Page:Livingstone in Africa.djvu/126

Hark! the tranquillity of burning noon
A distant shot disturbs!—and now another!
Men rouse them—what is it? another shot!
It must be some approaching caravan.
Shall they awake the Master? Nay, he hears:
He is awake, and, listening, wonders too;
Hoping, and fearing; communing with God.
He sends his trusted servant to discover
Who is the leader of the caravan.
He has heard rumours of a white man near.
Who? can he be commissioned to relieve?
"'Tis only some pale trader after all!"
The messenger in breathless haste returns:
He has seen the leader of the coming band:
"It is a white man! and he seeks for thee,
My Master! he hath large supplies with him!"
But Livingstone can scarce believe for joy.
And yet what grateful accents from afar
Come faintly wafted on this Afric air?
A hearty ringing Anglo-Saxon cheer!
Renew'd by multitudinous followers,
Advancing down the forested hill-sides