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- float: left; - margin-right: 1em } - -.align-right { clear: right; - float: right; - margin-left: 1em } - -.align-center { margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto } - -div.shrinkwrap { display: table; } - -/* SECTIONS */ - -body { margin: 5% 10% 5% 10% } - -/* compact list items containing just one p */ -li p.pfirst { margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: 0 } - -.first { margin-top: 0 !important; - text-indent: 0 !important } -.last { margin-bottom: 0 !important } - -span.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.1em 0 0; line-height: 1 } -img.dropcap { float: left; margin: 0 0.5em 0 0; max-width: 25% } -span.dropspan { font-variant: small-caps } - -.no-page-break { page-break-before: avoid !important } - -/* PAGINATION */ - -@media screen { - .coverpage, .frontispiece, .titlepage, .verso, .dedication, .plainpage - { margin: 10% 0; } - - div.clearpage, div.cleardoublepage - { margin: 10% 0; border: none; border-top: 1px solid gray; } - - .vfill { margin: 5% 10% } -} - -@media print { - div.clearpage { page-break-before: always; padding-top: 10% } - div.cleardoublepage { page-break-before: right; padding-top: 10% } - - .vfill { margin-top: 20% } - h2.title { margin-top: 20% } -} - -</style> -<title>TOM BURNABY</title> -<meta name="PG.Rights" content="Public Domain" /> -<meta name="PG.Title" content="Tom Burnaby" /> -<meta name="PG.Producer" content="Al Haines" /> -<link rel="coverpage" href="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<meta name="DC.Creator" content="Herbert Strang" /> -<meta name="DC.Created" content="1922" /> -<meta name="PG.Id" content="42017" /> -<meta name="PG.Released" content="2013-02-04" /> -<meta name="DC.Language" content="en" /> -<meta name="DC.Title" content="Tom Burnaby A Story of Uganda and the Great Congo Forest" /> - -<link href="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" rel="schema.DCTERMS" /> -<link href="http://id.loc.gov/vocabulary/relators" rel="schema.MARCREL" /> -<meta content="Tom Burnaby A Story of Uganda and the Great Congo Forest" name="DCTERMS.title" /> -<meta content="tom.rst" name="DCTERMS.source" /> -<meta content="en" scheme="DCTERMS.RFC4646" name="DCTERMS.language" /> -<meta content="2013-02-04T23:08:33.445485+00:00" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.modified" /> -<meta content="Project Gutenberg" name="DCTERMS.publisher" /> -<meta content="Public Domain in the USA." name="DCTERMS.rights" /> -<link href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42017" rel="DCTERMS.isFormatOf" /> -<meta content="Herbert Strang" name="DCTERMS.creator" /> -<meta content="2013-02-04" scheme="DCTERMS.W3CDTF" name="DCTERMS.created" /> -<meta content="width=device-width" name="viewport" /> -<meta content="EpubMaker 0.3.20a5 by Marcello Perathoner <webmaster@gutenberg.org>" name="generator" /> -<style type="text/css"> -.pageno { position: absolute; right: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } -.pageno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } -.lineno { position: absolute; left: 95%; font: medium sans-serif; text-indent: 0 } -.lineno:after { color: gray; content: '[' attr(title) ']' } -.toc-pageref { float: right } -pre { font-family: monospace; font-size: 0.9em; white-space: pre-wrap } -</style> -</head> -<body> -<div class="document" id="tom-burnaby"> -<h1 class="center document-title level-1 pfirst title"><span class="x-large">TOM BURNABY</span></h1> - -<!-- this is the default PG-RST stylesheet --> -<!-- figure and image styles for non-image formats --> -<!-- default transition --> -<!-- default attribution --> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="clearpage"> -</div> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="align-None container language-en pgheader" id="pg-header" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the </span><a class="reference internal" href="#project-gutenberg-license">Project Gutenberg License</a><span> -included with this eBook or online at -</span><a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/license">http://www.gutenberg.org/license</a><span>.</span></p> -<p class="noindent pnext"></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<div class="align-None container" id="pg-machine-header"> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>Title: Tom Burnaby -<br /> A Story of Uganda and the Great Congo Forest -<br /> -<br />Author: Herbert Strang -<br /> -<br />Release Date: February 04, 2013 [EBook #42017] -<br /> -<br />Language: English -<br /> -<br />Character set encoding: UTF-8</span></p> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-start-line"><span>*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK </span><span>TOM BURNABY</span><span> ***</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst" id="pg-produced-by"><span>Produced by Al Haines.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span></span></p> -</div> -<div class="align-None container coverpage"> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 57%" id="figure-82"> -<span id="cover"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="Cover" src="images/img-cover.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">Cover</span></div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container frontispiece"> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 63%" id="figure-83"> -<span id="a-warm-reception"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="A Warm Reception. (See page 46.)" src="images/img-front.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">A Warm Reception. (See page </span><a class="italics reference internal" href="#id1">46</a><span class="italics">.)</span></div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container titlepage"> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="x-large">TOM BURNABY</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="large">A STORY OF -<br />UGANDA AND THE GREAT CONGO FOREST</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">BY</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="large">HERBERT STRANG</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">NEW EDITION</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="center line"><span>What good gift have my brothers, but it came</span></div> -<div class="center line"><span>From search and strife and loving sacrifice?</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="center line"><span>SIR EDWIN ARNOLD</span></div> -</div> -</div> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="medium">HUMPHREY MILFORD -<br />OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS -<br />LONDON, EDINBURGH, GLASGOW -<br />TORONTO, MELBOURNE, CAPE TOWN, BOMBAY</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<div class="align-None container verso"> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="small">REPRINTED 1922 IN GREAT BRITAIN -<br />BY MORRISON AND GIBB LTD., EDINBURGH</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><em class="italics">MY DEAR JACK,</em></p> -<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">Your birthday has come round again--and -here, with every good wish, is another book for -your shelf. No mailed knights this time; our story -is of the present day. Yet you shall find paynim -hordes as many and as fierce as you please; yes, and -chivalry itself, or I am much mistaken,--although we -may not spell it with a capital C. For it is a theory of -mine--"Old Uncle and his theories!" I hear you say!--that -the spirit of chivalry is as much alive to-day as -ever, and finds as free a scope. And if chivalry is, as -I take it to be, the championing of the weak and the -oppressed, no region of the world offers a wider field than -Central Africa, where there is still ample work for the -countrymen of Livingstone and Gordon. Some day, -perhaps, you may yourself visit that land, and come -back with as deep a sense of its glamour and pathos -as the rest of us. Meanwhile, since even at Harrow -the sky is not always clear, why not on some rainy -afternoon pack up your traps and transport yourself -in imagination to Uganda with Tom Burnaby? If you -return with a certain stock of information about the -land and its people--well, your old uncle will be all the -better pleased. Not, of course, that this trip should be -a reason for neglecting your football--or other duties!</em></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><em class="italics">Your affectionate uncle,</em></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><em class="italics">HERBERT STRANG.</em></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="large">Contents</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#kabambari">KABAMBARI</a></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER I</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#fitting-out-an-expedition">FITTING OUT AN EXPEDITION</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER II</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#mbutu">MBUTU</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER III</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#on-the-victoria-nyanza">ON THE VICTORIA NYANZA</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER IV</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#a-stern-chase">A STERN CHASE</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER V</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#a-long-march">A LONG MARCH</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER VI</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#unmasked">UNMASKED</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER VII</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#ambuscading-an-ambush">AMBUSCADING AN AMBUSH</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER VIII</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#in-the-toils">IN THE TOILS</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER IX</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#gone-away">GONE AWAY!</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER X</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-land-of-the-pigmies">THE LAND OF THE PIGMIES</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER XI</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-valley-of-the-shadow">THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER XII</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#big-medicine">BIG MEDICINE</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER XIII</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#blood-brotherhood">BLOOD-BROTHERHOOD</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER XIV</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-siege-of-barega-s">THE SIEGE OF BAREGA'S</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER XV</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#arms-and-the-man">ARMS AND THE MAN</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER XVI</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-making-of-an-army">THE MAKING OF AN ARMY</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER XVII</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#treachery">TREACHERY</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER XVIII</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-great-fight">THE GREAT FIGHT</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER XIX</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#tom-s-armada">TOM'S ARMADA</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>CHAPTER XX</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#an-end-and-a-beginning">AN END AND A BEGINNING</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#zanzibar">ZANZIBAR</a></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="large">Illustrations</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>PLATE I</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#a-warm-reception">A WARM RECEPTION</a><span> . . . . . . </span><em class="italics">Frontispiece</em></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>PLATE II</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#a-melee-in-the-forest">A MÊLÉE IN THE FOREST</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>PLATE III</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#tom-surprises-mabruki">TOM SURPRISES MABRUKI</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>PLATE IV</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#tom-in-the-breach">TOM IN THE BREACH</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>PLATE V</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-fight-on-the-lake">THE FIGHT ON THE LAKE</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 3em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="large">Plans</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>PLAN I</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-battle-of-imubinga">THE BATTLE OF IMUBINGA</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>PLAN II</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#barega-s-village-during-the-siege">BAREGA'S VILLAGE DURING THE SIEGE</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<dl class="docutils"> -<dt class="noindent"><span>PLAN III</span></dt> -<dd><p class="first last noindent pfirst"><a class="reference internal" href="#the-great-fight-by-the-swamp">THE GREAT FIGHT BY THE SWAMP</a></p> -</dd> -</dl> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst" id="kabambari"><em class="italics">A belt of matted woodland. At the edge, three Belgian officers, -in light uniform and white topee, lying prone, and peering -cautiously out through glasses. Before them, a wide clearing, with a -mud-walled town in the midst, and huge forest-trees beyond. Behind, -a few score stalwart Bangala, strewn panting on the ground. Over -all, the swarming sunlit haze of tropical Africa.</em></p> -<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">The gates stand open; peace reigns in Kabambari. But what -is peace in Kabambari? Some hundreds of negro slaves are tilling -sorghum in the cultivated tract outside the stockaded walls. Their -chains clank as they move heavily down the field, dogged by an -Arab overseer armed with rifle, scimitar, and whip. The pitiless -sun, scorching their bent backs, blackens the scars left by the more -pitiless scourge.</em></p> -<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">In the copse there is a whispered word of command; the negro -soldiers spring silently to their feet, line up as best the broken ground -permits, and then, at the heels of their white officers, charge out -into the sunlight. No yell nor cheer, as they dash towards the open -gate; the overseer, ere he can give the alarm, is bayoneted while his -finger is on the trigger; the slaves, listless, apathetic, have scarcely -time to realize their taskmaster's doom before the thin line has -swept past them and through the gates. Then there is a sudden -sharp crackle of musketry; cries of startled fear and savage triumph; -and by ones and twos and threes, turbaned figures pour out of the -far side of the town, a scanty remnant of the Arab garrison. One -by one they drop as they cross the open; only a few gain the shelter -of the forest. The heirs of Tippu Tib are broken and dispersed. -The struggle has been long, the issue doubtful; but now, after years -of stern fighting, the great Arab empire, founded upon murder, -rapine, and slavery, is scattered to the winds. One thing only is -wanting to make this last victory complete. Rumaliza, the Arab -commander, Tippu Tib's ablest lieutenant, has escaped the net. -Whether to live and build anew the dread fabric raised by his late -chief; or whether to die in the gloomy depths of the Great Forest by -starvation or disease, or by the poisoned arrow of the Bambute--who -can say?</em></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="fitting-out-an-expedition"><span class="large">CHAPTER I</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">Fitting Out an Expedition</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">The Major--A New Friend--By Rail to Uganda--Dr. O'Brien -Introduces Himself--The Major Orders a Retreat--Left Behind</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>A suit of boating flannels and a straw hat are no doubt -a convenient, cool, and comfortable outfit for a July day -on the Thames, but they fail miserably to meet the case on -an average hot morning in Central Africa. So Tom Burnaby -found as he walked slowly through Kisumu, stopping every -now and again to mop his face and wish he were well out -of it. If his dress had not betrayed him, his undisguised -interest in the scene would in itself have bespoken the -"griffin" to the most casual observer. The few Europeans -whom he met eyed him with looks half of amusement, half of -concern. One advanced as if to address him, then repented -of the impulse and passed on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly his attention was arrested by a noise ahead, -gradually increasing in intensity as he approached. "The -queerest noise you ever heard in your life," he wrote in a -letter to a chum at home. "Imagine some score of huge -ginger-beer bottles turned topsy-turvy and the fizz gurgling -out, with a glug, glug, glug, and a sort of gigantic fat chuckle -at the end,--then more glugging and chuckling, and chuckling -and glugging. I was wondering what it meant, when suddenly -I came to a huge shed, and then I saw the cause of all the -row. About a hundred natives, as black as your hat, their -skins shining like polished bronze, were working away at -baggage and packages of all sorts, rolling up canvas, packing -boxes and bales, tugging at ropes, and all the time jabbering -and cackling and laughing and glug-glugging like a cageful of -monkeys.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I stood still and watched them for a minute, and then -there was a sudden lull in the uproar, and I heard my old -uncle's voice for the first time. There he was, the dear old -chap, perched on a pile of ammunition-boxes, and the language -he was using was evidently so warm that it was a wonder the -whole show didn't blow up. I could only make out a word -here and there, most of it was double Dutch to me; but whatever -it was, it made those poor black fellows bustle for all they -were worth. Then in the middle of his address the old boy -suddenly caught sight of my unlucky self. You should have -seen the expression on his face! He stopped as if a live shell -had pitched into the shed; and--well, what happened then -must keep till our next meeting. I could never do justice to -the interview in a letter."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>To say that Major John Burnaby was surprised at the -sudden appearance of his nephew in Kisumu only feebly -expresses his state of mind. After a few seconds of speechlessness, -his feelings found vent in the deliberate exclamation:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well--I'm--hanged!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom stood in front of him, looking very warm. There was -another embarrassing silence.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do you mean by this?" were the major's next words.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I really couldn't help it, Uncle Jack."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Couldn't help it!" gasped the major.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh well, you know what I mean! I saw in the papers -that a column was going up to catch the beggars who killed -Captain Boyes, and that you had got the job. 'Uncle Jack,' -I thought, 'has got his chance at last, and I'm going to be -there.' And here I am!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I see you are! And you mean to say you have left your -work, thrown it all up, ruined your career, to come on a -wild-goose chase like this? You'll go home by the next boat, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't say that, Uncle. I know it's sudden, but you see -there was no time to lose. I couldn't write; I should never -have got your answer in time; and you surely couldn't expect -me to stop in a grimy engineering shop on the Clyde when my -only uncle had got his chance at last! I must see it through -with you, Uncle Jack."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Must! must!" repeated the major. "Tom, I'm surprised -at you--and annoyed, sir--seriously annoyed at your folly. -The absurdity of it all! You can't join the expedition. It's -against the regulations, for one thing; this is a soldier's job, -and civilians would only be in the way. Besides, you're not -seasoned; the climate would bowl you over in no time, and -you're too young to peg out comfortably. What's more, -you'd be no earthly use. Oh! I can't argue it with you," -pursued the major, as Tom was about to protest; "you're -demoralizing my men. Cut off to my bungalow, and keep -out of mischief till I have done with them. Then I shall -have something to say to you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom looked pleadingly for an instant into his uncle's face, -but finding no promise of relenting there, he turned slowly on -his heel and walked away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So much for that! I was half afraid I'd catch it," he said -to himself. "My word, isn't it hot!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Tom was only eighteen, but he had already had disappointments -enough, he thought, to last him a lifetime. Ever since -he could remember, he had set his heart on being a soldier like -his uncle Jack; but the sudden death of his father, a quiet -country parson, had left him with only a few hundreds for his -whole capital, and he had perforce to give up all ideas of going -to Sandhurst. At this critical moment an opening offered -itself in the works of an engineering firm on the Clyde, the -head of which was an old school chum of his uncle's. It was -Hobson's choice. He went to Glasgow, and there for a few -months felt utterly forlorn and miserable. Then he pulled -himself together, and began to take an interest even in -the grimy work of the fitting-shop. He worked well, went -through various departments, and was gaining experience in -the draughtsman's office when he read one day in the paper -that his uncle was appointed to the command of a punitive -expedition in the Uganda Protectorate. The news revived -his old yearnings; after one restless night he drew out enough -to pay his passage and buy an outfit, and booked himself on -the first P. and O. steamer for Suez.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Among his fellow-passengers the only one with whom he -had much to do was a plump German trader, who joined at -Gibraltar from a Hamburg liner. He amused Tom with his -outbursts of patriotic fervour, alternating with periods of -devotion to the interests of his firm. At one moment he -was soaring aloft with the German eagle; at the next he was -quoting his best price for pig-iron. Tom found him useful -to practise his German on. He had always had a turn for -languages; indeed, his only distinctions at school, besides his -being the best bat in the eleven and a safe man in goal, -were won in German and French. Naturally, he soon scraped -acquaintance also with the chief engineer, and the pleasantest -hours of the voyage out were those he spent in the engine-room, -where he showed an unusually intelligent interest in -the details of the machinery. He changed ship at Suez, and -was heartily glad when, on awaking one morning, he caught -sight of the white houses of Mombasa gleaming amid the -dark-green bush.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The first thing he did on landing was to enquire the whereabouts -of the expedition. He learned that it was fitting out -at Kisumu, six hundred miles inland, on the shore of the -Victoria Nyanza, and that he could reach the terminus at Port -Florence by railway in two days. There being no train till -next morning, he swallowed his impatience and roamed about -the town. Amid the usual signs of Arab ruin and neglect he -saw evidences of a new life and activity. He could not but -admire the splendid harbour, in which a couple of British -cruisers were lying at anchor; he climbed up to the old -dismantled Portuguese fort, and examined every nook and cranny -of it; he strolled about through the narrow, twisted streets, -finding much to interest him at every step--grave Arab -booth-keepers, sleek and wily Persians, lank Indian coolies, and -negroes of every race and size in every variety of undress.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He put up for the night at the Grand Hotel. At dinner he -was faced by an elderly gentleman with ruddy cheeks, side -whiskers, and a shiny pate, who gave him a casual glance, but, -with the Englishman's usual taciturnity, for some time said -nothing. When, however, he had comfortably settled his -soup, the old gentleman held his glass of claret to the light, -looked at Tom over the rims of his spectacles, and said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just out, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes; I landed this morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"H'm! Government appointment, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well no, not exactly. The fact is, I've come out to see -my uncle."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"H'm! Many boys do; hard up, I suppose," said the old -gentleman under his breath. "Name, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Burnaby--Tom Burnaby. My uncle is Major Burnaby of -the Guides."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Might have known it, h'm! you're as like as two tom-cats. -Jack Burnaby's a fine fellow, sir; I know him. Fine country -this. We made it a fine country. Ain't you proud to be an -Englishman? 'Tis four hundred years or so since Vasco da -Gama--heard of him, I suppose?--came ashore here on his -famous voyage to India. To be exact, it was the year 1497. -It was a fine place then; did a fine trade, sir. He didn't get -backed up. No stamina in those Portuguese. Suffer from -jumps, don't you know. Arabs got in; consequence, rack and -ruin. Decay, sir; dry rot and mildew. We stepped in -somewhere in the twenties, and then--stepped out again. Stupid! -Now we've got our foot in, and begad we won't lift it again, -or I don't know Joe Chamberlain. I know him. H'm!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The old fellow's short snaps of sentences, and the little -gasps he gave at intervals, rather tickled Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," he continued, "the Sultan of Zanzibar in 1888 -ceded it provisionally to the British East Africa Company. -They were made definite masters of the place two years -later, and also put in possession of a vast tract of country -extending four hundred miles along the coast. H'm!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At this Tom began to fear that he was in for a lecture, but -he was reassured the next moment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jack Burnaby's at Kisumu, six hundred miles up the line. -There's a fine thing for you, now--this railway. Suppose -you are going up to-morrow? We're coming on next week. -Well, a word of advice, h'm! Don't go third-class. Nobody -goes third-class. Blacks, you know--and lions. A lion -boarded the train the other day, and swallowed two niggers -in a winking. Strong-flavoured meat, h'm! Lions never -touch first-class passengers--never tackled me! Well, I'll -be glad to see Jack Burnaby again. He'll remember Ted -Barkworth; yes, begad, and our little diversion in Tokio in -95. Now, sir, will you come and smoke a cigar with me? -Don't smoke? Well, well, none the worse for it, at present, -h'm! See you on the veranda, no doubt."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Barkworth went off to the smoking-room. As Tom -got up, he noticed a red-covered book lying on the chair next -to the one occupied by his talkative neighbour. He picked it -up, intending to give it to one of the waiters, and casually -turned over the leaves. The book opened rather easily at -one place, and Tom, glancing at the page, saw: "The Sultan -of Zanzibar in 1888 ceded it provisionally to the British East -Africa Company. They were made definite masters of the -place two years later, and also--" He read no farther; he -had just recognized the passage which Mr. Barkworth had -reeled off so glibly, and was chuckling at having discovered -the source of the old man's information, when his glee was -checked by a pleasant voice at his elbow saying:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Excuse me, but have you seen a red-covered guide-book, -left on one of the chairs?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom straightened his face, and, turning, saw a pretty girl -of some seventeen summers, looking very dainty and -bewitching in her plain white frock. He closed the book, -and held it out without a word.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, thank you!" said the girl. "Poor Father is always -so careless."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And with a smile she flitted out of the room.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Later in the evening, when Tom strolled on to the veranda, -Mr. Barkworth came up to him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"H'm! come and let me introduce you to my daughter, -sir. Lilian, Mr. Burnaby, nephew of my old friend Major Jack."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Lilian Barkworth gave Tom a friendly little nod and smile -of recognition.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My daughter, you know, Mr. Burnaby, wants to see the -world--very restless, h'm! keeps her poor old father -constantly on the trot. Two days in one place, then off we go: -here to-day and gone to-morrow, h'm! But there's the -admiral, I see--I know him; I must go and say how d'e do. -Lilian, you may talk to Mr. Burnaby till nine o'clock. See -you again, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he had gone over to speak to the admiral, Tom and -Miss Barkworth looked at each other and smiled.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dear old Father! How deluded he is!" she said. "He -firmly believes he scours the world for my benefit. I wouldn't -undeceive him, but really, Mr. Burnaby, I would much rather -live a quieter life. Now tell me, did he quote the guidebook?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, he did give me some historical information--"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! I thought so. I fancied you were smiling when you -had the book in your hand. But he'll forget it all by -to-morrow; he gets it up in five minutes and loses it in ten."