Rejtő, Jenő: The three musketeers in Africa; Q 19045

2h forms the captain that the trio wanted to escape, taking a letter from the general to Morocco. The captain reads it, and then smiles disdainfully: this communication could have caused little harm to him. After he leaves, the Sultan tells them IZvastich had faked a letter last night: in it the writer just complained that he \v-as being held captive, and that there were irregularities at Igori -- the convicts having a good time of it, and the work being done by Africans, and he demanded an investigation. The Sultan, now enjoying the captain's trust 100 per cent, stays behind to keep guard over the lot. He provides for the escapees a large boat with provisions, the general has prepared for them a map which will help them find a relatively easy route through the Congo and into the Sahara. The party includes, as well as the three musketeers, Yvonne, Kvastich and Levin. /"The food they give you here is unfit for human consumption. In Hanson, they cooked bad food, but here they prepare good food -- badly, and that's killing me."/ The Sultan is going to escape by a narrow-gauge railway — to the south, carrying the general's letter with him. The six reach the far bank and proceed through the jungle. Hopkins produces the sealed letter: before parting, he stole it from the Sultan. On the way, they have to overcome many difficulties,