He was then naturally led to believe that there the fate of the prisoners would be decided, whether for the profit of the king of that district or for the benefit of some rich trader of the country.

We know that he was not mistaken.
Now, Dick Sand, being posted in the facts of modern geography, knew very exactly what is known of Kazounde.

The distance from Saint Paul de Loanda to this city does not exceed four hundred miles, and consequently two hundred and fifty miles, at the most, separates it from the camp established on the Coanza.

Dick Sand made his calculation approximately, taking the distance traveled by the little troop under Harris's lead as the base.

Now, under ordinary circumstances, this journey would only require from ten to twelve days.