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Here to-day and gone to-morrow," suggested Tom, and -the little quotation put them on good terms with each other, -so that Tom was surprised to find how quickly the evening -had flown when Miss Barkworth by and by held out her -hand and said that her time allowance had expired.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He left Mombasa next morning before the Barkworths -appeared. The journey on the single line of the Uganda -railway was full of interest to him, impatient as he was to -arrive at his destination. The train passed through some -of the most wonderful scenery to be found anywhere on the -face of the globe. Here were huge boulders, poised as though -by some giant's hand, and the craters of long-extinct -volcanoes; there, long stretches of open country, skirted by -dense forests of acacias, banana-trees, and other tropical -vegetation. Gazelles, giraffes, zebras, hartebeest sported in herds -over the green plains; an occasional baboon was seen squatting -on a branch; and here and there, by some lake or riverside, -hippopotamuses and rhinoceroses wallowed and revelled in the -shallows. Amid these signs of wild life appeared at intervals -the straw huts of a native village; or a shanty, roofed with -corrugated iron, marked the coming of civilization and trade: -and then, towering high into the sky, rose the gigantic -snow-capped form of Mount Kilimanjaro. The long journey came -to an end at last, and Tom found his uncle--only to meet -with sore disappointment, as already related.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>He was still feeling rather downhearted as he walked towards -Port Florence in the sweltering heat. It was by this time -mid-afternoon, and every discreet person was indulging in siesta -in the shade. Tom met no one but a few natives, dressed in -little but hippo teeth and bead necklaces, and he was -wondering how to find his way to the major's bungalow when his -ear was caught by unmistakeable cries of pain. Turning a -corner he saw a young black-follow writhing in the grip of -a European in light but dirty attire, who held his victim by -his woolly hair, and was belabouring his bare back with a whip -of rhinoceros hide.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hi, you there? stop that!" cried Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man looked up sharply, gave the interrupter one scowling -glance; and, seeing only a stripling, laid on again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"D'you hear? Stop that!" shouted Tom, hurrying along -till he came within arm's-length of the bully. "Drop that -whip, or I'll knock you down."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man, apparently a Portuguese of the low type that -Portugal sends to her colonies, stared at him, spat out a -curse, and raised his whip to strike again. That instant -Tom's right arm shot out straight from the shoulder, and -before the cruel thong could descend again, the brute found -himself lying on his back in a pool of green mud. By the -time he had picked himself up the negro had slipped away, -and soon put enough ground between himself and his tormentor -to make pursuit hopeless. Quivering with passion the man -drew a knife from his belt and glared menacingly at Tom, -who stood with hot brow and clenched fists ready to repeat -the blow. But the sound of the altercation had drawn a few -spectators to the spot, and, fearing the sure hand of British -justice, the discomfited Portuguese furtively replaced his knife, -and, with another ferocious look at Tom, slunk away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Fery goot, fery goot, my young friend," said a voice -near Tom; "but you hafe soon forgot vun of my advice-vords."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, it's you, is it, Herr Schwab?" said Tom, turning and -recognizing his fellow-passenger on the steamer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, it is me," replied the German. "Vat hafe I said? -I hafe said: Before all zings, step never in betveen ze native -and ze vite man. Ze native are all bad lot, as you say. -Now you hafe vun enemy, my young friend."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, that's all right! You couldn't expect me to look -on and see that murderous brute ill-using the poor wretch?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The German shrugged.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Black is black, and business are business. Kindness all -fery goot, courage equally all fery goot, but you should -hafe--vat you call tact."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tact! Tuts! An ounce of common-sense to begin with," -broke in another voice. "Where did you get that fool of -a hat? Come along, come along."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom felt a firm hand on his sleeve, and, too much surprised -to resist, he allowed himself to be dragged along by the -new-comer, who did not stop till they reached the water's edge. -There he stooped down and plucked a couple of large green -leaves from a strange plant, and a moment later Tom found -them flapping about his ears beneath his hat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There, now you'll do," said his captor. "The idea of -coming out and practising boxing under an African sun in -a three-and-sixpenny straw hat! Sure an' if I hadn't met -you you would have been food for jackals in twelve hours. -Thank your stars you were taken in hand by Dr. Corney -O'Brien. And now, who are you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The little man with the keen gray eyes and pleasant mouth -looked up at Tom and frowned.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A Burnaby, by the powers! And I never knew the -major had a family. Ah, but you're a Burnaby, plain enough, -whatever they christened ye--Tom, Dick, or Harry!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Right first shot, Doctor," said Tom with a smile. "I'm -Tom Burnaby, at your service. Will you be good enough to -direct me to my uncle's bungalow?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Will I? Indeed I will. Come along."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Talking all the time, the little doctor led Tom in the -direction of Port Florence. A few minutes' walking brought them -to the major's bungalow, a one-story building of wood, raised -a few inches from the ground, with a neatly-thatched roof -overhanging a sort of veranda. Tom was soon stretching -his legs luxuriously in one of his uncle's comfortable chairs, -and scanning the walls hung with small-arms, hunting trophies, -and a few choice engravings.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah, this is nice!" he said. "Can I have a drink, Doctor?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To be sure. What'll you have? Your uncle's burgundy is -good. I can recommend it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Really, a drink of water would do me best just now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well. Here, Saladin, cold water."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The major-domo, a tall muscular Musoga, appeared with a -carafe of sparkling water.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Lucky you're this side of the counthry," the doctor went -on. "For ten years, d'ye know, I never wance touched water. -'Twas in Ould Calabar, where most of the dry land is swamp, -and the rest mud, and the rule is, drink and die. But what -are ye doing out here, my bhoy?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom told his story, the doctor breaking in every now and -then with sympathetic little ejaculations.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Tis hard luck; to be sure it is," he said, when Tom had -told him of his uncle's blunt refusal to allow him to -accompany the expedition. "But the major's right, you know, and -I couldn't venture any attempt to persuade'm. We call'm -Ould Blazes, you see."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I couldn't ask you to, Doctor. I've come on a fool's -errand, and have only myself to blame. I must just make -the best of it. What is to be is to be."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's right, now. And sure here's the major himself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pf! pf!" blew Major Burnaby, as he entered the room. -"Glad that's over for the day at any rate. You've got the -young scamp in hand, I see, Corney. Tom, untwizzle that -ringer; I must tub before I do anything else."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom looked up to where his uncle was pointing, above his -head, and saw the wire of an electric bell twisted round a -bracket on the wall. He got up and pressed the button, and -the major-domo appeared.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tub, Saladin," said the major. "And look here, this is -my nephew; put him up a bed and do him well."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, sah! all same for one," returned the negro -cheerfully.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In a few moments the major could be heard splashing and -gasping in the next room, and ere long he returned in mufti, -looking cool and comfortable in a suit of white ducks and -a silk cummerbund. He asked the doctor to stay to dinner, -and Tom sat listening eagerly to his seniors' conversation, and -admiring his uncle's thorough grasp of even the minutest -details of the expedition.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was to set out, he learned, in three or four days' time, -some three hundred and fifty strong, from Port Florence, and -was to cross the Nyanza in steam launches. The only -Europeans besides the major and Dr. O'Brien were Captain Lister -and a subaltern, the non-commissioned officers being trustworthy -Soudanese. Their objective was the village of a petty -chief, about a hundred and fifty miles west of the Nyanza, -who had revolted against British authority, and in concert -with the remnants of an old Arab slave-dealing gang had -raided his more peaceful neighbours. In the course of -subsequent proceedings he had treacherously killed a British officer, -and a punitive expedition became inevitable. The greater -part of the military forces of the Protectorate were engaged -in police work on the north-eastern frontier; but they were -hastily recalled, and within a month, thanks to Major -Burnaby's energy, the punitive column was ready to start. The -stores for the expedition were collected at rail-head, and the -major had been very busy day and night in getting them up -from the coast, and seeing that everything possible, to the -smallest detail, was done to secure the safety and success of -the column.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After the doctor had gone, the major sat for some minutes -silently puffing his pipe, while Tom nervously turned over the -leaves of a month-old copy of the Times. At length the major -laid down his pipe, cleared his throat, and began:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look here, Tom, few words are best. I suppose you -realize by this time that you did a very foolish thing in -coming out. What's more, it was a very inconsiderate thing. -Here am I, with my hands full, toiling day and night to -straighten things out,--and you must come and complicate -matters just as I'm driving in the last peg, and without a -moment's warning; in fact, making an attempt to force my -hand! It was silly, it was wrong, to say nothing of the waste -of time when you ought to be working at your profession, and -the waste of money which you know as well as I do you can't -afford. There'd be a glimmer of excuse, perhaps, if I could -make any use of you, and I'd stretch a point to do so; but it's -entirely out of the question. I can't find any reason, not even -a pretence of one, for bringing you in. There is really nothing -for you to do. So there is no help for it, and, as you can't -possibly stay here, and are bound to go back, you may as well -go at once. If you really and seriously think of choosing -Africa for your career, there'll be plenty of time to talk about -that when you've finished your training; and we can go into -it when I get home."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The major relit his pipe, and hid his sympathetic features -behind a cloud of smoke. After a moment Tom said quietly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm sorry, Uncle. I didn't see it from that point of view. -I was an ass. I'll go home and do my best."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's right, my boy," said the major heartily. "It's no -good crying over spilt milk. I was young myself once; we all -have to buy our experience, and 'pon my word I think you're -getting yours pretty cheap after all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He rose from his chair, and put his hand kindly on Tom's -shoulder. "I'm going to turn in," he added; "have to be up -at dawn. Call Saladin if you want anything. Good-night!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>During the next few days Tom almost forgot his disappointment, -so much was he interested in watching the final -preparations. There were boxes and bales everywhere. Empty -kerosene cans were shipped on the launches, to be filled with -water when the force began its land march. Boxes of -ammunition, tin-lined biscuit-boxes of provisions, a tent or two for -the officers, canvas bags and smaller cases for the medical -stores, were carried on board on the backs of stalwart negroes, -and all their friends and neighbours crowded around, gesticulating -frantically in their excitement. It was all so novel that -Tom had scarcely a minute to reflect on his hard luck; and, -indeed, so far from sulking, he sought every opportunity of -making himself useful, and was well pleased when he chanced -to overhear his uncle one evening say to Dr. O'Brien:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Pon my word, Corney, I'm sorry we can't take the boy. -I like his spirit. He's willing to turn his hand to anything, -and has relieved me of quite a number of odd jobs during the -past few days. But I don't see how we can possibly take him, -and in any case he will be better at home."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The last day came. It was a fine Thursday in May. There -was a crispness in the air that set the pulses beating faster -and made life seem worth living indeed. Everything was -done. The stores were well stowed on board, the fighting-men -and carriers had answered the roll-call, and the major, -with a final survey, had assured himself that nothing had been -overlooked. The launches had been getting up steam for an -hour or more, and the officers, having seen their men on -board, were standing on the quay to take a farewell of the -little group of Europeans assembled to wish them God-speed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The whole population of the place seemed to have gathered -to witness the start. Arabs in their long garments, turbaned -Indians, and more or less naked negroes were mingled in -one dense mass along the shore. Some of the natives had -donned their best finery for the occasion. One old fellow -appeared in a battered chimney-pot hat and a tattered shirt -that reached his knees, with a red umbrella tucked under his -arm. Others displayed plush jackets of vivid hue, and wore -coral charms and bracelets round their necks and arms. -Women with little brown babies filled the air with their -babblement, and the noise was diversified now and then by -the squealing grunt of camels and the whinnying of mules.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom was the last to grasp his uncle's hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-bye, Uncle!" he said. "Good luck to you!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-bye, my boy! Sorry you aren't with us. But cheer -up; please God, we'll have a good time together yet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the gangway was removed, and, amid British cheers -and African whoops, the launches puffed and snorted and -glided away over the brownish waters of the great lake.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom heaved a sigh as he turned away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, well, that's over," said Mr. Barkworth, walking -with Lilian by his side. "We haven't seen much of you, sir, -since we came up on Monday. Never fear, your uncle will -pull it off. I remember, now, at Calcutta, a year or two ago, -he said to me: 'Barkworth, I'm going downhill fast. Here -am I at forty-six the wretchedest dog in the service, with -nothing but half-pay and idleness in front of me.' 'Cheer up,' -said I, 'you'll get your chance. There is a tide in the affairs -of men, you know. You'll be a K.C.B. yet.' I knew it, h'm!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'd give anything to have gone too," said Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Lilian looked amazed and shocked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, Mr. Burnaby, you might get killed!" she said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom laughed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'd chance that. Besides, I might not. Anyhow, it's -better to be killed striking a blow for England than to peg -out with pneumonia in a four-poster, or die of a brick off -a chimney."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Fiddlesticks!" said Mr. Barkworth. "Pure fudge! Gordon -said something of the same sort to me once; I knew him--a -sort of forty-eleventh cousin. 'Barkworth,' he said, 'Heaven -is as near the hot desert as the cool church at home.' Now -I'm what they call a globe-trotter, through this restless girl of -mine here, and I tell you that when my time comes I shan't -rest comfortably unless I'm laid in the old churchyard at -home. H'm! But this won't do. We aren't skull and -crossbones yet. Come and dine with us to-night, Mr. Burnaby; -seven sharp; you'll meet a padre too; one of the White -Fathers, you understand. Knows every inch of the country, -and speaks the language like a native--only better. Lilian -stayed for a year with some friends of his in France, and we -brought out a letter of introduction. A fine fellow, this -White Father--no white feather about him, ha! ha! You -take me, eh! Well, then, we'll see you at seven. Mind -you--seven sharp!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="mbutu"><span class="large">CHAPTER II</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">Mbutu</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">Mbutu--Hatching a Plot--The Padre--A Consultation</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The sun had set, and Tom was sitting in his uncle's bungalow, -ruminating. He had changed his clothes in preparation for -dining with Mr. Barkworth; but there was still nearly an -hour to spare, so he sat back in his chair with his hands -in his pockets and stared at his toes. In a few more hours -he would be jolting down to Mombasa. There was no -getting over that. He pictured his uncle penetrating the -forest at the head of his men; the cautious advance; the -first sight of the enemy. He heard in imagination the rattle -of musketry, and the major's ringing voice giving orders and -cheering the combatants. And while these stirring events -were in progress, he himself was to be condemned to -inactivity on a passenger steamer! Tom was hit harder than -he had believed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sitting brooding on these things, and feeling the reaction -doubly after the excitement of the past few days, he suddenly -became fully conscious of a sensation that had for some time -been creeping over him unawares. He felt that he was not -alone, that someone was looking at him. There was no one -with him in the room, he knew; no one in the bungalow even, -except the grave, silent Indian servant, who was the only -member of the household left behind.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Rummy feeling this," said Tom to himself, pinching -himself to make sure that he was awake. He jumped up and -switched on the electric-light, and in the first flash thought he -saw a black face pressed against the narrow window-panes. -Instantly he ran to the door, flung it open, and returned in a -moment with a woolly-pated black boy in his grasp. Gripping -him firmly with one hand, he locked and bolted the door with -the other, then loosed his hold and stood with arms akimbo.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now then, who are you? What does this mean?" he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boy stuck his arms akimbo in imitation of Tom, grinned, -and chortled rather than said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Me run away!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh indeed! Run away, have you? And where from, -may I ask?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Me Mbutu, sah! Mbutu servant dago man; sah knock him -down; me no go back--no, no; me hide; now me heah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He chortled again with a childish air of satisfaction which -made Tom smile.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh! So you're the beggar I saved from the whip, are -you? Well, my boy, I'm very glad to have helped you; but -really I don't see what more I can do for you. Hungry, eh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, no."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, then, what do you want?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Me and you, sah; you me fader and mudder, sah; all -same for one; me stop, long stop."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, come! it's kind of you to say so, but I'm off to -Mombasa to-morrow, and then home--over the big water, you -understand. Don't want to adopt anyone yet, and can't -afford a tiger."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boy's face fell. Then he clasped his hands and poured -out a rapid torrent of the queerest English, evidently an -account of his career. Tom made out that he belonged to -an ancient Bahima tribe, and was the son of a chief whose -village had been raided by Arabs, all his people being killed -or carried off as slaves. The boy himself, after two years of -captivity, had escaped, through a series of lucky accidents, to -British territory, and had since been more or less of an -Ishmael, picking up a precarious living in doing odd jobs -about the European bungalows. His last master had treated -him with a brutality that recalled his years of captivity with -the Arab slavers. Tom's short way with the bully had won -the boy's unbounded admiration and gratitude. He had -remained in hiding until he knew that the Portuguese had -taken his departure, and then had felt that he could not do -better than attach himself to his benefactor.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Such was his story, told disconnectedly, the English pieced -out with occasional phrases in Swahili, the </span><em class="italics">lingua franca</em><span> of -Eastern and Central Africa. Through all the narrative there -was a convincing note of reality. The boy pleaded to be -allowed to serve Tom for the rest of his life till, as he said, -the "long night" came. He would not ask for wages, he -could live on anything--nothing; and he flung himself down -at Tom's feet, imploring him not to drive him away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Poor chap!" said Tom. "Sorry for you, but what can I -do? My uncle wouldn't have me, or I might have made some -use of you. And there's no chance now; he's away with the -expedition to Ankori."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu's eyes opened to their fullest extent.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sah him uncle!" he cried.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He looked puzzled and anxious, and yet seemed to hesitate.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, what is it?" asked Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sah him uncle!" repeated the boy; and then, to Tom's -amazement, he rattled off a story of how, some ten days -before, he had overheard a conversation between his late -master and the interpreter to the expedition.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Palaver man bad man, sah. Much bad. Talk bad things. -Say black man hide; white man walk so." He took a pace or -two with head erect, eyes looking straight ahead, and arms -straight down his thighs. "White man no see not much; -bang! soosh! white man all dead."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Everything he said was illustrated with many strange pantomimic -gestures, and Tom was at first puzzled what to make of -it all. Then he set himself patiently to question the boy, using -the simplest words, and from his answers he put together, -bit by bit, a most astonishing story. About a fortnight -before, the Portuguese had come with Mbutu from the forest -west of the Nyanza, accompanied by an Arab, and had taken -up his quarters in a small bungalow not far from rail-head. -He was in and out all day, engaged in some mysterious -business which the boy had never succeeded in fathoming, -while the Arab had disappeared on their arrival in Kisumu. -One hot night Mbutu, feeling restless and unable to sleep, -went outside the bungalow with a pipe of his master's which -he intended to smoke. He was fumbling in his loin-cloth for -a match, when he saw a figure slinking cautiously towards -him. His movements were so stealthy and furtive that -Mbutu's curiosity was at once aroused. Unfortunately for the -stranger, who clearly wished to escape observation, the moon -was high, and Mbutu, concealed by a friendly post in the -compound, watched him steal up to the bungalow, enter -quietly, and shut the door. The boy, avoiding the patches of -moonlight, crept round the veranda with the noiselessness of a -cat till he came to a half-open window. A lamp was burning -in the room, throwing a long beam of light into the darkness -without, and in skirting this bright zone the boy tripped over -an empty wooden crate from which the cook obtained his -supply of firewood. The impact of Mbutu's shins against the -sharp edges of the crate set the thing creaking, but the noise -was drowned by the yelp of a jackal in a nullah hard by, and -after a few moments of anxious suspense Mbutu breathed -again. He peeped cautiously round the edge of the window. -The room was empty, but as the light had not been removed -Mbutu concluded that his master would soon return. This -proved to be the case, for in less than a minute the Portuguese -appeared, moved quickly to the window, and lifted the iron -rod as though to close it. But the night was so hot that he -changed his mind, comfort prevailing over caution. He left -the window as it was, and simply lowered the blind. Then, -turning to the door, he beckoned his visitor into the room. A -thin beam of light still filtered between the bottom of the -blind and the window-sill, and Mbutu's sharp eyes noticed -that the sill was wide, projecting some inches from the wall. -He saw that under this he could lie without fear of detection, -and probably hear all that passed inside. So he crept beneath -the shelter of the sill, and strained his quick ears.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For a time he could make out little of what the two men -were saying. Then their voices rose, they became "much -jolly", as he said, after the Portuguese had produced a flask -of his own special brandy, and Mbutu heard every word -distinctly. They were discussing a plan concerted between -them during the journey to Kisumu, and congratulating each -other on its success. The Arab, apparently, was connected -with the chief against whom the punitive expedition was -directed, and the dago having reasons of his own for desiring -its failure, they had put their heads together. The result of -their scheming was that the Arab had somehow got himself -recommended to Captain Lister, the intelligence-officer of the -expedition, as interpreter and guide, his real intention being -to lead it into an ambush, cunningly devised between the -chief and the Portuguese. The European officers were to be -killed by picked marksmen in the first moments of confusion -and the plotters hoped to lay their trap so carefully that not -a soul would escape. What his master's motives were Mbutu -had been unable to discover, though he had heard a mysterious -reference to a store of ivory and a run of slaves. After a -time the "special brandy" began to take effect, and both the -men fell asleep. The light went out, and Mbutu stole away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom only pieced this together by degrees. When the -meaning of it all was clear to him, he gave a long whistle and -stood staring at the black boy. Suddenly a suspicion flashed -across his mind as he remembered what he had read of the -imaginativeness of the African native and his genius for -inventing fairy tales.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're not making this up?" he said sternly. "Why -didn't you tell all this before the expedition started?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu spread out his hands.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What for good?" he said. "Me tell? White man say -'Bosh! Liar! Get out!'" He shook his fist and lifted his -foot with the accuracy of long experience. "Mbutu no lub -kiboko. White man all same for one."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He pointed expressively to the scars and weals left on his -shoulders by his recent thrashings with the kiboko.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then why have you told me now?" demanded Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boy for a few instants looked puzzled; then his -features expanded in a cheerful smile as he said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No kiboko heah, sah! Sah little son of big sah! Sah -Mbutu him fader and mudder!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom could doubt no longer; truth spoke in every line and -dimple of the boy's earnest face. But what was he to do? -Glancing at the carriage clock on the mantel-piece, he saw that -it wanted only ten minutes of seven, the hour fixed by -Mr. Barkworth for dinner. He wondered if he had better consult -his new friend, for whom he had already begun to entertain -warm feelings of regard. Calling the major's Indian servant, -he gave the boy into his hands with instructions to keep a -sharp eye on him, and hurried off, his brain in a whirl.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah, here you are, then!" said Mr. Barkworth, coming -forward as Tom entered the bungalow, and laying a friendly -hand on his shoulder. "Punctuality, now; that's a fine thing. -The padre came a moment ago. I'll introduce you, h'm!