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Soon after this a caravan passed and gave the expedition news which renewed hope: A white man, old, white haired, and sick, had just arrived at Ujiji.

Stanley and his followers pushed on until they came in sight of Ujiji. Then the order was given to “unfurl the flags and load the guns.” Immediately the Stars and Stripes and the flag of Zanzibar were thrown to the breeze, and the report of fifty guns awakened the echoes. The noise startled the inhabitants of Ujiji. They came running in the direction of the sounds, and soon the expedition was surrounded by a crowd of friendly black men, who cried loudly, “YAMBO, YAMBO, BANA!” which signifies welcome.

“At this grand moment,” says Stanley, “we do not think of the hundreds of miles we have marched, of the hundreds of hills that we have ascended and descended, of the many forests we have traversed, of the jungle and thickets that annoyed us, of the fervid salt plains that blistered our feet, of the hot suns that scorched us, nor the dangers and difficulties now happily surmounted.

“At last the sublime hour has arrived!–our dreams, our hopes and anticipations are now about to be realized! Our hearts and our feelings are with our eyes, as we peer into the palms and try to make out in which hut or house lives the white man with the gray beard we heard about on the Malagarazi.”

When the uproar had ceased, a voice was heard saluting the leader of the expedition in English–“Good morning, sir.”

“Startled at hearing this greeting in the midst of such a crowd of black people,” says Stanley, “I turn sharply round in search of the man, and see him at my side, with the blackest of faces, but animated and joyous–a man dressed in a long white shirt, with a turban of American sheeting around his head, and I ask, ‘Who the mischief are you?’

“‘I am Susi, the servant of Dr. Livingstone,’ said he, smiling, and showing a gleaming row of teeth.

“‘What! Is Dr. Livingstone here?’

“‘Yes, sir.’

“‘In this village?’

“‘Yes, sir.’

“‘Are you sure?’

“‘Sure, sure, sir. Why, I leave him just now.’

“‘Susi, run, and tell the Doctor I am coming.'”

Susi ran like a madman to deliver the message. Stanley and his men followed more slowly. Soon they were gazing into the eyes of the man for news of whom the whole civilized world was waiting.

“My heart beat fast,” says Stanley, “but I must not let my face betray my emotions, lest it shall detract from the dignity of a white man appearing under such extraordinary circumstances.”

The young explorer longed to leap and shout for joy, but he controlled himself, and instead of embracing Livingstone as he would have liked to do, he grasped his hand, exclaiming, “I thank God, Doctor, that I have been permitted to see you.”

“I feel grateful that I am here to welcome you,” was the gentle reply.

All the dangers through which they had passed, all the privations they had endured were forgotten in the joy of this meeting. Doctor Livingstone’s years of toil and suspense, during which he had heard nothing from the outside world; Stanley’s awful experiences in the jungle, the fact that both men had almost exhausted their supplies; the terrors of open and hidden dangers from men and beasts, sickness, hope deferred, all were, for the moment, pushed out of mind. Later, each recounted his story to the other.

After a period of rest, the two joined forces and together explored and made plans for the future. Stanley tried to induce Livingstone to return with him. But in vain; the great missionary explorer would not lay down his work. He persevered, literally until death.

At last the hour of parting came. With the greatest reluctance Stanley gave his men the order, “Right about face.” With a silent farewell, a grasp of the hands, and a look into each other’s eyes which said more than words, the old man and the young man parted forever.