Catherine Russell, lately of Colnabaichie, Scotland, came to the Congo in late 1887--shortly after the disappearance of her father. Dr. Alistair Russell, F.R.G.S., took an expedition up the Congo to the Djouma River early that year, intending to study a tribe of natives there; he never reached his destination, and by the end of the summer Catherine concocted a plan. As far as her brothers were concerned, she was visiting India with a lady friend, and tutoring children. In truth, she went to Africa to search for the vanished expedition, and hopefully rescue Dr. Russell before he fell prey to the evils and diseases of the African wilds.