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He turned and led the way into an inner room, where Tom -saw a figure that would have commanded attention in any -company. It was that of a tall man of about fifty years, with -clean-cut features of olive hue, mobile lips with the fine curves -of a Roman orator's, and grayish hair falling back in flowing -lines from his temples. He was dressed in the simple white -robe of an Arab, with no ornament save a small gold cross -pendent on his breast. The simplicity of his attire served -only to heighten the natural dignity of his bearing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"H'm! Mossoo--Mossoo-- Now, what on earth's the -French for Thomas! Mossoo Tom Burnaby, Père Chevasse. -And a fine fellow, sir," he added to Tom, </span><em class="italics">sotto voce</em><span>.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The missionary smiled as he shook hands.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have seen you already," he said in French. "I was a -spectator the other day of that little scene, Mr. Burnaby, -when you played the part of Good Samaritan."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah!" said Mr. Barkworth, catching the phrase. "Who's -been falling among thieves, padre?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The missionary briefly told the story of Tom's summary -treatment of the Portuguese, and though Mr. Barkworth's -French was decidedly shaky, he made out a few leading words -here and there, and got a tolerable grasp of the incident.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well now, I call that fine," he said; "Rule Britannia, and -all that sort of thing, you know. And what became of the -black boy? I warrant, now, he never even said thank you. -No gratitude in these natives; I know 'em."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom was on the point of confuting Mr. Barkworth with the -best of evidence, but Lilian's entrance checked the words as -they rose to his lips, and by the time they were seated at the -dinner-table his host's volatile mind was occupied with other -matters.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Looking back on this dinner afterwards, Tom wondered -how he managed to get through it without breaking down. -He listened to the quiet, mellow voice of the missionary, and -envied the fluency of Lilian's French; he smiled inwardly at -Mr. Barkworth's desperate efforts to follow the conversation, -and good-humoured laughter at his own mishaps; he even -made his own modest contribution, and, after the first moments -of diffidence, was put quite at his ease by the Frenchman's -perfect courtesy. And yet, all the time, through all the talk, he -felt one sentence dinning and throbbing in his head: "What -am I to do? What am I to do?" He imagined his uncle in -the depth of the forest, fighting for dear life amid a horde of -savage blacks, and overborne at the last by sheer weight of -numbers! A cold thrill shot through him, and he started, to -answer haphazard some remark from Lilian or the missionary, -not knowing what he said. Once or twice Lilian looked at -him enquiringly, wondering at his strange absent-mindedness, -and then he collected himself with an effort and tried to -appear unconcerned.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After dinner Mr. Barkworth settled himself in an easy-chair -and lit a cigar, and while the others sat chatting together he -dropped asleep. The missionary gave his listeners an account -of the work of the White Fathers' mission to which he -belonged, and chanced to mention an incident that had occurred -among a Bahima tribe. Bahima! That was the name of the -race to which Mbutu belonged. Tom knew that his time was -come. Speaking as quietly as his excitement allowed, he told -Mbutu's story. The missionary looked incredulous; Lilian's -fair cheeks paled, and she cried:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, what a wicked, wicked thing!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Eh? What?" said Mr. Barkworth, waking with a start. -"As I was saying, these natives never show any gratitude. -Now I remember a case when I was in Trinidad. An -overseer there--"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Lilian had seated herself at her father's feet, and laid -her hand on his knee.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Father," she said, "Mr. Burnaby has some strange and -terrible news to tell you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"God bless my soul, you don't say so! What in the world -has happened?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. Barkworth," said Tom, "the boy I saved from the -Portuguese came to me to-day and told me of a diabolical plot -between his master and the dragoman of the expedition to lead -my uncle into a trap. What can be done to warn him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What! What! Ambush Jack Burnaby! Ridiculous nonsense! -Never heard of such a thing. More like a bit out of -Henty than a real thing. H'm! Come now, what did the -young rascal say?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom repeated the story, giving, as nearly as he could, the -minutest details told him by Mbutu.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Barkworth took out his handkerchief and blew his nose. -"H'm! Cock-and-bull story altogether. I know these -natives. Taradiddles, sir!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But why doubt the boy, sir? His story was so -circumstantial, and he looked so earnest and truthful."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"H'm! What do you say about it, mossoo?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is extraordinary, certainly," replied the Frenchman. -"Could we not send for the boy? He would not try any -tricks with me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Right! we'll have the boy. Fine thing--a knowledge of -their gibberish. Hi, you there! Go down at once to Major -Burnaby's bungalow and bring back the black boy there. -Clutch him by the hair or he'll wriggle away. I know them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One of the servants disappeared, and soon returned with -Mbutu. The boy had been waked out of a sound sleep, and -looked rather scared, but a few words in his own tongue from -the missionary soon put him at ease, and he answered all his -questions readily. After a searching examination Father -Chevasse turned to Mr. Barkworth, saying:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The boy's story is consistent in every part. I think he -is telling the truth."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, you ought to know, padre. What's to be done, -then? We can't let a fine fellow like Jack Burnaby be snuffed -out by a parcel of heathens. Suppose we tell the man in -charge here--Captain Beaumont, isn't it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Little use, I am afraid. Captain Beaumont doesn't understand -the natives; and I fear he would scoff at Mbutu's story -and refuse to believe it. The boy has an animus against the -dago, you see."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why couldn't I go after the expedition myself along with -Mbutu?" broke in Tom eagerly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Barkworth looked dubiously at him, as though he half -suspected for an instant that the story was got up for the -occasion. But a glance at the young fellow's anxious face -made him repent at once. He blew his nose again and said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm an old fool, h'm! Well now, let's talk it over."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A long and serious discussion ensued, in which Tom and -Mr. Barkworth bore the greater part.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, well," said Mr. Barkworth at length, "have your -own way. Yes, my boy, you must go. You have a valid -reason--the strongest motive anyone could have. And your -uncle, sir--begad, if he takes you to task for disobedience, -why, just refer him to me, and say that I'll get Tommy Bowles -to ask a question in the House. I know him!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But how can Mr. Burnaby go after them?" put in Lilian. -"They have taken all the launches, I know."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Barkworth's countenance fell.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Whew!" he ejaculated. "That's a facer! Never do to -go on foot, Tom; never overtake 'em in time round the north -shore. H'm!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have a launch," said the missionary quietly. "Quite -a small thing, steaming only a few knots. I am starting -to-morrow to visit our station at Bukumbi, at the other end of -the Nyanza, and if Mr. Burnaby cares to come with me, I can -take him on afterwards to the river for which the expedition -is making."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Couldn't you go straight across, sir?" asked Tom eagerly. -"You see how important it is to lose no time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am sorry I cannot. I have important letters from my -superior to the father in charge of the mission, and I am -bound to deliver them at once. Besides, not much time will -be lost. The launches are calling at Entebbe to pick up a -draft of the King's African Rifles, so that we shall probably be -only a day behind them, and you should overtake your uncle -some days before he reaches the place where the fighting will -begin."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's he say, Lilian?" said Mr. Barkworth in a stage -whisper. "Capital!" he cried, when she had briefly explained; -"his head's clear enough for an Englishman's. Close with -Mossoo's offer, Mr. Burnaby. Ask the padre what time he -starts, Lilian; for the life of me I never can think of the -French for start."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"At eight in the morning," said the missionary. "If all -goes well we shall cover a hundred miles before we anchor -for the night."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, now, that is what I call business. Now, Tom, you'll -be ready at eight with this Booty, or whatever you call him, -and I'll be there to see you off. Gad, if I hadn't a girl to -drag me about I'd come too, though I'm sixty-three next week. -Now, good-night, my boy, and God bless you!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom gripped the old gentleman's hand warmly, and after -wishing Lilian good-bye, went off with the White Father to -talk over their plans and trace out their route before turning -in for the night.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="on-the-victoria-nyanza"><span class="large">CHAPTER III</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">On the Victoria Nyanza</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">Tom's First Crocodile--Night on the Nyanza--In German -Africa--A Storm on the Lake--A Short Way with -Hippos--Danger Ahead</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Long before eight next morning Tom was down at the quay -examining the launch in which he was to begin his pursuit of -the expedition. His inspection made him feel rather unhappy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, she's nothing but a crazy old tub," he said to himself -ruefully. "Planks half-rotten, rudder stiff, and looks as -though she hadn't seen paint for an age. Lucky this isn't -open sea, for anything like dirty weather would just about -finish her ramshackle engines. Well, let's hope for the best."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He returned to the bungalow, where with Mbutu's -assistance he made his final preparations. These were not -elaborate. The padre had advised him to travel as light as -possible, taking merely a few articles of underclothing and -other necessaries, with the addition of a couple of hundred -beads and some yards of calico, the common articles of barter -and sale in the interior, in case he had to purchase food from -the natives during the final stage of his journey. Luckily -there was a fair stock of these in the bungalow. Tom had -of course discarded his straw hat long before, and now wore -a white solah helmet, which could be relied on to protect him -from the mid-day sun. He had found an old rifle of his -uncle's, and a case of cartridges, which he thought it advisable -to take. He ate a light breakfast of fried fowl capitally -prepared by the Indian, gravely acknowledged his salaam, and -then, giving Mbutu the baggage to carry, started for the quay.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The missionary was already on board, and steam was up, -but there was no sign of Mr. Barkworth. Tom wondered -whether he had forgotten his promise to see him off. Just -as he was about to go on board, his genial friend appeared -in the distance, hurrying at a great pace towards the quay, -flourishing a red bandana. Tom was surprised, and -secretly not a little pleased, to see that Lilian was with her -father.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Here we are," cried the old gentleman, puffing and gasping -as he came up. "All on board, h'm? Got everything you -want? Now, whatever you do, don't get your feet wet! -And look here, here's something I warrant you've forgotten. -Writing-paper, eh? Ink too. Let us know how you get on. -Any black 'll carry a letter for you for a few beads. My girl -will have dragged me off to the ends of the earth long before -you get back, but remember we're always home for Christmas. -Glad to see you at the Orchard, Winterslow, any time. Now, -then, good luck to you, and God save the King!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Barkworth shoved a folding writing-case into Tom's -left hand, gripped his right heartily, and waggled it up and -down till he was tired.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-bye, Mr. Burnaby!" said Lilian, "and I do hope you -will succeed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom shook hands, lifted his hat, and stepped on board. -The crazy engine made a great fluster as it sent the screw -round; the launch sheered off, and Tom stood side by side -with the padre, watching Mr. Barkworth waving his hat and -Lilian her handkerchief until they were out of sight. After -seeing that Mbutu was safe in the company of the native -stoker, who formed the whole crew of the little vessel, Tom -placed a camp-stool under the awning by the side of the -missionary's deck-chair near the steering-wheel, and looked -about him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The launch was cutting its way slowly through the brown -sluggish waters of Kavirondo Bay. The shore was flat and -uninteresting, part bare rock, part rank marsh, spotted here -and there with sacred ibises in their beautiful black-and-white -plumage. At several points along the bank Tom saw a huge -plant like an overgrown cabbage run to stalk, or rather to -many stalks, sticking out of a short swollen stem, like the -arms of a candelabra. This, the padre told him, was the -candelabra euphorbia, a plant of which the natives stood very -much in dread, because its juice was highly poisonous, and -because it was so top-heavy and so loosely rooted that in a -high wind it frequently toppled over, with damaging effect -to anything that might be within its shade.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As they emerged from the bay into the open lake, the water -changed its brown to a deep and beautiful blue, and the shore -became more interesting. The lake here was fringed with -a thick growth of rushes--long smooth green stems crowned -by a mop-head of countless green filaments becoming ever -finer and more silky towards the end. Amid the vegetation -appeared the forms of whale-headed storks with yellow eyes, -and gold-brown otters with white bellies darted in and out -among the rushes. There was a light wind off-shore, and -Tom had a distant view of many wild denizens of the lake -country, which would otherwise have been alarmed by the -throb of the engines. His companion lent him a field-glass, -and for hours he revelled in the panorama of tropical life that -passed before his eyes. At one point he saw an antelope -come down a wooded slope to the edge of the water. What -seemed to be a green moss-covered log of wood lay almost -hidden from the animal by the bulging bank. The antelope -had just put his fore-feet into the water when the log moved, -one end of it parted into two yawning jaws, and for the first -time in his life Tom saw a crocodile in its native element. -The trembling antelope started back, just escaped the snap -of the huge hungry jaws, and bounded back into the forest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom could not resist the temptation to try a shot at the -slimy reptile. He took careful aim and fired. The crocodile -slid off the half-submerged sand-bank on which it was basking, -and disappeared in the water.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Did I hit it, sir?" he asked eagerly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is impossible to say. It may merely have been startled -by the report, and we could only make sure by waiting to -see if its body rises."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And that, of course, we can't do," said Tom with a sigh.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The launch sped on and on, steaming now her full seven -knots. Tom noticed that she was never very far from the -land, and knowing, from his look at the map overnight, that -Bukumbi was almost in the centre of the southern shore, he -wondered why the padre did not steer a more westerly course. -He asked the question.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," said the missionary, "it is partly custom and partly -superstition, I suspect. Everyone is shy of sailing directly -across from north to south or east to west. Many of our -launches are hardly tight craft, as you see, and a storm would -be a very serious matter in the open."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But surely there are no storms on an inland lake?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There are indeed. The wind here sometimes lashes the -water into waves as high as any you can see on the English -Channel. Gales have blown the native dhows out into the -open, and they have never returned. The natives, too, will -tell you that a huge monster inhabits the waters near one of -the many islands that stud the lake; there it lies in wait to -suck their craft down. I have never seen it myself," he added -with a smile, "but I once heard your Sir Harry Johnston say -that he had looked into the matter, and was rather inclined to -believe that the monster was a manatee."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Still they sailed on. After sixty miles or so they left -British territory and came into German East Africa, and soon -the tropical forest which had clothed the highlands sloping -back from the shore, gave place to more level grassland, some -of which was evidently under cultivation. The shore was -indented in many narrow creeks, and in one of these Tom saw a -singular-looking canoe, at least fifty feet long, manned by a -dozen naked Baganda. The keel of this, the padre told him, -was a single tree-stem, the interior of which had been chipped -out with axes and burnt out with fire. When the keel was -finished, holes were bored in it at intervals with a red-hot -iron spike; the planks for the sides were similarly pierced; -and then wattles made of the rind of the raphia palm were -passed through the holes, and planks and keel were literally -sewn together. All chinks and holes were then stopped with -grease, and the whole canoe, inside and out, was smeared with -a coating of vermilion-coloured clay. The prow projected -some feet beyond the nose of the boat, and sloped upwards -from the water. The top of it, Tom observed, was decorated -with a pair of horns, and connected with the beak by a rope -from which hung a fringe of grass and filaments from the -banana-tree. When the occupants of the canoe caught sight -of the White Father, they struck their paddles into the water, -and drove their slender craft rapidly towards the launch. But -the padre made signs that he was in a great hurry and could -not stop to speak to them, and after a time they desisted and -paddled back to the shore.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Though I believe they could have overtaken us if they -chose," said the missionary. "I have known them propel -their canoes at six or seven miles an hour."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mr. Barkworth would call them fine fellows," remarked -Tom with a smile. "I always had an idea that the natives -of these parts were a puny, stunted set of people, but really -those fellows in the canoe are splendid specimens."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sun set, and the moon rose, and still the launch panted -along. At last, when it was nearly ten o'clock, and the log -showed close upon a hundred miles, the padre ran the boat -into a wide creek, where he anchored for the night.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom looked weary and heavy-eyed when he greeted the -missionary about six o'clock next morning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Your wild neighbours are rather too much for me," he -said. "I did not sleep a wink till near daylight. Never in -my life have I heard such weird noises."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And I slept like a top," said the padre, smiling. "What -were the noises that disturbed you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, there was, for one thing, the squawk of the night-jar, -which was unmistakeable; then there was the croak of frogs, -only this was louder than our English frogs can manage, just -like the sound of a gong beaten slowly. But there was a -curious chirping, like a lot of bells very much out of tune -jingling at a distance. What was that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That was made by hundreds of cicadas in the reeds."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then an owl hooted, and some old lion set up a roar, and -then again there came a strange bark I never heard before; -it began with a snap, and rose higher and higher in pitch, -till it became a miserable howl that gave me the shivers."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That was the jackal."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"An eerie brute," rejoined Tom. "One answered another -until there was a whole chorus of them at it, all trying to -howl each other down. But worst of all was a dreadful squeal, -just like a baby in mortal pain. I was dozing when I heard -that; I became wide-awake with a start, and jumped up, and -then remembered where I was. It couldn't have been a baby, -could it, Padre?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No; it was no doubt a monkey which had climbed down -from the branches of some mimosa, and found itself in the -coils of a snake. You will get used to that sort of thing if -you spend many nights in Uganda. But now, steam is up, I -see; we must be off."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is one thing that has been puzzling me," said Tom. -"Last night you told me we were now in German East Africa. -But how is it that you have a French mission in German -territory?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The explanation is simple. We were here before the -Germans. This great lake was discovered by your Captain -Speke in 1858, you remember, but it was not until Stanley -came here in 1875 that the attention of Europe was really -called to Uganda. You have heard, no doubt, of Stanley's -famous letter to the </span><em class="italics">Daily Telegraph</em><span>, asking for missionaries to -be sent out here?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I can't say I have."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, when Stanley came, he found the king, Mtesa, much -perplexed about religious matters, and he wrote a letter asking -that English missionaries might be sent out to evangelize the -people. A friend of Gordon's, a Belgian named Linant de -Bellefonds, happened to be here at the time, and he -volunteered to take Stanley's letter to Europe by way of the Nile. -On the way, poor fellow, he was murdered by the Bari, who -threw his corpse on to the bank, where it lay rotting in the -sun. An expedition sent to punish the Bari found poor -Bellefonds' body, and on removing his long knee-boots they -discovered the letter tucked in between boot and leg. It was -sent to Gordon at Khartum, and thence to England, and thus -it came about that your Church of England mission began its -work in Uganda in 1877."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But how did you come here?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, our mission, as I told you the other night, was -started by Cardinal Lavigerie at Tanganyika. He thought -that France should not be behind England in good works, -so he sent some of his White Fathers northward to Uganda, -and that is how we came to have a station at Bukumbi."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What about the Germans, then?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"After the missionary comes the trader. Your Joseph -Thomson was the first to prove what splendid commercial -prospects Uganda presented, and then, of course, there was a -scramble. It would be too long a story to tell you of treaties -and schemes; of the fickleness and treachery of the vicious -King Mwanga; of Lugard and Gerald Portal and Sir Harry -Johnston. But in 1890 Central Africa was parcelled out -among Britain and Germany and the King of the Belgians, -and you British, with your genius for colonization, have really -done wonderful things. I admire your success; and there is -one thing at least in which you and we are quite agreed--we -both detest slavery, and the slave knows that whether he flies -to the British trader's bungalow or the mission-house of the -White Fathers, he is sure of protection."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The day passed uneventfully. Tom went down once or -twice to relieve the native at the engine, and after what the -missionary had told him of the storms that sometimes arose -on the lake, he hoped more than ever that the crazy machinery -would be equal to the strain put upon it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>About seven in the evening the launch came to the mouth -of the Bay of Bukumbi. There was a good deal of sea running, -and it took the Father, with Tom's assistance, more than -half an hour before they found, in the darkness, among the -tall swishing reeds, a place where they could land. The task -was at length accomplished; leaving Mbutu and the stoker on -board, the padre and Tom went ashore, and met with a warm -welcome from the fathers at the station. They dined and -slept at the mission-house, and left early next morning, taking -some fresh food on board. Father Chevasse wished to make -direct for the Sese Islands at the north-west of the Nyanza, -where the White Fathers had another station, but he found -it necessary to put in for fuel at Muanza, some two hours' -sail from Bukumbi. While he went to visit an acquaintance -there, Tom strolled about the station, wondering at the bare -and desolate appearance of its surroundings. He learned -afterwards that the Germans had cut down the trees and -burnt the villages within five miles of their fort--an infallible -specific for keeping the country quiet. As he sauntered along -he was half-startled, half-amused, to hear a native servant -addressing a young subaltern, evidently fresh from the -Fatherland, in a queer jargon of broken German. The effect was -even more ludicrous than the broken English of Kisumu.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom's next impression was of a different kind. Turning into -a narrow thoroughfare off the main street, he came face to -face with a German captain in full uniform, swaggering along -with elbows well stuck out, and two inches of moustache -stiffly perpendicular, militant and aggressive. There was very -little room to pass. The path was narrow; on one side was a -wall, on the other a muddy road very badly cut up by -cart-wheels. It was clearly an occasion for mutual concession. -But the German does not go to Africa to make concessions, -Tom was obviously a civilian, and, by all the rules of the -German social system, beyond the pale of military courtesy. -To the German officer it was as if he were not there. The -captain came on with the rigid strut of an automaton, taking -it for granted that Tom would efface himself against the wall. -But he had failed to recognize that the civilian was not a -German. Seeing that a collision was inevitable, Tom conceded -the utmost consistent with self-respect, and stiffened his -back for the rest. There was a sharp jolt; the automaton, -inflexibly rigid, swung round as on a pivot, clutched vainly -at Tom for support, and subsided into the mud.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sorry, I'm sure," said Tom blandly. "Hope you're not -hurt. The path is narrow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>White with anger, the German sprang to his feet, and, with -the instinct of one not long from Berlin, laid his hand on his -sword. But the tall figure walking unconcernedly on was -unmistakeably that of an Englishman, and the angry captain -scowled ineffectually at Tom's back, and made a hasty toilet -before starting to regain his bungalow by the less-frequented -thoroughfares.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The padre was vexed when Tom told him of the incident.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It was Captain Stumpff," he said, "commandant of the -German station at Fort Bukoba near your frontier. He has -no love for you English, and now he will like you less than -ever. Not that his friendship is worth much. He is a boor, -and a terror to the natives. The Germans are so much hated -that the natives about here call them Wa-daki, 'the men of -wrath', and well they deserve the name. Even the Portuguese -are mild by comparison, and that is saying a good deal. -Now as regards our journey, as we have been delayed at -Muanza longer than I anticipated, I propose to steer straight -across instead of hugging the shore. The weather is fine, and -we shall save time in that way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The launch went ahead at full speed, passing within about -half a mile of the wooded island of Kome. Tom again found -plenty of use for the field-glass, watching the myriad -water-fowl of all descriptions that haunt the reedy shore of the lake. -The air was beautifully clear, and if his mission had been less -urgent Tom would have dearly liked to explore some of the -creeks, fringed with tropical vegetation, that run up seemingly -for miles into the land.