba river, the second time at Botauga, the latter being the principal ivory port in equatorial Africa.
"Shall we meet with any elephants, do you think ?" Frank asked his friend.
"In all probability," Mr.Goodenough said.

"Elephant shooting, of course, does not come within our line of action, and I should not go at all out of my way for them.

Still, if we meet them we will shoot them.
The ivory is valuable and will help to pay our expenses, while the meat is much prized by the natives, who will gladly assist us in consideration of the flesh." On the sixteenth day after leaving Fernando Po they entered the Gaboon.
On the right hand bank were the fort and dwellings of the French.

A little farther up stood the English factories; and upon a green hill behind, the church, school, and houses of an American mission.