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gradually, however, they left the shore behind, and in a -few hours the coast-line was but a hazy fringe on the horizon. -They were by this time well out on the Nyanza, and the padre -noticed with concern that the sky toward the north-east was -assuming a leaden hue. The wind had freshened from the -same quarter; the surface of the lake was changing; white-tipped -waves came rolling up on the starboard side. In a few -minutes, as it seemed, the sky became black; and then, with -a sudden gust, a terrific storm of rain burst over the boat, -drenching Tom and the missionary to the skin. The wind -blew with ever-increasing force, sweeping the rain in sheets -before it; the sea was being lashed to fury, and big waves -broke with a swish over the deck. It was all that the men -could do to keep their feet. Mbutu, perturbed both in body -and mind, clung desperately to the handrail of the companionway; -the native stoker was beside himself with terror, and in -no condition to execute an order even if he could hear it above -the tumult of the gale. The padre, wholly occupied with the -wheel, shouted to Tom to keep an eye on the engine. Creeping -across the deck, Tom made the best of his way below, with -some difficulty closing the hatch above him. Just as he secured -the hatch, a huge sea broke over the vessel, carrying away -deck-chair and camp-stool, snapping the stanchions of the -awning as though they were match-wood, and sweeping the -ruins into the sea, among them the rifle which Tom had stood -against the gunwale.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Having tumbled rather than run down the companion-way, -Tom staggered to the engine and examined the gauge. He -thought it possible to crowd on a little more steam, and as -there was no chance of consulting the missionary, on his own -responsibility he flung more logs on the fire. Meanwhile the -boat was rolling and pitching terribly; every moment a heavy -thud resounded as a wave broke on the deck; and Tom could -hear the straining of the rudder as the missionary strove to -keep the vessel's head to the wind.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The fight had gone on for an hour or more, when all at once -the screw ceased to revolve; there was an escape of steam; -and Tom knew that what he had for some time been dreading -had at last occurred. The engine had broken down. Reversing -the lever he clambered on deck, and saw by the expression -in the padre's face that he knew what had happened. The -downpour had ceased, but the wind was still blowing a -furious gale, and, with no way on the boat, the rudder was -useless.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is to be done?" shouted Tom in the padre's ear.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nothing. We are bound to drift; we are already driving -towards the shore. Heaven send we miss the rocks!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Both men clung to the wheel, and watched anxiously as the -launch, shuddering under the waves that struck her in close -succession, drew nearer and nearer to the shore. Tom could -already see the foaming breakers rolling wildly against a huge -rock that loomed up a hundred yards ahead. A few seconds -more, and he expected the keel to strike. The missionary was -alive to their imminent peril. Cutting loose a light mast, he -hurried with it to the port side, and just as a wave smote the -vessel on the other quarter, lifting it almost on to the rock, he -thrust out the mast and pushed with all his might. Tom -gave a gasp of relief. The vessel shaved the rock by a -hand's-breadth, and sped past. A second later it was brought up -with a sudden jerk, plunged forward a few yards, and then -came finally to a stop.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We are on a sand-bank," cried the padre. "If the storm -continues we shall be broken up in half an hour."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Can't we do anything, sir?" asked Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nothing but trust to Providence."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Happily, not many minutes after the launch had grounded, -the wind began to lull, and by the time it was dark had -entirely fallen. With the suddenness characteristic of storms -on the Nyanza, the force of the breakers rapidly diminished, -the sky cleared, and the stars came out.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm going down to see what's wrong with the engine," -said Tom, dripping wet as he was. Fortunately he found a -candle and dry matches. He struck a light and crept into the -machinery. Ten minutes' examination showed him that the -strain had loosened the valve connecting the steam-pipe with -the cylinder, so that the pressure was inadequate to move -the piston-rod. He had sufficient experience to know that -he could repair it well enough to stand for a day or two. -Coming out again he ordered Mbutu and the stoker, now -recovered from their fright, to bale out the water that had -shipped below; then he stripped off his clothes and wrung -them out, dressed himself again, and set about his task.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>By this time it was eight o'clock in the evening. The -padre, having dried his clothes as well as he could, went -below to see if he could lend Tom a hand; Tom thanked him, -but said he thought he could manage by himself, and -suggested that the missionary might order Mbutu to prepare -some supper. In about three hours Tom came on deck tired -and dirty.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's done, Father," he said. "The old thing's patched at -last. It will stand till you get back to Port Florence, I -think."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well done, Mr. Burnaby!" returned the padre. "It is -wonderful good luck that I had such a skilful engineer on -board."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, you see, I had some experience in Glasgow," said -Tom modestly. "And then the chief engineer on the -</span><em class="italics">Peninsular</em><span> showed me all over his engines, and taught me a lot. -Shall we fire up to-night?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, I think we'll lay by till morning and get what sleep -we can. Then I hope with the dawn we shall be able to run -off the sand-bank. I have made some cocoa, and I am sure -you must be hungry."</span></p> -<p class="pnext" id="id1"><span>Tom was so fatigued that as soon as he laid his head down -after a good meal he fell asleep. Five hours slipped by like -twenty minutes, and then he was awakened soon after -daybreak by a loud snorting bellow that seemed to shake the -vessel. Bounding on deck he found the padre already there, -looking with dismay at a crowd of hippopotamuses sporting -in their lumbering way among the rushes. The animals -appeared to have just discovered the launch, and to have -decided that it was an intruder into their domains, to be -summarily ejected, for one great bull lifted his thick snout -and, furiously bellowing, charged. The impact stove in a -plank just above water-line, and lifted the vessel half out of -the water. The stoker yelled with terror. Mbutu snatched -up the mast that had proved of such good service the day -before, while the padre looked anxious. There were no arms -on board, and Tom bitterly regretted that he had not left his -rifle below instead of keeping it with him on deck. Suddenly -an idea struck him. Placing his hand on the funnel he found, -as he had hoped, that the engine-fire was alight. He ran -below, picked up a length of hose he had noticed coiled near -one of the bunkers, fixed one end to the exhaust-pipe, and -hurried back to the deck, carrying the nozzle end with him. -Instructing the stoker to turn on the cock at a signal, he went -into the bows and saw the hippo preparing for a second charge. -Shouting to the stoker, he pointed the hose full at the eyes -of the gigantic beast; a stream of boiling water issued from it, -and the hippo, bellowing with pain, plunged off the bank -with a force that shook the vessel, and lumbered away. His -companions watched him for a few seconds with a look of dull -amazement, and then, taking in the situation, stampeded after him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The enemy retires in confusion," said Tom, laughing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A capital idea of yours," said the missionary. "I confess -I was really somewhat alarmed. After all, I believe the brute -has helped us. I fancy he shifted us a little off the bank. -Put on the steam, and let us see if we can move."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom went below and pressed the throttle. The vessel did -not stir. There was not sufficient depth of water. Hurrying -on deck again he asked the padre to push from the stern with -the serviceable mast; and after a few minutes' hard shoving -at various places, he had the satisfaction of feeling the launch -move an inch or two forward. Returning below he started -the engine, and ten minutes later the boat slid off the -sandbank into deep water. Fortunately no harm had been done -to the bottom. The engine worked well, though Tom did not -venture to put it at full speed after the strain of the previous -day. Skirting the western shore, the vessel passed Bukoba -in the afternoon, and about five o'clock arrived at the mouth -of a river emerging into the lake through dense forest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This is the Ruezi," said the padre. "The expedition has -gone up this river. I am glad, my dear boy, that in God's -providence I have been able to bring you safely to this point, -and I don't forget how much we all owe to your skill and -presence of mind. Now I must land you here. I can take -you in until the water is shallow enough for you to wade -ashore. You will find a village half a mile or so inland, and -your future course must depend on what information you -there obtain. I am not very clear about the nature of the -country, but the expedition will have left very distinct traces. -I need not say I wish you every success, and on your return -I shall hope to see more of you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Many thanks for all your kindness, Father!" said Tom, -shaking hands warmly. "I'll look you up, never fear."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Take my field-glass; you may find it useful," said the -padre. "I have already packed up some tea and a few other -things for you, and Mbutu has a couple of rugs; you will -find nights in the open rather cold. Good-bye, good-bye!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The boy slipped overboard with the baggage, Tom following -immediately. They reached the shore after some trouble -with the rushes, and Tom there waved a final farewell to the -missionary, whom the launch was already bearing away -northwards towards the Sese Islands.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the same moment, out of a clump of elephant-grass some -three hundred yards up the river, came a long vermilion canoe -manned by eight negroes. In the stern sat a European in -a green coat. Catching sight of the two figures by the -riverside he sprang up, appeared to hesitate, then gave a sudden -order. The canoe swung round, and barely a minute after it -had emerged from the rushes it disappeared again, rapidly -moving under the strokes of eight red paddles.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Not, however, before Mbutu's sharp eyes had flashed a -glance at it. He uttered a low cry, and turned to Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dago man, sah!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where?" said Tom, wheeling landwards with a start.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ober dar, sah. Long canoe, dago man in green coat. -Sah knock him down."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nonsense! You can't see clearly all that way. It must -have been someone else."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dago, sure nuff," returned the boy positively. "Mbutu -know eyes, nose, coat, kiboko, all berrah much."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ho, ho! So the dago is here, is he? Now I wonder what -he is after. He couldn't have known we were coming, that's -certain. He must have started before us--perhaps on the -track of the expedition. Well, Mbutu, we must find out -what his game is. Did he see you, d'you think?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"See Mbutu? Yes. Sah too. Dago see all much. Sah -knock him down!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I hope I shall not have to knock him down again. -We must keep our eyes open, Mbutu; remember, my uncle's -life in all probability depends on our running no risks."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, sah! Big sah, little sah, all same for one."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-stern-chase"><span class="large">CHAPTER IV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">A Stern Chase</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">An African Village--A Bargain--A False Scent--Up -the Ruezi--A Night Vigil--Followed--The Bend in -the River--A Man Wounded--No Thoroughfare</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The two youths found themselves on a narrow spit of sand -projecting some hundred yards into the river-mouth. On -the land side Tom saw nothing but a dense wall of elephant-grass -and papyrus standing nearly twice as high as himself, -into which the river disappeared. On the other side was the -blue expanse of the Nyanza, shading into the lighter blue of -the cloudless sky. In the distance he could see the faint -coast-line of the Sese Islands, and, between himself and them, -the smoke of the departing launch stretching across the sky -like a long smudge on a clean page. For the first time -a shadow of misgiving crossed his mind, but with a silent -"This will never do" he pulled himself together, and set -himself resolutely to face the task he had undertaken.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He looked meditatively for a few moments at Mbutu.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, Mbutu," he said, "we are left to our own devices. -I must trust to you to help me through; I suppose you can -make yourself understood in any of these parts, eh? Well -now, you stick by me and do your best, and you and I'll be -great friends. Now for this village."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu shouldered the baggage, and they set off towards -the apparently impenetrable wall. They were soon -ankle-deep in swamp, but, rounding a point and wading a little -creek, they came upon a narrow path, evidently worn away -by many feet tramping down in single file to the river-side. -Striking up this path they were met in another ten -minutes by signs of human habitation. There were fields of -sweet-potatoes, Indian-corn, and millet, traversing which they -came plump upon an irregular circle of grass huts, half-hidden -by the surrounding bush.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom called a halt. It would be well, he thought, to impress -the villagers with an idea of his importance, so he despatched -Mbutu in advance, as a herald, to announce his arrival to the -chief of the village. Passing the line of grass huts, and picking -his way amid fowls and goats and a rather unsavoury litter, -Tom found himself in a spacious enclosure, which was already -filling with a crowd of jabbering natives. The centre of this -open space was occupied by a hut of larger dimensions than -the rest. It was a round structure, consisting of boughs of -trees held together by grass and mud, and surmounted by a -conical roof, roughly thatched. The doorway was low, and -not more than eighteen inches wide; Tom wondered whether -the chief would come out, and if not, how he himself was to -get in. Mbutu, he saw, was talking rapidly and with much -gesticulation to a corpulent negro at the door of the hut, while -a group of natives stood intently watching at a respectful -distance.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As Tom approached, Mbutu came towards him grinning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Him say him katikiro," he said. "Him lie; him katikiro -not much. Big chief hab katikiro, little chief no hab."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What on earth is katikiro?" asked Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu looked puzzled and scratched his head. After -pondering a while, and searching for words to make the -matter clear to his master's intelligence, he said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Katikiro palaver man. Chief want eat--call katikiro. -Chief want wife--call katikiro. Want gib bad man -kiboko--call katikiro all same."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sort of head cook and bottle-washer, lord high executioner -and prime minister all in one, eh? Well, tell the right -honourable katikiro I want to see the chief."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Him say chief asleep."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then he must wake him up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu spoke to the negro, who shook his head, looked very -serious, and, pointing to the hut behind, answered quickly -and earnestly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Him say chief chop off head," grinned Mbutu. "Chief -berrah big, oh!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He must chance that!" replied Tom. "Tell him that if he -and his master keep me dawdling here any longer, I shall report -both of them to the government at Entebbe, and then they'll -be sorry."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>If Tom had understood Mbutu's interpretation of his speech -he would have heard him inform the native that his master's -big brother, the Great White King, would take away the -chief's wives and goats, charms and beads, and leave him -not so much as an anklet to call his own. He would pull -his teeth, shave his head, and make him wash himself in hot -water twice a day. Mbutu was proceeding to amplify these -threats with great eloquence when Tom, losing patience, cried: -"If he doesn't hurry up, I shall go in and wake the chief -myself," and he made a movement towards the hut. Instantly -the man, with a terrified look, took a long breath, turned -sideways, and squeezed his rotundity through the narrow -aperture. His entrance was followed by a stream of very hot -language, and in a moment the katikiro reappeared, looking -somewhat crestfallen. He was followed immediately by the -chief, a well-made negro, scowling and rubbing his eyes. He -presented a comical appearance in his torn calico shirt and -head-dress consisting of a piece of lion's skin ingeniously -ornamented with stork's feathers. Tom went up to him and -held out his hand frankly, a courtesy he regretted at once, for -on emerging from the chief's grip he found his hand covered -with dirty grease. Still smiling, however, he made as -impressive an oration as he could, and then asked through -Mbutu if the chief could tell him anything about the -expedition. Mbutu added on his own account that he had -better tell no lies, for his master was a near relative of the -Great White King, and moreover had been given by a -medicine man the power to see through the back of any black -man's head. He further promised on Tom's behalf that the -truth would be repaid with a good many beads, while falsehood -would entail unspeakable consequences.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thus encouraged, the chief spat on the ground and began. -He stated that the expedition had arrived at the mouth of the -Ruezi two days before. The river being impracticable for -launches, the men had landed at a creek a mile or two away, -and had there begun their overland march. They were -bound for Mpororo, a place the chief knew only by hearsay, -as he himself had never ventured farther than the southern -end of Lake Mazingo. Beyond that, he understood, were the -tents of the Wa-daki, who lived night and day with kiboko; -and as he named the dreaded Germans, his eyes flashed and -his nostrils dilated.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't understand this," said Tom. "The Ruezi looks -a big enough river. Why couldn't the launches sail up?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The chief explained that the bed was here and there silted -with mud, and everywhere more or less overgrown with reeds.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then I suppose we shall have to tramp after them. -Couldn't we reach this Lake Mazingo by the river?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The chief was sorry to say that they would have to walk -through the forest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Isn't your river deep enough for a canoe, then?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Oh yes! A light canoe could paddle up to Lake Mazingo, -but beyond that were the tents of the Wa-daki, who lived -night and day--</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, yes," interrupted Tom. "Why couldn't the old guy -tell us that before! Tell him I'll hire a canoe with its crew, -and that we'll start at once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But he reckoned without his chief. It took Mbutu over an -hour to conclude the bargain, the chief asking for one thing -after another in payment, and showing a special desire for -Tom's scarf-pin. When the price had finally been fixed at a -number of beads, an old clasp-knife, ten yards of calico, and -a couple of boot-laces, a further difficulty arose. The chief -absolutely refused to allow his men to start at night: journeys -begun beneath a full moon were of ill omen, he said, and -Mbutu himself was superstitious enough to sympathize with -him. Anxious as Tom was to get on, he saw that it would -be unwise to press the chief any further, and accordingly -arranged that the light canoe, with a crew of four strong -paddlers, should be at his disposal at daybreak next morning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, Mbutu," said Tom, "just ask him if he has seen -anything of the Portuguese we caught a glimpse of just now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>No, the chief had not seen the white man in the green coat, -but a moon before he had seen one of the Wa-daki, who lived -night and--</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bother the Wa-daki! Just tell him that if he does see -anything of the dago he is to say nothing about us. Does he -understand? And none of his men is to say anything either. -You'd better impress that on the katikiro too."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu having carried out his master's instructions in his -own decorative way, Tom, with much ceremony, presented -the chief with half a dozen yellow beads and a pocket -handkerchief, dexterously avoided his greasy paw, and despatched -Mbutu to find a place, away from the malodorous village, -where they might comfortably pass the night.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next morning they were up betimes. Tom was ravenously -hungry, but did not feel happy at the thought of eating -anything prepared in the village. He was surprised when Mbutu -brought him an earthen pot filled with excellent tea, a slice -of fried goat, and a few chapatties made, as he afterwards -learnt, of banana-flour.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Upon my word, Mbutu," he said, "I shall have to make -you my katikiro right away."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu beamed his delight. Their breakfast finished, they -went to find their canoe. It was already lying in the creek -they had crossed on the previous evening. The crew were -four muscular Baganda dressed in nothing but loin-cloths and -grease, who all began to jabber at once as Tom approached.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What do they say?" Tom asked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Say you fader and mudder, sah. All belong sah; huts -belong sah; food belong sah; eberyfing belong sah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's very kind of them, I'm sure. I wish they'd wash -off that grease, though. What shall I say to them, Mbutu?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Me palaver man; me katikiro, sah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu told the men that his master was their father and -mother; would build up their huts if by any chance they -were destroyed during their absence; would give their children -charms to preserve them from snake-bites and the sleeping -sickness; and as a token of sincerity in these pledges would -eat a sheep with them at the first opportunity. They snapped -their fingers and smiled, and looked with great reverence at -the unconscious Tom, who had been in a brown study while -his henchman was speaking.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I've been thinking, Mbutu," he said; "suppose the Portuguese -has been hanging about. If he recognized you he is sure -to suspect that I know rather too much about him now, and -he may be on the watch for us. We should be no match for -him and his eight men if they happen to be armed. What do -you think?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sah fink; tell Mbutu."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well now, if they are on our track they won't be far away. -Just ask these fellows if the river bends at all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The men declared that the water bent like a bow to -south, a half-hour's paddling from where they were.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then you and I, Mbutu, will cut across country and meet -the canoe by and by. I suppose there's a way?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Yes; the crew said there was a path through a stretch of -thin forest, which rejoined the river after about five miles.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The very thing. Now, tell these fellows that if a white -man in a green coat meets them, and asks after us, they are -to say that a white man is in their village, and that they are -sent to summon the chief of another village--they can give -it a name--to a grand palaver about food for the expedition -on its way back."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu repeated these instructions, adding that the -green-coated man had a particularly keen kiboko. The -quick-witted natives appreciated at once the part they were to play, -and chuckled with enjoyment. They took their seats on the -poles which, placed transverse through holes in the sides of -the canoe, served as thwarts, struck their paddles into the -water, and, raising their voices in a curious chant, drove their -red-coloured bark rapidly up-stream.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom watched them till they were out of sight among the -reeds, then turned and strode off with Mbutu. All their -baggage and a stock of food were in the canoe; Tom had -nothing but his field-glass and a light switch he had cut that -morning from a tree. It was seven o'clock, and the sun being -not yet high, marching would not have been unpleasant but -for the heavy dew upon the long grass and spreading plants -over which they had to walk. Very soon they were soaked to -the waist, and Tom thought that Mbutu with his bare legs had -decidedly the best of it. Their progress through the forest -was not rapid, owing to the tangle of vegetation through -which they had at times to force a way. It was nearly nine -before they saw the river again. The canoe was waiting for -them, and Mbutu ran ahead. Tom could see by the excited -way in which the crew gabbled and gesticulated that -something had happened. When he reached them, Mbutu -informed him that the canoe had been hailed by the Portuguese, -who had been lying in wait for them in a creek some three -miles up the river. He had questioned the crew, who, after -giving him the message as had been arranged, had seen him -paddle back hurriedly towards the mouth of the river. They -had noticed that all his men were armed with rifles, and -volubly regretted that they had been unable to fight him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They're as pleased as Punch at having outwitted him, -anyhow," said Tom. "Tell them I'll give them some beads -for doing so well. Now, Mbutu, you go in the bow, I'll take -the stern, and we'll see how these fellows paddle."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The men struck their paddles into the water, and, keeping -perfect time, sent the canoe along at a swinging pace. They -accompanied their strokes with a crooning chant, the words -sounding something like this--</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>Nsologumba kanpitepite kunyanja</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Nsologumba oluilaita kunyanja</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Nsologumba lekanpitepite kunyanja.</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Tom knew his elements of music, and could take his part in -"Willow the King"; but the notes of this tune fitted no scale -he had ever heard of. The same words were repeated again -and again for half an hour at a stretch, until he felt rather -tired of them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wish they'd turn on another tap," he said to himself, -"but I suppose their feelings would be hurt if I told them so. -Mbutu, my boy, what's their song about?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu turned up the whites of his eyes in the effort to -translate, then chanted solemnly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Man all alone row up de ribber, man all alone row up de -ribber, man all alone row up de ribber; alone de man row up -ribber, alone de man row up--"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thanks! I know it by heart now. D'you think you could -tell them a story, Mbutu? Anything to keep them quiet. -The man all alone wants to think, tell them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, sah! berrah well, sah! Me tell story about -uncle and croc'dile--berrah nice story, sah!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well; make it as long as you like."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Uncle, sah, in canoe, all alone row up de ribber. Uncle, -sah--"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Quite so, but you can tell me the story another time. I -want you to keep the crew amused, you understand."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu looked rather disappointed, but at once began to -unfold his story to the negroes, who listened with strained -attention, breaking out at intervals into guffaws of pleasure and -cries of amazement.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile Tom looked about him. The crew had evidently -performed this journey before, for they dexterously skirted -the shallows, and appeared to know exactly where to pull to -avoid the encroaching reeds. Beyond the reeds the banks -were lined with splendid trees, some with white trunks, others -with gray, others with black; the foliage of vivid green; the -blossoms of many hues--crimson, scarlet, lilac, yellow, white. -On some of them india-rubber vines had fastened themselves in -long loops and festoons. The river itself shone in the sunlight -like a pathway of polished metal. Here and there it seemed to -cease to be a river at all, and became a mere lagoon, and at -such spots Tom saw more than one rhinoceros wallowing, their -horned snouts just out of the water. As the canoe progressed, -the rushes were less dense; a thick wall of soft-wood plants -came into view; raphia-palms with their huge fronds, wild -bananas with their enormous leaves, the slender stems of -date-palms, crowned with graceful plumage of the richest green. -The air was still, save now and again when the canoe -disturbed a haunt of water-fowl, or a parrot flew squawking -among the reeds, or a covey of beautifully-coloured -widow-finches darted from shrub to shrub uttering their harsh little -cries. Occasionally the canoe passed a tree on which innumerable -monkeys were chattering and squabbling. Once Tom's -ear caught the inimitable trill of a thrush, reminding him of -Home; and as the canoe glided beneath the branches of a -spreading plantain, a number of large birds, with gorgeous -blue bodies, crimson pinions, and tufted heads, sportively -pursued one another among the foliage, boo-hooing, braying, -shrieking uproariously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's that noisy fowl?" asked Tom, interrupting Mbutu -as he was regaling the crew for the tenth time with the -moving story of his uncle and the crocodile.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dat, sah? Dat big plantain-eater, sah. Berrah brave bird, -sah! Him come see me in hut; see uncle, sah, all alone row -up ribber. Uncle go sleep, sah; leg ober side--"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At this moment the crew, deprived of their recent -amusement, struck up again--</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>Nsologumba kanpitepite kunyanja</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Nsologumba oluilaita kunyanja.</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Couldn't you tell them another story?" suggested Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With a glance in which Tom detected a shade of reproach, -the boy resumed his narrative, and kept the crew engrossed -until his master called "easy all" for dinner.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Running the canoe up a narrow creek, the men sprang on -shore with their axes, and returned by and by bearing with -them a huge bunch of ripe bananas, culled from a river-side -plantation. These, with some of the biscuits which the padre -had thoughtfully packed among his baggage, and a draught of -not very palatable water lapped up from the river, Tom found -quite sufficient to stay his hunger and thirst. The crew -diversified their meal with ground-nuts and a stuff that looked -like moist almond-rock, which they took out of a wrapping -of leaves. One of them offered Mbutu a small hunk, and he -broke off about a fourth part of it, handing the rest to Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not to-day, thanks! What is it, may I ask?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Berrah nice, sah! Cheese, sah!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Really! And what is it made of? Not milk, judging by -the look of it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mango, sah! Chop mango stone; take out all inside; -knock him about, sah; make cheese. Berrah nice, sah!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, eat it up, and then we'll be off again. Tell the men -I'm pleased with them, and hope they'll do as well all day."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the way back to the canoe, Tom happened to tread on a -pair of large ants crawling on the grass. He was almost -overcome by the stench from their crushed bodies. Then every -exposed part of his body was stung by mosquitoes, and his -head became enveloped in a swarm of yellowish gnats, which -Mbutu called kungu-flies.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Berrah nice, sah!" he said, as they got into the canoe. -"Black man catch kungu, sah! Mash, mash, all one cake. -Make little fire; fry cake; eat all up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom ruefully thought of his small stock of biscuits, and in -this alternative diet recognized an additional motive for -pressing on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a broiling hot afternoon, and as the canoe sped on its -way Tom saw scores of crocodiles lying on the bank half out -of the water, basking in the sunlight, and digesting their food, -their eyelids drowsily drooping, their jaws wide open in a sort -of prolonged yawn. Just above one of these dozing reptiles, -a number of storks and cranes and herons stood perched on -one leg, regarding the crocodile, Tom fancied, with a -contemplative air, more in sorrow than in anger. Farther on, he -was amused to see a young elephant twining its trunk about -the neck of a graceful zebra, as in an affectionate embrace. -All the afternoon, indeed, he was kept interested by an -ever-changing panorama, eye and ear being alike captivated -incessantly by something new and strange. He was naturally -observant, and many curious details impressed themselves upon -his mind without his being conscious of them. He would -have liked to stay and study this new world at his leisure, -but the temptation to linger was counteracted by his sense of -the urgency of his mission. The only other drawback to his -enjoyment was the pain caused by the mosquito bites, which -increased as the day wore on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At sundown, having covered some twenty-two miles, and -made, as Tom considered, very satisfactory progress for the -day, he ordered the men to run the canoe up a creek that -promised well as a halting-place. After a good supper, they -went on shore to find sleeping quarters for themselves, and in -a very short time ran up a wattled hut, and built fires round -it to keep off lions and other undesirable visitors. Tom wrapt -himself in a rug, gave another to Mbutu, and settled himself -to sleep in the stern of the canoe. He was kept awake for -some time by the bright moonlight, the splashes of fish, quaint -creakings and groanings from the trees, the grunt of -rhinoceroses, the strange whine and sighing cough of crocodiles, and -the inevitable howl of jackals. He fell asleep at last.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu, meanwhile, sat in the bows, dreamily watching the -shimmer of the moonbeams on the water, and pondering on -his wonderful luck in the change of masters. He was just -dozing off to sleep when he noticed a dark form edging along -the bank. A swift glance showed him that it was a crocodile, -leaving on its nightly prowl for food. It slid noiselessly into -the water, and, thinking that the beast was making for the -opposite bank, Mbutu paid no further attention to it. But -suddenly he became aware of a small dark object approaching -the canoe. There was not a sound nor even a ripple on the -water; but one glance was enough to a boy born and bred as -Mbutu had been in the African wilds. It was the snout of -the crocodile! At the same moment he observed with horror -that his master, restless in his sleep, had thrown one arm over -the side of the canoe, and that the hideous jaws of the reptile -were within a few feet of snapping distance. Quick as thought -he stooped, clutched at the rope mooring the canoe to a small -overhanging acacia, and pulled with all his strength. The -canoe lurched forward, striking heavily against the bulging -root of the tree,--and Tom awoke with a start, to see Mbutu -smite the crocodile savagely over the head with a paddle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is it?" he said sleepily.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sah nearly gobble up. Croc'dile berrah hungry. Arm -berrah nice; soon all gone, sah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom shivered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're a brick, Mbutu," he said, "and your head's screwed -on right. But for you!--ugh! it's horrid to think of!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Uncle, sah--" began Mbutu.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, yes; tell me all about him another time. Call up -the crew. They must take turns at watching; and tell them -to do it thoroughly."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>No further hazards marred Tom's rest. In the morning, -while Mbutu was preparing their simple breakfast, Tom -strolled up the reddish hillside above the river to survey his -surroundings, carrying the field-glass presented to him by -Father Chevasse. At this spot the larger trees were absent, -and the country around was for the most part flat and marshy, -the dark-green broken here and there by patches of gaudy -blossom and red clay soil. The hill commanded a view of -the river for some two or three miles, but Tom could see little -but reeds, the stream itself, indeed, being scarcely perceptible -as it wound in and out among the aquatic vegetation. Some -distance, however, in the direction from which the canoe had -come, there was a stretch of about a quarter of a mile of clear -water, looking like a blue lake amid the green, and on this -Tom's eye rested. Suddenly he saw a cloud rise up from the -water, which he instantly judged to be a huge flock of -water-fowl. Then a dark object appeared, slowly crossing the -surface of the patch of blue towards him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Some hippo out catching the early worm," said Tom to -himself, smiling afterwards as the inaptness of the phrase -struck him. He raised the glass to his eyes. "No, it's -not a hippo; it's a canoe! By Jove! what if it's the dago!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>While he was still gazing at it, the canoe came within the -circle of papyrus, and disappeared from view. Seeing another -clear stretch on the near side of this clump of reeds, Tom -called to Mbutu to run up the hill. It was important to know -whether they were indeed pursued. Not that Tom was alarmed--he -felt himself a match on even terms for any Portuguese,--but -he preferred not to be taken by surprise, whatever -happened. The canoe emerged from the reeds just as Mbutu -reached the top of the hill. He looked in the direction Tom -pointed, and with his naked eye at once descried the canoe. -The next moment he declared excitedly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dago man in canoe!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bosh!" said Tom, to test him. "You have dago on the -brain, I'm afraid."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"White man all say bosh!" returned the boy. "No bosh! no -bosh! Dago man in canoe all same!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Again the canoe vanished, and both observers watched -tensely for its reappearance. Twenty minutes elapsed; then -it glided into view again. It was now no more than a mile -away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sah, see!" cried Mbutu. "Dago sure nuff."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You are right, Mbutu. We are being followed. We -needn't get flustered, but we must start at once, and eat our -breakfast as we go."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Hurrying down the hill, he ordered the crew on board, and -loosed the rope. In another minute the canoe was bounding -like a racer rapidly up-stream.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The dago has not yet seen us, at any rate," said Tom, -"and we may get clear away without being observed at all -if the men put their backs into it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sah! Birds fly up; tell dago canoe in front. Dago -know all same."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then it's a question of speed, eh? Well, we've the -lighter canoe; crew four and passengers two. He has the -heavier canoe; crew eight and passenger one. We shall get -through where he would stick in the mud; though the water -seems to have a fair depth here, worse luck. Well, Mbutu, -we're not going to be overhauled; tell the men there's kiboko -after them; that'll make them hurry."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The crew paddled away swiftly, and began to sing. Tom -was relieved to find that words and tune were changed at last, -but after a few bars he peremptorily stopped them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The dago will hear them," he said, "and it will be just as -well for us not to let him know our whereabouts. Tell them -another story, Mbutu."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom sat rigidly in the stern, wondering how the Portuguese -had got on their track. The course of events since he had -been turned back by Tom's crew twenty-four hours before -was as follows. He had paddled down-stream till he reached -the place where Tom had embarked, and then sent one of his -men to the village to find out what was going on there. The -man returned, bringing the news that the white man had left. -Furious at being so easily outwitted, the Portuguese had then -gone up himself, seized the first negro he came upon, and -demanded information about Tom's route. This the negro, -obeying the instructions of his chief, given to the whole village, -at first refused; whereupon the Portuguese tied him to a tree -and thrashed him till the poor wretch, in sheer desperation, -told all he knew. Without wasting another moment the -Portuguese started in pursuit, enraged at having lost five -hours through so simple a trick. Pressing his men, he arrived -within five miles of Tom before dark, and starting again before -sunrise, he had by seven o'clock crept up to within a mile -of his quarry, as Tom had fortunately discovered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom knew nothing of all this, except that the Portuguese -was close on his heels. As his crew bent themselves to their -task, he sat reviewing the situation. He had this advantage -over the Portuguese, that, having seen the pursuer while -himself unseen, he could ply his men with a stronger, because -more actual, incentive to speed. But he had no idea how -much farther they had yet to paddle before they reached Lake -Mazingo, and though two of the natives had performed the -journey before, their ideas of distance were vague. If many -miles remained to be covered, and the chase resolved itself into -a prolonged race, Tom saw clearly enough that the Portuguese -was bound to win, for, having the larger crew, he could divide -his men into relays. Given even chances, then, Tom recognized -the impossibility of outdistancing the pursuer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There remained two alternative courses: either to beach -the canoe at once and take to the woods, or to attempt some -ruse. A moment's reflection showed him that the first was -unwise, for it would mean finding a way laboriously through -unknown forest, necessarily at a slow pace, and the result -might be that before he could overtake the expedition the -mischief would be done. As to the second alternative, Tom -racked his brains for a trick likely to succeed in throwing the -Portuguese off the scent; but the only thing that suggested -itself was to run his canoe up some deep creek, and remain in -hiding there until the larger canoe had passed and might be -deemed out of harm's way. On second thoughts Tom gave -this up also. Failure to sight the canoe he was chasing, -and the sudden cessation of disturbance among the water-fowl -ahead, might arouse suspicion in the pursuer's mind, and -provoke him to search the creeks; and even supposing it did not, -Tom's own progress after the larger canoe had gone by would -have to be regulated so cautiously that in this case also -precious time would be lost. Reviewing all these points, Tom -came to the conclusion that his best plan was to hold on as he -was going as long as he could, and then trust to the accidents -of the chase to make his way clear.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On they went, then, for mile after mile. The sun was now -high, and the willing negroes were panting and perspiring -freely. Mbutu in the bows kept a sharp eye on the winding -river behind, but so far had not caught so much as a glimpse -of the pursuing craft. About ten o'clock, when the crew -were patently flagging, the head-man spoke rapidly to Mbutu, -dropping his paddle for a moment, and pointing eagerly ahead.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What does he say?" asked Tom, observing this.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Him say ribber make bow, sah," said Mbutu, describing -an arc in the air. "Ribber go round hill; way ober hill soon, -much soon. Canoe stop, master walk ober."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom was at first somewhat perplexed at this vague -statement, but by questioning the men he learnt that the canoe -was approaching a great bend in the river, which wound about -the base of a hill some two hundred feet high, thickly covered -with scrub. The distance round the hill by the river was -about a mile and a half, while overland across the hill it was -little more than three-quarters of a mile. Mbutu explained -this by comparing the curving stream to a bent bow, and -the hill path to the bow-string. Tom at once saw that if the -Portuguese were close on their heels, and chanced to know of -the short cut, he might disembark half his crew, cross the -hill, and possibly arrive at the farther end of the arc before -Tom's canoe. In any case, if he were armed, as the natives -had declared, there was little chance of escaping with a whole -skin, or even of escaping at all.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom did not take long to make up his mind what to do. -The canoe was already approaching the bend, and he saw the -hill looming up to the right, covered with purple and -dark-green scrub.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mbutu," he said, "you take the head-man's paddle. He -and I will go across the hill and watch for the enemy. The -rest of you will paddle with all your might round the bend, -and wait for me at the other end of it. I shall then know -exactly what we have to expect."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, sah!" returned Mbutu. "Me paddle well too -much."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The men cleverly ran the canoe alongside a moss-covered -rock, and Tom sprang out, followed by the man who had -given the information. Tired as he was, the native started to -run at Tom's bidding, and picked his way deftly through what -from the riverside looked impenetrable scrub, Tom sprinting -behind with never a pause till they reached the top. There -they stooped behind a low, dense bush, and scanned the -horizon. From this point of vantage the whole of the shining -river could be seen, save where a knoll or bluff intercepted -portions of it. Tom looked eagerly in the direction whence -he had come. Not more than a minute after he had reached -the hill-top the nose of the long canoe shot into sight. Tom -scanned it through his field-glass. The crew were going -strong, but there was nothing to show whether the Portuguese -had sighted the fleeing canoe. Tom was relieved to see that -he had increased his lead slightly since the morning. On came -the graceful craft; four minutes passed, and the silent watchers -saw that it was making for the bank.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The dago, or one of his men, knows of this short cut, then," -said Tom to himself. "I wonder if we left any footprints on -the rock."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But the canoe grounded some distance on the farther side -of Tom's landing-place. The Portuguese jumped ashore, -followed by four of his crew, all armed with rifles. They -began the ascent, not so nimbly as Tom and his companion, -and without discovering any traces of earlier pedestrians. -Tom gave an anxious glance at the river. His canoe was still -a quarter of a mile from the spot which he had already -marked for rejoining it. The other canoe was rounding the -bend, going rather less rapidly. A glance to the left showed -him the Portuguese and his men advancing steadily through -the scrub. It was time to be off. Signing to his man to lead -the way, Tom plunged after him downhill. It was even -rougher going than on the other side. Scrambling here and -sliding there, at the imminent risk of breaking his neck, or at -least spraining an ankle, Tom pelted along after his nimble -guide, and arrived breathless at the water's edge, his clothes -torn and his hands scratched by the scrub and thorn. His -canoe arrived a few moments later, and, wading quickly through -the shallows, Tom and the Muganda clambered on board.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At that instant the still air was cleft by two sharp cracks, -and two bullets whizzed past, dropping harmlessly into the -water. Tom looked up and saw the Portuguese, clearly in -a wild state of excitement, pounding down the hill with his -four negroes. Tom's crew, exultant at having so successfully -escaped, raised their lusty voices in the war-chant of their -tribe, hurling defiance at the baffled pursuers. Tom sternly -bade them cease, pointing to the quarter of a mile of clear -water which they had still to traverse before they reached -the shelter of a new clump of reeds. Again came the -crack! crack! of rifles, but the Portuguese and his men were out of -breath, and their fire was wild. One bullet hit the side of -the canoe. A splinter flew up, striking one of the crew in the -fleshy forearm and making a nasty gash. In a moment Tom -tore a strip from one of his bundles of calico, and, recalling -his experience of ambulance work in the cadet corps at school, -swiftly bound up the wound. He then ordered Mbutu to take -the wounded man's paddle, and turned to watch the doings of -the enemy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But he was already out of sight. The larger canoe, now -hidden by the reeds, had just reached the horn of the curve, -where the Portuguese was awaiting it. He was in a towering -passion, and heaped unmeasured abuse on his luckless crew for -failing to overtake their expected prey. By the time he and -his men were afloat again, Tom's canoe was fully a mile and -a half in advance, and out of sight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was now past mid-day. The heat was terrible, and there -had been no time for a meal since starting. Tom had nibbled -a few biscuits and drunk a little water, and his crew had -munched some of their ground-nuts and cheese, relieving each -other in pairs for a few minutes at a time. Tom did not dare -to allow them to stop paddling altogether, for the pursuing -crew could divide into larger relays, and he guessed that, -having once sighted him, the Portuguese would give his men -no respite until they overtook him. He wondered how long -his own men's marvellous staying-power would hold out. -Watching them anxiously, he saw with concern that, as the -afternoon wore on, their strokes became less certain and put -less and less way on the canoe. Mbutu, willing lad, relieved -the others in turn at intervals, but, though he had said that -he could "paddle well too much", it was obvious that he was -out of training, as well as muscularly less hardy than the -stalwart negroes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>About five o'clock Mbutu, again in his old place in the bow, -cried suddenly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dago man come close!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom glanced round. The larger canoe was no more than -three-quarters of a mile behind, and its crew gave a whoop of -delight when they saw how they had gained on the other. -The Portuguese stood up in the stern, and, raising his rifle to -his shoulder, fired. Mbutu instinctively ducked, and it was -well he did so, for the bullet flew by within an inch of his -head and plumped into the water a few yards beyond. Tom's -canoe then rounded a bend, and once more the pursuers were -lost to view.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Half an hour later the two vessels were again in sight of -each other, and now were scarcely half a mile apart. Another -shot came whizzing through the air, and passed between the -two Baganda nearest Mbutu. They gave a slight shudder -as they heard its weird ping, and bent frantically to their -paddles. Tom's mouth was set, and there came into his blue -eyes the steely expression which had always given his -school-fellows a feeling of expectancy and apprehension. He did -not think of himself. He thought only of his uncle and the -Portuguese, of how for his uncle's sake he must by hook or -by crook evade the clutches of the conspirator behind. His -feeling towards the pursuer was curiously impersonal, the -same kind of feeling that he would have had towards a -bowler at cricket--a skilled player to keep his eye on and -beat if he could. He saw that but for some unforeseen -accident he would be compelled to take to the woods within -a very few minutes, and then, though he was resolved not -to be captured, he would give little for his chances of -reaching the expedition in time.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At this critical moment his eye lit on a tree overhanging -the river, which had here narrowed to little more than a gorge -between steep banks. It was light in the trunk, but very -thick in foliage. A second glance showed him that the roots, -protruding from loose red soil, were almost bare, and he -instantly inferred that a recent storm, and probably the -flooding of the river, had shaken their hold. A third glance as the -canoe brought him nearer made it plain that, but for a -rope-work of climbing plants which had woven itself about the -trunk, the tree would have already fallen across the stream.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom saw here a bare chance of escape, and, with characteristic -readiness to seize the merest semblance of an opportunity, -he prepared to make the most of it. As the canoe shot along -beneath the overhanging branches, he marked a small rivulet -that cut a way through the bank just beyond the tree. In -a ringing voice, careless now whether his pursuer heard him -or not, he ordered the men to run the canoe ashore, then to -follow him up the narrow watercourse with their axes. In -half a minute he had swarmed up the bank; in another half -the men's keen axes had torn away the climbing-plant -supports. His men threw themselves </span><em class="italics">en masse</em><span> upon the trunk, -and just as the enemy's canoe came within two hundred paces, -the tree fell with a loud crash, and lay across from bank to -bank, completely blocking the waterway with its tangle of -boughs and leaves. Springing down the bank again, Tom and -his panting crew jumped into the canoe, and were three -hundred yards up-stream and nearly out of sight before the -Portuguese had realized the impossibility of continuing the -chase on the water. He wasted some minutes in a vain -attempt to drag his craft over the obstruction, and a few more -in flinging curses after Tom and firing at random over the -tree; then he landed with his crew, and began to chase his -quarry along the shore. But before he had run a quarter of -a mile he found himself up to his knees in ooze, and, after -floundering helplessly about for a time, he fired one vindictive -shot and relinquished the pursuit.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Not till then did Tom allow his crew to relax their efforts.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Easy all; you have done well!" he cried.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They shipped their paddles gladly. They were gasping for -breath; the sinews of their arms stood out like whip-cord, and -their streaming faces had taken on the livid hue that is the -only paleness a black knows. Tom himself, after the tension -of the last hour, felt limp and unstrung, and it was with a -sigh of thankfulness that he heard Mbutu, interpreting one of -the natives, inform him that the marshy flats at which they -had arrived formed the eastern extremity of Lake Mazingo. -The sun was just setting, and in the fast-gathering darkness -he could descry the gigantic forms of hippopotamuses and -rhinoceroses taking their evening bath in the mud.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Feeling assured that the surrounding swamp would effectually -protect him from any nocturnal surprise on the part of the -Portuguese, Tom gave orders to the men to make as good a -meal as they could, and then to sleep in the canoe, taking -turns to watch. For himself, he stayed his hunger with a few -bananas that Mbutu had put aside for him, some biscuits, and -a cake of unleavened millet produced by his thoughtful -henchman. He examined the wounded man's arm, and gave it a -fresh dressing; then, worn out by the anxieties and excitements -of the day, he wrapped himself in his rug, gazed up at -the benignant stars, and fell fast asleep.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="a-long-march"><span class="large">CHAPTER V</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">A Long March</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">Lake Mazingo--Tom's Talisman--Scenes on the March--In -Sight--Tom Surprises the Doctor--Imubinga</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Tom woke with the dawn, feeling anything but well. His -head was aching violently; he was reluctant to move; and -when at last he threw off his rug and raised himself on his -elbow, his head swam and he shivered. A clammy mist lay -thick upon the surface of the lake, completely hiding -everything beyond a radius of a dozen yards. The water smelt -abominably, reminding Tom so strongly of the Clyde at its -worst that he said to himself: "I declare I am homesick!" and -laughed at the new application of the word.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It looks very much," he thought, "as though I'm in for a -spell of fever. But I simply can't afford time to be ill. Wish -this wretched mist would clear away, so that I could see -whereabouts we are."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At this moment Mbutu came up from the other end of the -canoe. He held out a small paper packet to his master, who -took it and opened it before his dazed recollection was fully -awake.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! cinchona, that blessed bark!" he exclaimed, when he -saw the white powder. "I remember the padre gave us some -to put among our baggage. Thanks, Mbutu! you're a clever -fellow to guess so readily what is wrong with me. Well, here -goes; out of the bitter" (he swallowed the drug) "shall come -forth the sweet, and let's hope I'll soon be as strong as Samson -himself. And look! there's the sun struggling through this -detestable wet blanket. The mist will soon be gone, and then -we must make a start."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Berrah well, sah," said Mbutu. "Me sleepy too much, sah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sleepy, are you? How's that? I slept as sound as that -fellow--what was his name?--who snored for a hundred years. -What!" (as an idea struck him) "you don't mean to say -you've been watching all night?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh yes, sah! Sah berrah sleepy; dem black man no good; -me tink about croc'dile. Uncle, sah, go by-by in canoe all -same too much; leg trickle ober side, sah; croc'dile berrah -hungry; come 'long, 'long; no nize, sah; him--"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu's only story was interrupted at this point by a howl -from one of the crew. Expecting to see at least a leg or an -arm less among them, Tom started up. What he actually saw -was the howling native lying face upwards at full length along -the bottom of the canoe, and his three mates walking solemnly -over him, kneading him with their feet, a look of solemn -determination imprinted on their features. What most astonished -Tom was that, though the prostrate man still yelled, he appeared -to like the performance, and rolled his eyes gratefully at his -perambulating friends.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What--what on earth are they doing?" laughed Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Him sick too much in tummick, sah," said Mbutu gravely. -"Too much cheese, sah. Better next time soon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is that their cure for dyspepsia, then? I must tell -Dr. Corney about this. What a fine poster it would make for -advertising somebody's pills! As the howls have stopped, I -suppose the poor fellow is better?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Berrah well now, sah. Him no eat cheese not much no -more. Cheese too much nice."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom laughed. The sun was rapidly dispersing the mist, -which rolled back like a circular curtain. The surface of the -lake was clear for half a mile round, though clear was after -all not the word for it, papyrus sticking up thickly in all -directions. Tom felt again rather depressed as he scanned -the dismal prospect, but did his best to shake off the weight. -Unable to eat anything himself, he ordered his men to have -their breakfast and prepare to start.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The whole of that day was occupied in paddling down -the lake. Tom could hardly endure the slowness of their -progress. The crew would paddle for half a mile, then find -the canoe entangled in a maze of subaqueous creepers, and -have to try back for twenty yards or so and look for another -passage. Once, going at a fair pace, it embedded itself in a -submerged bank of black mud, and all its occupants had to -jump overboard, and partly by heaving, partly by loosening -the mud with the axes, free the craft from the obstruction. -Then, as the afternoon wore on, mosquitoes and ticks -innumerable buzzed about their heads. The natives paid little -heed to these importunate visitors, but Tom's face, neck, and -arms were stung in scores of places, and he suffered almost -intolerable torture. He found some mental relief in opening -on his knees the writing-case given him by Mr. Barkworth, and -penning an account of his adventures, intending to send the -letter by one of the crew on their return journey. In course -of time they came opposite a small native village on the -lake-side, and Mbutu, with Tom's permission, leapt overboard -and waded to the shore. He returned in about half an hour -carrying a closely-woven straw basket, which he handed to Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Drink, sah, fust; berrah well. Next time, rub hands and -face, so; berrah well. Berrah nice, sah; hurt all go too soon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom saw that the basket was half-full of delicious new milk. -He drank more gratefully than ever in his life before, then -washed his face and arms in what was left.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>About five o'clock they reached a point which the natives -declared was the southern extremity of the lake, and beyond -which they had been forbidden by their chief to go. Tom -heaved a sigh of relief.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is an hour before sundown," he said. "We ought to -be able to find a native hut or two by that time--eh, Mbutu?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sure nuff, sah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The first thing is to get ashore. The water is not deep -enough for us to pull in, and the bottom seems nothing but mud."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All same, sah; me know all 'bout it, sah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Fixing his keen eyes on the water around, Mbutu picked -out the direction in which the depth of water was greatest and -the reeds thinnest, and under his guidance the Baganda gently -paddled the canoe to within thirty yards of the shore.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Stop dis place," he said at last. "Sah say by-by to black -man; black man go home now; home to pickin."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom got out his rolls of calico and packets of beads, and -gravely cut off from the one and counted out from the other -the stipulated quantities, which he handed to the crew, adding -a present to each, and an extra douceur to the head-man and -the poor fellow injured the day before. He then made them -a speech, thanking them in the King's name for the service -they had done the British Empire in general and Major John -Burnaby in particular, Mbutu translating very freely, and at -considerable length, into the vernacular. Finally he handed -his letter to the head-man, telling him that Mr. Barkworth -would give him a handsome present when he delivered it. -Then he went over the side, Mbutu following with the baggage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was past six o'clock, and almost without warning the sun -sank down upon their right, and everything was dark. Mbutu -led the way over the swampy soil, his master following gingerly -at the distance of about a yard, just able to discern his black -form. After ten minutes' walking they felt the ground -gradually becoming drier, and half an hour later they found -themselves treading a turf that reminded Tom of the Berkshire -downs. He asked Mbutu what plan he had formed. The -boy replied that he had none, except to find a village where -they might rest in safety for the night. He added that he -was beginning to be afraid of snakes, and hinted that a lion -or two might happen to be prowling abroad.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Me want see light, sah," he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At length, after they had been walking for an hour and a -half, he gleefully exclaimed that he saw a twinkle ahead. -Fifteen minutes later the pedestrians came to a sort of -guard-house gateway, built of mud and wattles, across a narrow -path. They passed through it, and found themselves in the -single street of a village lined with grass huts on each side, -one of these, somewhat larger than the rest, having a fire in -it, the glow of which Mbutu had seen through the door-hole. -The inhabitants appeared to be asleep; there was no sound -save the faint baa of a goat in the compound beyond, and the -melancholy night moo of a cow. Signing to his master to stop, -Mbutu put down his little load, found a strip of calico and a -bracelet of beads, and uttered a curious cry, between the call -of a hyena and the howl of a wolf. In an instant, as it seemed, -the two strangers were surrounded by a ring of natives, who -in their haste had snatched up as weapons whatever came first -to hand. Torches were soon on the scene, and by their light -the amazed natives saw the disturbers of their repose: a tall -white man, nearly six feet high, young, broad-shouldered, -with thin, hairless face--thinned even by the anxieties of -the last few days,--keen blue eyes, and firm lips; and a -Muhima, some eight inches shorter than his master, his thick -lips and woolly hair proclaiming his negro blood, but his -eyes and brow and arched nose bespeaking a strain derived -from a far-distant Egyptian ancestry. Englishman and -Muhima, each with race marked in every line of his figure, -stood facing the wondering villagers unflinchingly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Mbutu began to explain, and Tom stood patiently for -an hour while his follower lauded him to the skies, claimed -for him qualities and connections of the most exalted nobility, -and demanded hospitality from the villagers in the name of -the Great White King. They were visibly impressed, and -talked away energetically among themselves. Then the chief -came forward and said that he knew the servants of the Great -White King were good brothers of his; he had seen some of -them only the day before; but how was he to be sure that his -white visitor was not one of the Wa-daki, whom he hated as -he hated snakes and leopards? Tom was at first at a loss how -to convince the chief of his British nationality. Suddenly -bethinking himself, he took out his pocket-book, in which he -had a few postage-stamps. He tore off one, and showed it -to the negro. When Mbutu explained that the head on the -stamp was the head of the Great White King, the chief was -delighted; still more when Tom, wetting it, solemnly affixed -it to his black arm. After that the enraptured chief announced -that his own hut was freely at the disposition of the white man.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom's host was a villainous-looking savage, but he proved -most hospitable. His hut contained nothing but a hard plank -raised on short pegs from the earthen floor, a broken box, a -small fire, and a general supply of insects. Mbutu explained -that his master, whom he called his great chief, was tired and -wished to sleep, but that first he must have a meal, and would -purchase a young fowl. That was instantly forthcoming, and -in a few minutes Mbutu had prepared an excellent supper of -grilled chicken, unleavened millet-cakes, and tea unsweetened, -but qualified with cow's milk.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the following morning Tom sent Mbutu to summon the -chief to a palaver. That solemn function lasted for two hours, -and Tom was on thorns till it was over. The talking was -mainly between Mbutu and the chief, and Tom was amazed -that so much eloquence had to be expended in giving and -receiving so little information. All that he learnt was that -the expedition had passed within a couple of miles of the -village soon after sunrise on the previous day, and that it was -proceeding due west, to punish the Arabs and the Manyema. -The chief was very emphatic on this point; he declared that -the Arabs and their allies deserved all they would get, for -they had made themselves a terror for miles round, treating -the natives with frightful cruelty, lopping off hands and feet, -slitting noses, killing outright, sometimes in wanton devilry, -sometimes as punishment for trivial offences. The expedition -had bought a few sheep and goats, and paid for them, but -"not nuff", as Mbutu interpreted to his master, adding, -however, that no native chief would ever admit himself satisfied: -"black chief all same for one".</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom was delighted to hear that his uncle was only a day's -march in front of him. Discovering that the route lay for -miles over grass country, gradually rising until it entered a -mountainous region, he inferred that the British force would -now be moving at a slow rate, which increased his chances -of overtaking it soon. With a march overland before him, -he felt the advisability of having a weapon of some sort in -case of emergency, and asked the chief through Mbutu if he -had a rifle to sell. The chief produced a very old and rusty -weapon, with some cartridges, and Tom grimaced when, on -trying a shot, he found himself thrown backward by the -unexpected force of its kick. He accepted it in default of -a better, and left Mbutu to settle the price.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was past ten o'clock when the two travellers, amid the -friendly farewells of the whole village, set off on their march. -Tom guessed that the expedition, being rather more than -twenty-four hours ahead of them, was at this time some -twenty-five miles away, and he hoped with good luck to decrease -that lead very considerably before nightfall. Mbutu's load, -diminished by the quantities of calico and beads already parted -with, was now much lighter than when he started, so that, -though shorter, he found himself quite able to keep up with -Tom, who set off with an easy stride.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After about half an hour's walking, they struck into the -track of the expedition. It was a path not more than a foot -wide, which in some parts evidently followed a previous -native track, in other parts had been trodden for the first time -by the advancing force. Tom was surprised to find it so -narrow, until informed by Mbutu that in Africa native troops -almost invariably kept single file while on the march. The -path led over rolling grassy downs, clumps of bracken and -bramble here and there giving them a very home-like appearance. -In one place, indeed, Tom was delighted to see a few -daisies growing; he stooped and picked one, smiling, as he -stuck it in his coat, to think of the thousands of daisies he had -trampled under foot at home without even a passing thought. -Large trees were few and far between on the savannah, but -one, which he had never seen before, seemed to Tom -extraordinarily graceful--a long, straight, even stem, with a cluster -of strange fronds spreading fan-like from its top.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The path led across streams of clear sparkling water, in -which, as the sun grew hotter, Tom was glad to bathe his -face and feet, and occasionally to drink. The banks of -every stream of considerable size were clothed with luxuriant -vegetation, palms, acacias, lianas growing thickly together, -with tall grass, wild bananas, and flowering creepers which -made a dazzling and beautiful picture. Crimson butterflies -darted hither and thither among the foliage. "How Jenks -would revel in this on a Saturday afternoon!" thought Tom, -and was reminded that he had lost count of the days. He -opened his pocket-diary, and by tracing back his recent -adventures found that it was Saturday, the 8th of June. -"And to-morrow's Uncle Jack's birthday!" he remembered. -"Well, I've no present for him--except myself, and I don't -suppose" (the thought was accompanied by a rueful smile) -"he'll be overglad to see me--at least at first."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was at this moment entering a patch of forest on the -edge of a stream, and Mbutu pointed out some deep scratches -on the grayish boles.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What are they?" asked Tom. "They remind me of the -scratches on the legs of the table in my father's study, and -our old cat--heavens, how long it seems since I saw them!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Leopards did 'em, sah! When dey catch us dey eat us."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Really! Then they mustn't catch us, that's all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Just as the words were out of his mouth, a terrific crash -to the left made him jump and stand watchfully bent forward -with his loaded rifle. He peered into the dense mass of foliage, -but saw nothing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No leopard, sah; leopard no make nize."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is it, then?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dere he are, sah! Dat him! Big amalua, sah!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They had just reached the water's edge. Away to the left, -sousing himself in the running stream, they saw a splendid -elephant, with gleaming tusks that would have brought joy -to a hunter's soul. Tom would have tried a shot, if he had -not already proved that his rifle was hopelessly antiquated -and short-ranged, and with his present responsibility he did -not feel justified in running any avoidable risks. He sighed, -and passed on, over a bridge of tree-trunks cleverly bound -together by ropes made of papyrus and creepers. It had -evidently been slightly repaired for the passage of the British -force, some of the plant-ropes looking fresh and new.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the other side of the stream came another stretch of -fairly level country, with short, straw-coloured grass, -interrupted here and there by a swamp. By half-past five Tom -calculated that they had covered no more than twenty miles, -and he was uncomfortably conscious of his want of training. -He had a drawn, burning sensation at the ball of his left foot, -and felt pretty sure that he would find there the making of a -blister. Luckily, just before sundown they came to a banana -plantation, amid which, on a knoll, stood a very neat and -tidy-looking hut. It happened to be empty, and Tom thought it -no wrong to the absent owner to make it his quarters for the -night. There were a few rough clay utensils in it, and Mbutu, -fetching water from the brook which ran round the base of the -knoll, soon made some tea, which, with bananas cut fresh, -millet cakes, and oatmeal biscuits, furnished a satisfactory -supper. Tom bathed his feet, and at Mbutu's suggestion -covered them with a compress of bananas. In the morning -he found, rather to his surprise, that this novel application -had been most beneficial. It was only one of the hundred -uses to which, as he learnt by degrees afterwards, the natives -put the plant: its pulp made flour and beer, spirits and soap; -its rind made plates and dishes and napkins; while its stalks -provided pipes, and even material for footbridges.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next day they started at sunrise. Walking was more -arduous than it had been on the previous day, for the ground -rose gradually, becoming more and more rocky, cut at intervals -by ravines, and showing here and there fragments of what -Tom believed must be lava. The soil was in truth volcanic; -not very many miles to the south of their path stood two -volcanoes still moderately active, and but a few miles north -there were mountain lakes lying hidden in the craters of -volcanoes long extinct. Tom knew nothing of these, however; -he was only concerned with the hard fact that walking was -unpleasant, and that over the rocky ground the track of the -expedition was sometimes difficult to discover. The one -consolation was that, slow as their own progress was, the progress -of the expedition, as the Zanzibari porters carried their loads -over ravine and boulder, must necessarily be slower. Foot-sore, -aching in every limb, he nevertheless pressed on indomitably, -hoping against hope that he might overtake his uncle -before night. But though he anxiously looked ahead through -his field-glass, he saw nothing but broken, rocky country, and -at five miles' distance his view was interrupted altogether by a -rugged line of hills.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sun went down in crimson splendour. There was no -hut on this occasion to afford sleeping room to the weary -travellers. Building a fire with some wood from a scanty -copse on the bank of a ravine, they found a shelter hard by -among the rocks, and slept in their rugs. Up again at -day-break, they pushed on, and were pleased to find, on reaching -the range of hills before mentioned, that the ground there -sloped gradually downwards, and the path led once more into -a grassy plain. Just before noon, after crossing a bridge, -evidently new, thrown over a wider stream than any they had -yet encountered, and walking up a steep grassy acclivity, Tom -raised his glass to his eyes, and uttered an exclamation of -thankfulness and joy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There they are, Mbutu!" he cried. "I see them! It -must be the expedition. It's just like a long snake winding -through a broad defile over there. Look! Now isn't it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu peered long and earnestly into the distance.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Right, sah! I see dem big black man. Dey plenty big, -plenty strong. Soon be dar, sah; see sah him uncle."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom stopped short.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Look here, Mbutu," he said, "an idea has just struck me. -You mustn't be seen at first. If that scamp of a guide sees -you, he will suspect something, and our long journey may be -thrown away. I must go on first. He doesn't know me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Berrah well, sah; all same for one."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You're not afraid, are you? I shouldn't like a wild animal -to run off with my katikiro."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu grinned.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No 'fraid dis time, sah. Sah him uncle drive all wild -beast away; all dat nize, sah; wild beast no like nize; make -him tummick bad too much, sah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, I needn't leave you yet. They're still about five -miles ahead, I should think, and they're almost over the -hill-top now. When we get within sight of the rear-guard -again, I'll go on, and you must keep in touch till you're sent -for."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom's feet by this time were giving him torture. He felt -horribly fagged, and, realizing how hungry he was, he sighed, -above all things in the world, for a juicy steak and a jug of -shandy-gaff, such as used to await the school fifteen after a -hard house match. "But I'm not going to give in at the -death," he said to himself doggedly. "And I should think -another couple of hours would do it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He crossed the hill, and saw the tail-end of the force not -more than two miles ahead, just passing into a clump of trees, -on the near side of which were two or three native huts.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's where you must stay, Mbutu. It's about four -o'clock now, so the force will be camping very soon, and we -shan't be far ahead of you. Now, I'm going on. Good-bye -for the present; I fancy you'll see me again after dark."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, sah; so long!" The slang sounded strange in -the mouth of a Muhima, and Tom's lips twitched with -amusement as he turned his back.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Forty minutes later, as he was walking as fast as his sore -feet allowed through a stretch of thin forest, he was halted by -the bayonet of a Soudanese sergeant, who looked at him with -amazement.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, sergeant; I'm Major Burnaby's nephew. You -can let me through."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Soudanese happened to be one of the draft picked up -at Entebbe, and thus had not seen Tom before. He seemed -too much surprised to think. The stranger was unmistakeably -an Englishman, however, and he could not be going very far -wrong if he sent him under guard to the major. Calling two -of his men, he instructed them to lead Tom between them to -the commanding officer, who was superintending the formation -of a camp about a mile ahead.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom limped along, feeling now too much excited, as well as -exhausted, to attempt any conversation with his escort. Two -minutes after leaving the sergeant, he heard a familiar voice -before him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There now, more comfortable now, aren't ye? Just take -care you don't go putting your foot on a thorn again. Bedad, -it's you scoundhrels of porters that get more out of the -R.A.M.C. than the soldiers at all, at all. Now just be after -minding your toes, ye spalpeen."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Dr. Corney O'Brien had just extracted a thorn from a -Zanzibari's foot, when he looked up and caught sight of Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By all the holy powers!" he exclaimed. "It's you!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes--it's myself, doctor," said Tom, with a feeble attempt -to smile.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Pon my soul, I thought it was your ghost!" gasped the -doctor. "Ah, faith, won't the major be pleased! I wouldn't -be in your shoes for-- But, save us, the lad's dead-beat."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Excitement even more than fatigue had overcome Tom's -nerve at last; but for the support of the two Soudanese he -would have fallen. Quick as thought the little doctor whipped -out a flask and poured a few drops of brandy between his lips.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now you fellows," he called to the Soudanese, "just rig -up a litter. Come, look alive! Half a minute by my watch, -no more!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The stalwart soldiers, in less than the time specified, had -improvised a litter out of their rifles and a couple of coats.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, my dear bhoy, we will hear Ould Blazes' remarks in -ten minutes. Gently, now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But, Doctor, really I can't go into camp in a litter," said -Tom, whose fainting fit had lasted but a few seconds.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Can't ye, bedad? You can't go any other way, nor you -shan't if you can. Sure an' you're as thin's a lath; no wonder -the leopards and lions and all the other wild cratures let ye -through! No, ye're not to talk at all; I'll do the talking; just -lie quiet and ride into camp in state. Ah, but the major's -face'll be a sight to see--bedad it will! I wouldn't miss it for -wurrulds."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had assisted Tom gently into the litter slung between -the two stolid Soudanese; and thus, with a sense of peace and -comfort for all his weariness, the wanderer was ushered into -the presence of his uncle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hullo, Corney!" shouted the major, as he caught sight of -the litter, his jolly voice sounding the very keynote of -cheerfulness, and sending a thrill through Tom's soul. "Hullo, -Corney! another of your pet malingerers, eh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not this time. This fellow--would ye believe it?--won't -admit there's anything wrong with 'm. Better prepare for a -shock, old man. I've not asked 'm yet what 'tis that's brought -'m here, but--</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good heavens, it's Tom!" cried the major in amazement, -which speedily blazed into wrath. "Well, of all the -confounded, impudent, disob--"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hould yer whisht!" interrupted the doctor. "Do ye not -see the lad's dead-beat entirely! The blazes 'll keep. Really, -Major, there's something at the bottom of this, or he would -not be here. He needs some food first thing; you've got your -tent up, I see. Well then, I'll get Saladin to make some -Liebig, and when I've had my innings with the bhoy--well, -blaze away if you must."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The major said no more. His tent was pitched in the centre -of a thorn zariba a hundred and twenty yards square, and the -men were busily engaged in running up grass huts and entrenching -the camp. Tom was carried to the tent, where in a very short -time the energetic little doctor had a steaming bowl of -beef-tea, some substantial biscuits, and a bottle of burgundy ready -for him. He ought, after his meal, said the doctor, to go to -sleep, but Tom declared he could not rest until he had -explained his presence, and the doctor gave way, being indeed -not a little curious to hear Tom's story. He therefore fetched -the major, who was indefatigable in his personal superintendence -of the camping arrangements, and, with a private hint to -him not to be peppery, brought him into the tent.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They listened attentively as Tom told how Mbutu had come -to him on the night of the starting of the expedition, and, on -learning that Tom was the major's nephew, had reported the -conversation he had overheard; and how he had come with -the boy on the padre's launch to the mouth of the Ruezi, and -thence by canoe and overland. The major was at first -inclined to pooh-pooh the story altogether, but when the doctor -pointed out that unless there was some truth in it, the -Portuguese would have had no object in pursuing Tom so hotly, he -looked grave, and tugged at the ends of his moustache.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But he had other grounds for annoyance. Nobody likes -to be knocked down--and certainly not a Portuguese. But -where's that boy of yours, by the by? I will see him myself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I told him to wait a couple of miles out, so as not to be -seen by your guide," replied Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Quite right; but it's dark now. I'll send a couple of men -to bring him in. We must see how this remarkable story -squares with present circumstances."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The major returned rather more than an hour later. "Hasn't -that black boy turned up yet?" he asked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Give'm time," answered the doctor. "'Tis two miles out -and two miles in, remember."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, he won't be long now. By the way, Tom, what -race does he belong to?--Banyoro, Baganda, or what?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He's a Bahima," replied Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Muhima," corrected the major, "Muhima for the individual. -His people the Bahima are the aristocrats of the country! -They've degenerated through mixing with the negroes, but -I've no doubt they really are far-away descendants of the -ancient Egyptians. Here he is!" added the major, as Mbutu -was pushed into the tent by the orderly. "Well, my boy, -don't be afraid of me; I'm your master's uncle. Just come -and tell me all about it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu told the story in his long-winded stumbling way, -the major listening attentively, and helping him when he stuck -for a word.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well now, did you hear those two men mention any place -in the course of their talk?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu thought for a moment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Imubinga, sah!" he said at last. "I know dat. Imubinga! -Oh yes!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Imubinga! Corney, that's the place, you remember, -where the guide said we should camp to-morrow; the inhabitants -are likely to have a good supply of food, he said, and -that's a blessing in such a sparsely-populated district. This -begins to look more serious. I'll send scouts forward first -thing in the morning to see if the guide's information is -correct so far as it goes. Imubinga, you remember he told -us, is in a plain on the far side of a range of hills, got at -through a long defile of six miles or so. If that turns out -correct, depend upon it this precious ambush will be laid -somewhere about the end of the defile. Ambush, indeed! -What do they take me for! Still, you never know; we'll -be on the safe side."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hungry, boy?" asked the doctor, turning to Mbutu.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sah," replied Mbutu promptly. "Berrah nice chicken -in pot, sah. Big black soldier gib some. Oh yes!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well," said the major with a smile, "you'll stay in my -tent to-night, and understand you are not to go out without -leave. The guide must not see you. Why, Corney, Tom's -asleep. Did you doctor his wine, eh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just the least touch in his second glass. 'Twill do the -boy good. Sure 'tis sleep he wants."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"D'you know, Corney, I'm proud of this nephew of mine."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"An' ye ought to be, ye ould martinet."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You wouldn't have me tell him so to his face, would you? -Well now, I'll go and see Lister about the scouts; may as -well send Mumford in charge, don't you think? And then -I must stop the men's jabber; they'll cackle till two in the -morning if I don't."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Faith, 'tis time I turned in myself. Good-night, Major!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Major Burnaby arranged with Captain Lister for the -despatch of a scouting-party at daybreak under Lieutenant -Mumford. Then he made a round of the camp to see -that the watch-fires were alight and the sentries properly -posted. Finding that the men had finished their supper, he -sternly bade them stop talking and go to sleep. Soon the -clacking of nine hundred tongues ceased, and the camp lay all -peaceful beneath the rising moon.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="unmasked"><span class="large">CHAPTER VI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">Unmasked</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">Cross Questions--Crooked Answers--The Guide Tells his -Story--Rumaliza's Plot--The Coming Fight</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>It was eight o'clock next morning when Tom opened his eyes -and tried to remember where he was. Stretching himself -on the narrow camp-bed, the twinge that shot from his calves -to his shoulders reminded him of his two days' tramp, and -he hoped very sincerely that the force was not to move on -at once. Luckily for him his uncle had decided to give the -men a rest for a few hours, at any rate until the return of the -scouts, who had started at six o'clock. The doctor, coming -into the tent soon after nine, insisted on his taking a hot bath, -and then spent an hour in massaging him. It was in vain -that Tom protested against being coddled.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Coddled indeed! You've a march and a fight in front -of you, and ye'll want the free use of your limbs and all your -staying-power, sure."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A fight!" said Tom eagerly; "d'you think Uncle Jack will -let me take part in it, Doctor?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The doctor smiled grimly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't know about Uncle Jack, young man, but if you're -not in it there will be no fight at all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Pondering this enigmatical utterance, Tom left the tent -by and by and strolled round the camp. Captain Lister met -him and greeted him warmly, without a word as to what had -brought him, and when he encountered his uncle, who was, -as usual, full of activity, yet without a vestige of fussiness, -that capital soldier had time to grip his hand and hope he was -getting "fit".</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The four Europeans were sitting beneath the flap of the tent, -eating a late breakfast of roast goat and banana fritters, when -Lieutenant Mumford returned with his little body of Soudanese -scouts and reported himself. Tom had seen very little -of him during the few days he had spent at Kisumu, and then -thought he was too dandified and lackadaisical to be of much -use on active service. He was therefore somewhat surprised -now to hear what a business-like and competent account the -lieutenant gave of his movements. He had penetrated, he -said, to within two miles of the hills beyond which lay the -objective of the expedition. He had met with no sign of the -enemy, Arab or native, but had seen many a proof of their -depredations in the ruined huts and blackened fields passed -on the way. The native populations, sparse in these regions -at any time, seemed now to have been either exterminated or -carried into captivity. What the guide had said about the -nature of the country, and the difficulty of procuring food, was -perfectly true; and the scouts had only turned back when -they reached the near end of the defile he had mentioned, -Mumford considering it useless to spend time in traversing -a perfectly open route.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well," said the major. "You'd better get something -to eat now, Mumford."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's one thing I ought to mention first. We've brought -back a native with us, sir--from Visegwe's country, he said. -He told us that his village had been raided by Arabs, and -himself carried off as a slave and employed as a porter and -general hack. His account of how he escaped is rather tall, -but I can only repeat what he said. He was marching with -the rest of his gang when a couple of rhinoceroses charged the -column, and threw things into such confusion that he found -a chance to slip away. He was making his way back home -when he met us, so I thought it just as well to bring him -along in case he could give us some useful information."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Quite right, Mumford. Send the fellow here. Tom, I -suppose that boy of yours is a bit of a linguist, eh? He may -as well do the interpreting."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>While Lieutenant Mumford was gone to fetch the native, -the major took out his map and spread it out on a space -cleared on the folding table.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, I see," he said; "if this native comes from the Arab -quarters beyond the Rutchuru, his road homewards would lie -across our line of march. He may be useful to us. A -strapping fellow, Corney; look at him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The negro, a finely proportioned young Ankoli, some twenty-five -years of age, came up under a guard of Soudanese, who -left him standing before the major. In answer to questions, -he repeated the story given by Lieutenant Mumford, with -some variations which might have been due to Mbutu's -capacity for translation. He added that while hiding in the -Wutaka hills, with the Kutchuru spread out before him, he -had seen the Arabs cross the river and disappear among the -hills to the west, retiring no doubt to the distant stronghold -whence they made their raids. The man told his story frankly -and ingenuously, and answered the major's questions without -hesitation. As he described the atrocities committed by the -Arabs, his language and gestures were expressive of intense -indignation, and indicated that no vengeance could be too -terrible for his oppressors.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you know a place called Imubinga?" asked the major -quietly, when the man had finished.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the word, Tom, who was watching him intently, saw his -eyelids droop for the fraction of a second. Imubinga! Yes, -he knew it; a deserted village a mile or so on the other side -of the hills; a capital camping-place, being sheltered by forests -trees and well situated as regards water. The major made a -rough plan with bits of biscuit and stalks of grass, and asked -the native to show him as well as he could the whereabouts of -Imubinga, knowing that the African is very clever in thus -constructing picture plans. This done, he marked the place -tentatively on his map and dismissed the man.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gentlemen," he said, when the negro was out of earshot, -"the man is a liar--quite an accomplished one. His masters -could hardly have chosen a better man for the job."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The three officers and Tom looked at the major, waiting in -silence for the explanation of this discovery. At this moment -Mbutu, who had for some time been showing signs of great -excitement, broke in impetuously:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Black man talk bosh! All one lie. Him no slave not at -all! Him big awful liar!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Your young man has an emphatic way of expressing himself," -said the major; "you had better tell him, Tom, to hold -his tongue until he is asked to speak, and in fact to leave us. -But he is right. A slave who had been employed in carrying -ivory for the Arabs would bear the marks of a collar and -fetters. Looking at that handsome Ankoli I failed to find -these marks, and suspected the man. You will see now that -I framed my questions in such a way as to give him rope, and -the way he acted his part and worked up the passion was -amazingly clever. But he overdid it, as they always will. -What do you make of it all, Lister?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now in a scrimmage Captain Lister was a host in himself, -but at the council-board he was not fluent. Contentedly -pulling at his short brier, all he said was:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Rummy, eh? What!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Things had meanwhile been crystallizing in Tom's mind. -The ambush had been foremost in his thoughts for many days -past; possibly that was the reason why the suggestion came -from him. However that may be, it was he who remarked -quietly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"D'you think the pretended slave is a confederate of the -guide's, Uncle?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The major looked dubious. He liked to see every step in -the process--all the working of the sum, so to speak.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Fadl," he said, "just order the guide Munta to step this way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The major's orderly, a Soudanese more than six feet high, -stalked into the camp square.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, Mbutu," called the major, "come here; I want you -to stand out of sight in the tent there till I beckon you. By -the way, Tom, that dago fellow had a name, I suppose. What -is it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I never heard it, Uncle. Mbutu has always called him -'old master' or 'dago man' to me. What was your master's -name, Mbutu?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Black man call him debbil, sah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Never mind what the black man calls him, what do the -Arabs call him? What did this guide of ours call him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Call him señor, padrone; one time call him Castro, one -time more call him Carvalho; him lot names too many."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bedad now," exclaimed the doctor, "it all comes back to -me. Carvalho!--of course, 'tis the name of the Portuguese -who gave us no end of trouble in Quid Calabar ten years ago. -I disremimbered'm entirely; ten years makes a terrible -difference in a man, to be sure; though when I saw Tom knock him -down there was something in the creature's scowl that seemed -familiar. Sure an' I ought to have remimbered his bumps. -A desp'rate ruff'n of a fellow, Major. He came to me wance -to be stitched up after getting mauled in a drunken brawl, an' -I got to know a thing or two about'm. Ah! an' there was wan -curious affair he was mixed up in that--</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm afraid the story must keep, Doctor; here's the guide."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Captain Lister put down his pipe; Lieutenant Mumford lit -a cigarette. The Arab, or rather half-caste, approached -confidently and saluted. The major looked up.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Have you any reason to give," he said quietly, "why you -should not be taken out and shot?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man stared open-mouthed at the speaker. His face -appeared to turn a bronze-green, and his lips twitched. The -major was watching him intently.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't--I don't understand, master," he stammered at length.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! Let us begin at the beginning. Do you know one -Castro, a Portuguese, who was in Kisumu for some days before -we started?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man, with a strong effort of will, had mastered the -agitation into which the major's sudden question had thrown him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He is going to brazen it out," said that observant officer -to himself; and after the slightest perceptible pause, the Arab -replied:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not know him, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He beckoned to Mbutu, who had been standing with his -face concealed by the flap of the tent. The Muhima came out -into the sunlight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you know this boy?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom saw the Arab's eyelids quiver.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No--I do not know him, master. I never saw him before."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Major Burnaby turned to the Muhima.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mbutu, is this the man?" he asked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Him sure nuff, sah; him gib me kiboko."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The boy lies. I never saw him; I know nothing about him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well. I shall have to refresh your memory. Fadl, -tell Sergeant Abdullah to bring up a firing-party."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was a strained silence. The Arab looked round -apprehensively as six men of the King's African Rifles came -up, ordered arms, and stood rigidly at attention.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The major took his watch from his pocket and laid it on -the table in front of him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I give you five minutes," he said. "If you do not make -up your mind to tell the truth within five minutes by my -watch--well, you know what'll happen."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The major glanced significantly at the line of Soudanese. -He deliberately cut and lit a cigar. Captain Lister had -resumed his pipe and was puffing vigorously; Lieutenant -Mumford gripped the sides of his seat, and stared; while the doctor -was apparently examining the Arab's anatomy with a quite -professional interest. To Tom his uncle was appearing in a -new light, commanding a new respect and admiration; and as -to Mbutu, he was patently overawed by the stern -imperturbability of "sah him uncle".</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The minutes went by. The silence of the bright morning -was broken only by the varied sounds of movement in the -camp: the laughter of the Zanzibaris; the clash of a cook's -pan; the bleat of a goat led to the slaughter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You have half a minute," said the major suddenly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know nothing, master, nothing at all," replied the guide, -his lips quivering.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was again silence. Then the major rapped his hand -on the table.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now!" he said. "What have you to say?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know nothing about it, nothing about it!" persisted the man.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I've no time to waste," said the major curtly, replacing his -watch. "Sergeant, take him away."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Two of the tall Soudanese laid their hands on the guide's -arms. He wriggled out of their grasp and flung himself on -the ground. They seized him again, assisted by their -comrades; and, struggling desperately, crying continually: "I -know nothing about it, know nothing about it!" he was -carried away. Tom's heart was in his mouth, and Mumford -had sprung up in his excitement. Captain Lister still smoked -on placidly; while the major's lips were grimly set as he -watched the man's contortions. He had been borne but a -few yards when his writhing suddenly ceased.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't take me away, don't take me away!" he shrieked. -"I will tell, I will tell!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At a sign from the major the Soudanese returned to the -tent, and the wretched man stood before him, thoroughly -cowed, and trembling in every limb.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You will tell! Perhaps you are wise. You will tell me -everything from the beginning. Mind, I make no promises; -but it is your only chance!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The major dismissed the Soudanese, and the man began -in a low faint voice to tell his story. It was as follows:--</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>About two miles before reaching Imubinga, the path led -across a mountain stream some ten feet deep and thirty wide, -spanned by a native bridge. The river had cut a deep ravine -between two high hills, and its steep banks were covered with -dense forest growth, huge trees crowning the summit. The -bank at which the expedition would first arrive had been -unequally worn away, and some two hundred and fifty feet -above the stream, almost overhanging the bridge, was a -prominent bluff, projecting, as the guide put it, like the nose -from a man's face. This had been the scene of a memorable -incident during the invasion of the district by the Baganda -some fifty years before. As a force of Baganda were crossing -the bridge, a number of tree trunks, previously felled, had been -rolled over the edge of the bluff, and crashing down upon them -had killed many outright, and thrown the whole force into -such confusion that it fell an easy prey to the enemy. The -Baganda were massacred almost to a man. This incident had -passed into the traditions of the country; warriors sang about -it round their camp-fires, and mothers crooned their babies to -rest with the song of "The Ambush by the Bridge".</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The same plan was to be pursued now. In the fifty years -which had elapsed since the earlier ambuscade, trees had again -grown to maturity on the headland. Some of these had been -felled, and the moment was to be seized, when half the column -had crossed the river, to roll the trunks down upon the bridge. -The Arabs, meanwhile, and their Manyema warriors, divided -into two bands, one up and the other down stream, would be -lying concealed in the forest sufficiently far from the bridge -to avoid the British scouts. When the logs had been hurled -down, and the troops were in confusion, a signal was to be -given from the summit of the bluff; the Arabs were to emerge -from their hiding-places, and make a simultaneous attack on -the force hemmed in between them. They reckoned that the -rear part of the column, deprived of the support of those who -had already passed over the bridge, and encumbered with the -baggage, would be as sheep in their hands. These having -been disposed of, the first half, left without any reserve of -ammunition and food, could be dealt with at leisure.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Jolly good scheme!" remarked Captain Lister admiringly, -between two puffs, when the man had finished his story.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They must think we're pretty green, sir," said Lieutenant -Mumford, unable to conceal his scorn of such tactics. Captain -Lister eyed him for a moment, but said nothing. The major -was drumming on the table, looking thoughtfully at the -guide, while the doctor waved a handkerchief to keep off -the flies.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is the truth, is it?" said the major at last. "And -you were sent to help me to find the way! I have heard of -worse schemes. But how did you expect to escape?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Arab shifted his feet uneasily.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not that that matters. But I should like to know a little -more. I am not marching against the Arabs; why are your -friends so concerned about our operations against a native -chief? What is the motive? Tell me that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Relieved that the major's interrogation was no longer so -uncomfortably personal to himself, the guide went on with -his narrative.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Far away in the west, he said, beyond Imubinga, beyond -the Rutchuru and the hills, in the heart of the Congo forest, -his friends had a stronghold, so well hidden that the forces -of the Congo Free State had never succeeded in finding it. -Even if they had found it they would have failed to take it, -for the place was absolutely impregnable. To this fortress a -remnant of Arab dealers in ivory and slaves had retired when -the power of Hamed ben Juna, more commonly known by the -natives' nickname, Tippu Tib, and his lieutenants was broken -by the Belgian forces, and there they still pursued their -vocation by stealth, their spies marking every movement of the -Free State officials, their allies drawing the enemy off when -he came dangerously near. In the course of some years they -had amassed a huge store of ivory, and collected some thousands -of slaves, some of these latter being employed in tilling -the soil and supplying their captors with the necessaries of -life; while others were traded away for ivory to the cannibal -tribes of the middle Congo. It was, however, becoming -increasingly difficult to elude the Free State authorities, and -the circle of their traffic was gradually narrowing. The old -chief Rumaliza, whom the Belgians supposed to have died -in the forest after the capture of Kabambari, was still -alive, looking with alarm at the prospect of having to feed -his horde of slaves without any chance of a profitable deal. -Hemmed in by the British, German, and Free State territories, -which were all being brought rapidly under effective -control by the respective European administrators, he foresaw -inevitable ruin, soon or late. He was anxious, therefore, -to realize his wealth and retire to the coast, and in pursuance -of this aim he had resolved on one final coup, a last expiring -effort of the slave-trade. His plan was to form a huge caravan, -transport all his slaves to the coast, and ship them to Arabia.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, come now!" exclaimed the major at this point, "that -must be nonsense. It's close on a thousand miles to the -nearest point of the coast, and your friends are not fools enough -to imagine that they could make a slave run without having -us upon their tracks."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the guide proceeded to unfold a plot at which his -younger hearers held their breath, and even the major himself, -old and seasoned hand as he was, could scarcely restrain an -exclamation of astonishment. The Arabs, said the man, had -in their camp a number of deposed Banyoro and Baganda -chiefs, whose conduct had been such as to preclude any chance -of their regaining their position while the British occupation -continued. These men, having nothing to lose and everything -to gain, had established communications with every -Mahomedan in Uganda and Unyoro who was known to be -disaffected. At a given signal the latter were to rise; and the -signal was to be the defeat of a British column. Where the -defeat was to take place had not been disclosed to the -disaffected in Uganda, lest the plot should be divulged. It had -been perfected by the Portuguese during his stay in Kisumu. -It was known that only a weak British force was available for -operations in the southern part of the Protectorate. A small -native chief was to be persuaded to revolt, and it was hoped -that the affair would be regarded as of so little consequence -that only a handful of troops would be employed to crush him. -The revolt had taken place as arranged, but owing to Major -Burnaby's energy the punitive column was stronger than the -Arabs had anticipated. Still, with a numerical advantage of -two to one, without counting their native allies and -dependants, the Arabs were not so much disheartened as to abandon -their plans. They confidently expected that the ambush would -result in the annihilation of the British force. The news was -to be conveyed to the scattered conspirators with the rapidity -with which news always flies through native Africa; a picked -force was to seize rail-head, after overpowering, or at least -harassing, the small garrisons at Entebbe, Kisumu, and other -military stations, and, if possible, to foment a general rising -among the populace. Taking advantage of the confusion, the -Arabs, with their satellites, were to run the slaves by forced -marches to the western shore of the Nyanza, carry them over -in canoes, and thence for a hundred and fifty miles along the -railway, and then make for a spot on the coast of Italian -Somaliland, whence they could ship them to Arabia.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Faith, I would like to examine the cranium of the man -who devised that crazy scheme!" cried the doctor. "He must -be's mad's a hatter!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The major was in no mood to indulge in quips with -Dr. O'Brien. His mind was wholly concentrated on the task which -had opened before him. He sat silent and abstracted, seeming -even to have forgotten the presence of the traitor. Recovering -himself in a moment, he said quietly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Go away. You will be kept under arrest for the rest of -the march; see to that, Mr. Mumford. When we are through -with this business I'll consider what's to be done with you. -Take him away. There's the other man now," continued the -major, when the guide had been removed. "It is just worth -while to see if his story corroborates the one we have just -heard. Fadl, fetch the captured slave."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was short work with him. A rumour had already run -through the camp that the guide was in trouble, and the -Ankoli wore an anxious look when he came up. The major -told him in one sentence that his friend Munta had confessed; -and the man at once volunteered to unbosom himself. His -story differed from the other merely in ornaments. To the -major's enquiries he replied that the Arabs were about nine -hundred and fifty strong, and their allies rather more than -a thousand. Many of the former were armed with Mausers, -smuggled in through German East Africa. The rest of them -had Sniders and other obsolete rifles ("Good enough in forest -fighting" was the practical remark of Captain Lister), while -the Manyema for the most part had only very old muskets in -addition to spears.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That rings true," said the major. "Has he anything more -to tell?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Him say true, all berrah much," said Mbutu, who had -interpreted. "Eberyfing told; know no more."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well Fadl, take him and tie him up. Gentlemen, -it is now past eleven o'clock. We will strike camp and be off -in about an hour. We have, it appears, between five and six -miles to go. That will take us full two hours. If the story -we have heard is true--and for myself, strange as it is, I have -no doubt about it--we shall have no difficulty in locating these -Arabs. We shall fight at three; that will leave us three hours -of daylight. That will suffice, I think. Lister, I should like -a word with you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That means tactics, I suppose," said the doctor. "Well, -while you're talking, I will tache Tom to help me pick up the -pieces. Come along, my bhoy."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="ambuscading-an-ambush"><span class="large">CHAPTER VII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">Ambuscading an Ambush</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">Approaching the River--Reconnoitring--The Fight on the -Bluff--Checking a Rush--Timely Help--A Hand-to-Hand -Struggle--At Fault</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Tom was that day amazed to see what could be done in an -hour's time by a force of Askaris capably directed. By -half-past twelve the officers' tents had been rolled up, the -baggage repacked, a meal swallowed, the carriers marshalled, each -with his proper load, and the order of march arranged. Before -one the whole column had moved out towards the scene of -the anticipated fight. Scouts led the way, under Lieutenant -Mumford. Then came the advance-guard, two companies of -Askaris and a Maxim-gun, with Captain Lister. At a short -interval followed more Soudanese, with Major Burnaby; then -came the carriers with their guard, and finally the rear-guard, -of which Tom found himself in command. Dr. O'Brien -hovered about, first at one part of the column, then at another, -in case of what he called "evenshualities".</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Before giving the order to march, the major beckoned Tom -apart.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tom," he said, "here's a rifle and a revolver for you. -You know how to use the rifle, at any rate. Fate seems to -have a hand in this, and as you're here, you must make -yourself useful."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom's eyes gleamed as he took the weapon, and he mentally -resolved to bear himself worthily, whatever was in store. His -elation was a little dashed when his uncle went on:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You'll consider yourself in command of the rear-guard. -Judging by your conduct since you left Kisumu, you are able -to win the respect of the natives, and that's everything. You'll -find the non-coms. a steady set of men; and remember, you -must rely on them and yourself. You mustn't worry me with -questions about this, that, and t'other thing."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, Uncle! I'm only too glad to be able to do anything."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well then; I'll send for you if I want you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom wished that he could have been with the advance-guard, -but he kept that to himself, hoping that the chances -of the day would give him an opportunity of doing even the -smallest thing to justify his uncle's confidence. Then the -march began. Askaris and carriers tramped on in single file, -the Zanzibaris chattering and laughing in spite of the loads on -their heads, it being one of the crosses of the major's -existence that their tongues were never still. Some of them had -kerosene cans slung round their necks, in clanging emptiness, -for they had not as yet been needed, the rivulets along the -route having furnished plenty of good drinking-water. Others -carried bales and provision-boxes cleverly poised on their -heads, each load averaging from forty to fifty pounds; while -the rest bore large bags of onions (a favourite food with the -native troops), tent-poles, pots and kettles, and other -paraphernalia of the camp.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The pace was slow, and, thanks to the doctor's careful -ministrations, Tom was able to keep up without difficulty. He -would not confess even to himself that a full day's rest would -have been grateful to him. The mid-day sun beat down upon -the marching column with scorching ferocity. For some -distance the narrow path led over rolling country, broken here -and there by rocky excrescences, with not an inch of shade, -the only relief being afforded now and again by a brook, in -which the men bathed their aching feet. At length, -however, the appearance of scrub and trees ahead proclaimed the -proximity of a larger stream. Tom had been wondering all -the way what tactics his uncle would employ to checkmate -the plans of the Arabs. He saw now that scouts were being -sent out on each flank, and word was passed down the column -for the carriers to group themselves instead of marching in -single file, and for the rear-guard to close up. While moving -in open country the major had decided to make no change in -the usual method of marching, so that nothing might suggest -to the enemy, if he was on the look-out, that any special -precautions were being taken. But now that the column had -entered a wooded region, and was nearing the expected scene -of operations, he thought it well to make his force more -compact, especially as the path had here broadened into quite a -respectable road. The scouts on the flanks had orders not to -penetrate more than half a mile into the forest on either side, -the trees being close enough together to prevent anything in -the nature of a rush beyond that limit.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was now nearly three o'clock. The major ordered the -guide to be brought to him, and questioned him on their -distance from the river. Learning that it was no more than -three-quarters of a mile ahead, he called a halt and sent for -his officers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, gentlemen," he said to the little group, "I assume -that the story told by the guide is true. Our scouts have not -sighted the enemy, which is pretty clear proof that if there -is an enemy at all he is hiding. I am going to send sixteen -picked men up the rear of the bluff--you see it rising yonder--from -which, according to these men, the logs are to be flung -down on to the bridge. Our fellows will dispose of the eight -or nine Arabs who, it appears, are to manage the logs. They -will then give the signal awaited by the enemy, who, we may -suppose, are in hiding at least half a mile up and down stream, -and these will come on, expecting to find us cut in two at -the bridge and generally in confusion.--Well, what is it, -Mumford?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I was wondering, sir," began the lieutenant, rather taken -aback at finding his thoughts half-guessed-at by the major; -"I was wondering what would happen if our men failed to -dispose of the Arabs on the bluff."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The enemy's plans would be spoilt, at any rate, and the -engagement would develop on other lines. But the chances -are in our favour. The bluff, as you see, is thickly wooded, -and our men should be able to creep up quite noiselessly and -get within striking distance without being seen. Besides, we -will distract the enemy's attention. Remember, they are -relying on our complete ignorance of their scheme. They will -be impatient to see us cross the bridge. Well, I shall send a -few scouts over to guard against a possible attack from the -other side, and Captain Lister, with two or three men, will -feign a careful examination of the bridge itself. The delay -will probably be unexpected, and I count on this to enable our -men to scale the bluff unperceived.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Meanwhile the carriers will park all the baggage in a -semicircle about the bridge head, under guard. I shall divide -the force, taking part with me to repel the attack from the -north--Mumford, you will work the Maxim--and leaving -you, Lister, to meet the attack from the south. Doctor, you -will come with me, I think, as mine will be the larger force; -and Tom, you will remain in charge of the baggage."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom tried to look pleased, but his face fell in spite of him. -There was no help for it; he must obey orders and accept his -strictly defensive part with a good grace.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I cannot tell you our precise positions yet until scouts -have been up and down the river and reported on the nature -of the ground. Meanwhile, Lister, you will send forward, say, -five scouts over the bridge, and the rest of us will move slowly -behind you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom's pulse quickened as he listened to these plain directions. -He wished he could change places with Captain Lister, -as that officer went forward with the advance-guard to perform -the task allotted him. In less than fifteen minutes the bulk -of the force reached the bridge head. The scouts had already -crossed, and were disappearing into the wooded country -beyond. Other scouts had been sent out on each flank to -examine the country up and down stream, and the captain, -with two sergeants, was inspecting the bridge with a critical eye. -On reaching the river-bank the major found that the water -ran deep and the sides were precipitous. The bluff was -inaccessible except from the rear, rising sheer up from the bed -of the river and the path. Both up and down stream the -country was dotted with scrub, and at the distance of about a -hundred yards on each side of the path began a belt of forest, -through, which the scouts were picking their way in -skirmishing order.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We have less than three hours of daylight left," said the -major to Captain Lister at the bridge head, "so that we must -put this business through as rapidly as possible. I hope you -ordered the scouts to proceed cautiously, and not go too far. -Half a mile will suit our book."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, and here are the down-stream fellows returning." -A sergeant came up to the major and reported that, having -skirted the bluff and crossed a belt of thin forest, he had come -within six minutes to an open space, with a frontage of about -two hundred yards and a breadth of some four hundred and -fifty. This was absolutely free from trees or bush, but on the -other side of it the forest was much thicker.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Depend upon it, then, the Arabs, if here at all, are hiding -in the forest beyond the clearing. We have them, Lister. -If there are any up-stream they are evidently farther away. -As the forest is much denser in that direction I think a -hundred men with you will suffice to beat off any attack on -that side; you must get your men to cut down some trees and -form a rough abattis. The rest of the force will come -northwards with me. We must take advantage of that clearing. -Now it's time to send up the bluff and account for the -log-rollers; that will prove conclusively how far these men have -told the truth. I think we understand each other."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Captain Lister nodded. In a few minutes his men were -busy felling the trees with the thickest foliage. They cut -a wedge in the trunks with their axes, then toppled them -over in the same direction as the strokes had fallen, so that -they formed a high and almost impenetrable barrier.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile Tom had already arranged the baggage in a -semicircle about the bridge head, hidden by a jutting rock -from anyone who might be at the summit of the bluff. -Within the enclosure thus formed the carriers were assembled, -and the rampart itself was defended by twenty-five men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Fifteen of the most trustworthy of the Askaris, under -Sergeant Abdullah, were by this time scaling the bluff from the -rear, darting from tree to tree with wonderful celerity, their -feet bare, their right hands clutching their rifles with bayonets -fixed. They drew nearer and nearer to the summit, maintaining -as even a line as the nature of the ground permitted, each -man being about two yards from the next. When they came -within a few yards of the top, and saw by the growing light -that beyond them the trees had been felled, they moved still -more warily. Thus they advanced to the very edge of the -forest, and halted. Peeping from behind the trees they saw -nine Arabs in front of them, not twenty paces away. Some -were talking in low excited whispers, two were lying flat on -their faces, peering over the three shaven tree-trunks that lay -in readiness at the very edge of the precipice, and turning -occasionally to make some comment on the proceedings.</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 61%" id="figure-84"> -<span id="the-battle-of-imubinga"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="Plan of the Battle of Imubinga." src="images/img-096.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">Plan of the Battle of Imubinga.</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the logs rested half a dozen short, strong poles, evidently -to be used as levers. The Arabs had expected the marching -force to cross the bridge at once, and the delay had at first -caused them much amazement and concern. But seeing the -scouts pass over and scatter on the other side, and the careful -examination of the bridge made by Captain Lister and his -sergeants, they had apparently concluded that these were only the -white man's usual measures of precaution, and were reassured. -They had themselves taken the precaution to post a sentry a -hundred yards down the bluff behind them, but this man, -finding after a long delay that nothing had happened, edged -gradually nearer to his companions, and when he saw them -looking with intense interest over the ridge, his curiosity was -too much for him. He quickened his pace and joined them, -and from that moment caution was thrown to the winds.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Just as the Askaris reached the utmost verge of cover, and -stood for an instant to take breath after their climb, one of -the Arabs gleefully pointed to the scouts returning over the -bridge. His companions instantly moved towards the brink. -Sergeant Abdullah saw that the moment had arrived. He -gave a nod to his men, they sprang forward with great leaps, -remembering the major's injunction to make no noise. Before -the Arabs were aware of their danger the enemy were upon -them. Seven of the nine were despatched with the bayonet -in a trice; one contrived to inflict a terrible wound on his -assailant before he too was stricken down; the ninth man, -with a howl of fright, sprang over the precipice and -disappeared into the stream below.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The first part of the task of the sixteen was accomplished. -Climb and all it had occupied but twenty minutes. There -remained to give the signal expected by the Arabs in hiding. -On the ground lay a white flag embroidered with the crescent. -Abdullah stooped down, and hastily divesting one of the fallen -Arabs of his burnous, he threw it over his own uniform, then -picked up the flag, and walked northwards some thirty yards -along the bluff to the edge of the declivity, whence he obtained -a view of the open space and the forest beyond. Then he -waved the flag, making three curious circular movements with -which he was clearly familiar; he saw an answering signal -from the edge of the forest more than half a mile away; then -he returned to his companions, and hurried downhill with -twelve of them to rejoin Captain Lister's force, leaving two to -follow more leisurely with the man wounded.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the meantime the major had rapidly moved his three -hundred men northwards through the woodland. On the way -he left fifty of them in open order on a wide arc to cover his -right flank. Coming to the open space reported by the scouts, -he was overjoyed to find it an outcrop of bare rock, broken in -surface, cleft by fissures, and thus difficult to advance over. -His quick eye marked at a glance the possibilities of the -situation. He posted a hundred of his men about a yard apart, just -within the edge of the forest, and stationed a second hundred -twenty yards behind them as a reserve. The remaining fifty -he told off to guard the left flank against surprise from the -river-bed. At the extreme right of his position, a few yards -in advance of the firing-line, stood one solitary thorn bush -growing on a patch of soft earth amid the rock. This would form, -as the major saw at once, an excellent screen for the Maxim; -but to place the gun in position at once would certainly attract -the attention of the Arabs. He therefore ordered Lieutenant -Mumford to be in readiness to move it forward as soon as the -enemy emerged from the wood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, my men," he said to the sergeants when his -dispositions were complete, "when the signal is given from the -bluff the Arabs will come out of the forest yonder and cross -this open space. They know nothing, as I hope and trust, of -our presence. They will not expect us here. Reserve your -fire till they are within two hundred and fifty yards--the -bugle will give the signal,--then fire. That will check the -rush for a moment. There will be time for a second volley; -then be ready to charge. Mr. Mumford, you will bring the -Maxim into action as soon as they are well out in the open. -Now mind, men," he added, turning sternly to the eager -Askaris, "not a whisper till the word is given."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The men stood at their posts, fixing their keen eyes on the -trees a quarter of a mile in front of them, their mouths set, -their nostrils quivering. It was a trying ordeal. Minute -after minute went by, and still there was no sign of the -enemy. The men began to fidget, and the major, knowing -the impetuous nature of the Soudanese, feared lest a single -incautious movement or exclamation should wreck his plans. -Then suddenly a hundred doors seemed to open in the green -wall opposite, and out of them poured almost noiselessly a -flood of tall, white-robed, turbaned Arabs. They kept no -order, expecting to find their enemy in confusion by the bridge. -In this careless confidence they rushed on pell-mell, clutching -their rifles by the middle. Over the rocky ground they came, -bounding like panthers, making no sound save with their -quick breathing, eager, exultant, some waving flags, their -leaders brandishing scimitars, a few with silent drums jolting -against their thighs. Then a bugle rang out clear and shrill; -from the trees and undergrowth in their front flashed forth a -withering volley. The nearest of them went down like grass -before the mower. There was an awful silence, broken only -by the groans of wounded and dying men. Those of the -foremost Arabs who were left alive halted in consternation, -hesitating whether to advance or fly. But behind them a -host of their Manyema allies was thronging from the woods. -These had heard the volley, but had seen nothing of its effect. -Imagining that the expected collision had taken place earlier -than had been anticipated they pressed on furiously, now -uttering savage cries, beating drums, invoking Allah and the -Prophet. Thus the halted front ranks were driven on by the -mass behind; Arabs and Manyema were crowded together in -an unwieldy congested heap. Another volley rang out in -front of them; the rattle of the Maxim, now playing across -the crowded space, added its terrors to the scene. The -stricken host fell in heaps before the pitiless hail of lead; -then, in uncontrollable panic, they turned tail and fled, -trampling each other down in their terror, carrying all before them -in one irresistible rush to the shelter of the wood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And now, with a fierce yell, the Soudanese darted after -them with the bayonet. But in the lull that followed the -first wild onset, the major's ear caught the sound of heavy -firing in his rear. Captain Lister was evidently engaged. -The major at once recalled the men from their pursuit, and, -leaving Lieutenant Mumford with a hundred rifles to meet -a renewed attack should the enemy recover from their panic, -he hurried back with the main part of his force to support -the hundred with Captain Lister up-stream.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He found the little body hard pressed. At the sound of -firing to the north, a force of three hundred and fifty Arabs, -supported by nearly five hundred natives, had emerged from -their place of concealment in the forest. Checked in their -rush by the abattis, they had made a second impetuous -charge, losing heavily from the well-directed volleys of Captain -Lister's men. But they had soon perceived the smallness of -the force opposed to them, and, dividing into two bands, they -made simultaneous attacks at both ends of the line. The -Soudanese at the river-end staggered, and, being more -exposed than the rest of the line, gave way. Instantly a few -score Arabs broke through, and, true to their rapacious -instincts, made direct for the baggage. Tom, who had been -eating his heart out with impatience, saw that he was likely -after all to have his fill of fighting. It seemed almost -impossible that his handful of men could hold their own against -the wild rush of the enemy, but the steady nerve which had -served him so well in many a mimic battle did not fail him -in this his first experience of real warfare. Bidding his men -kneel and rest their rifles on the piled boxes, he waited till -the Arabs were within fifty yards, then gave the order to fire. -The assailants broke like a wave upon a rock. The most of -them fell prone; a few, with desperate courage, came on till -the Askaris could almost feel their breath; then cold steel -completed what the bullet had begun.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the meantime the other end of the British line was -yielding before repeated rushes, being hampered by the necessity -of guarding the left flank against the black crowds of Manyema -pressing perilously near. It was at this critical moment that -the major returned with his exultant troops. Charging -downhill at tremendous speed, they swept to the support of their -comrades, and after a severe hand-to-hand fight against great -odds, they drove the enemy steadily back into the forest, with -terrible loss.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was now half-past four. The fight at the clearing having -been won without a single casualty on the British side, -Dr. O'Brien was free to attend to the thirty wounded men who, -with about half as many dead, bore witness to the severity -of the struggle by the abattis. Meanwhile, Captain Lister -was leading his men in pursuit of the fugitives. Suddenly -the crackle of musketry broke out again far away to the -north-east. The major turned at the sound. He caught sight of -the rampart of baggage, of the stricken forms lying close -beneath it, of Tom standing among his men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tom," he said, with quick resolution, "I want you to -take your unwounded men up to Mumford and see if he is -really being attacked again. Some of the less severely -wounded can guard the baggage. If he wants help send your -boy or one of the men back to me, and I'll move up in -support."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The major's tone was quiet and matter-of-fact, as though -his command was quite in the ordinary course of things. Tom -needed no repetition of the order; vowing that Uncle Jack -was a brick, he started at once with twenty-five men and -Mbutu. He had been hoping against hope for such a moment. -Only with the greatest difficulty had he refrained from -leaping into the fray by the abattis when he saw Captain Lister -so hard pressed and defending his position so gallantly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He reached Lieutenant Mumford's force at an opportune -moment. The Arab chief, after his men had been hurled back -by the enemy, had striven desperately to rally them. Collecting -some two hundred and fifty of the survivors, and hearing, -as the major had done, the sound of brisk firing to the south, -he conceived the idea of making a circuit and joining his -friends above the bridge. He had already made some progress -in that direction, and had actually come into touch with the -extended line of flankers, when he was informed by a scout, -whom he had sent to reconnoitre, that the British commander -was withdrawing the larger part of his force to the assistance -of a second body up-stream. The Arab instantly wheeled -round; his band was being augmented every moment by -returning fugitives, and he saw an opportunity to fall upon and -overwhelm the small British force left behind. Lieutenant -Mumford quickly divined his intention, and foresaw the -direction of the threatened attack. He at once changed front, and, -turning the Maxim round at right angles to its former position, -left it in the hands of a non-commissioned officer, while he -himself took the general command. He posted his men on -two sides of a square, thus forming a wedge. The position -was partly protected by undergrowth, but the trees were not -so close together as to afford complete cover, and the -advantage of the ground lay rather with the massing Arabs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom arrived just as a first charge had been repulsed. -Firing in sections, the Soudanese had laid many of the Arabs -low, and the onset was checked for a moment. But the Arab -chief was in no mood to brook cowardice or hesitation. -Conspicuous by his huge stature and a red sash over his shoulder, -he rallied his men once more. They came on through the -scrub, with defiant cries of "Allah-il-Allah!" firing as they -came, and taking advantage of cover to make rushes and draw -nearer and nearer to the British lines. Tom's twenty-five -men were a welcome reinforcement, for a dozen of the little -force were already </span><em class="italics">hors de combat</em><span>, and the Maxim had jammed. -Quickly ranging themselves with their comrades, the new-comers -brought their rifles to their shoulders and fired, and -once more the Arab advance was checked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Couldn't we try a charge?" suggested Tom to the -lieutenant. "My men are eager to have at the enemy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes; now is the moment. It's touch and go. Men, fix -bayonets; charge!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mumford at the left of the line, Tom at the right, followed -immediately by Mbutu, they sprang forward with a resounding -cheer. Past the bushes, dodging in and out among the -trees, the gallant little force made at the enemy. The Arabs -had collected in a comparatively clear space within the forest, -and as the charging Askaris came upon them they parted into -two bands, which moved away from each other as though -to take the attacking party on both flanks. Mumford -immediately wheeled half his line to the left, shouting to Tom to -deal similarly with the right-hand body.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, my boys," cried Tom, "we've not done much to-day. -It's our turn at last. Come along!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The willing men followed him with a yell. No turbaned -force could stand against them. The Arabs broke and scattered, -and the headstrong Askaris dashed after them in mad pursuit. -The chief, with half a dozen devoted followers, made a gallant -attempt to check the rush. He stood, a giant among his men, -swinging his curved scimitar, passionately objurgating the -fugitives, and even cutting some of them down as they ran. -But neither his example nor his threats availed to stay the -rout. His men fled for their lives. He himself seemed to -bear a charmed life; though he formed so conspicuous a target, -he was as yet untouched. Now Tom marked him as he stood -in deep impotent wrath, alone, save for a body-guard of four. -Tom's eye flashed with a sudden resolve.</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 61%" id="figure-85"> -<span id="a-melee-in-the-forest"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="A Mêlée in the Forest" src="images/img-103.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">A Mêlée in the Forest</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mbutu," he cried, "and you, Sadi, come with me and -capture that big fellow. Now, one, two, three--with me, boys!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Giving his rifle to Mbutu he sprang forward, revolver in -hand, followed by the Muhima and a huge Somali private, who -had been laying about him doughtily with his rifle clubbed. -The chief saw the three speeding towards him, and like a -gallant warrior stayed to face his foe. The Somali, leaping -with tremendous strides, was the first to get to close quarters. -With his clubbed rifle he beat down the bayonet of one of the -Arabs and stretched him upon the ground; but it was his -last stroke, for the chief made a lunge forward, and with his -keen blade pierced him to the heart. He fell against Tom, -knocking his helmet off his head, and out of his hand the -revolver with which he had just accounted for one of the -chief's body-guard. Quick as thought Tom pounced on the -fallen man's rifle, and was erect again just in time to beat off -the descending scimitar. It was now a desperate hand-to-hand -fight, bayonet against sword. The red beams of the -setting sun caught the curved blade as it swept about Tom's -head and body, but not for an instant did his keen eye falter. -Following his opponent's every movement, and grasping the -rifle firmly with both hands, he parried thrust and beat aside -lunge, ready to strike home if he saw the hair's-breadth of -an opportunity. Now the lessons of the sergeant-major at -school bore good fruit; and if that officer could have seen -the flower of his cadet corps bearing himself so manfully in -this fierce duel, he would have owned himself content.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All this time Mbutu, agile as a cat, had been desperately -engaging the two remaining Arabs, determined to prevent -them from going to the chief's assistance, and burning to pay -off old scores upon the kindred of his former persecutors. The -level rays of the sun, coming from behind his back, dazzled -his opponents' eyes, so that they had much ado to elude the -thrusts of his bayonet. At length he got within the guard of -one of them, and wounded him in the sword-arm. As they -fought they had edged close up to where Tom and the Arab -were still in deadly conflict. With indomitable pluck the -wounded Arab stooped, picked up his sword with his left hand, -and before Mbutu, now hotly engaged with the last man, -could interpose, the Arab smote at Tom from below with a -stroke which wounded his defenceless head, and he fell to -the ground. That same instant, Mbutu ran the fourth man -through the body, and, turning to despatch the wounded Arab, -received a deep cut from the chief's sword in his right shoulder.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Only Tom's fallen body, impeding the Arab, saved the -Muhima from a second desperate blow. The blood-stained -scimitar was raised to strike a third time, when a distant bugle -rang out. The chief's arm was stayed in mid-air; he gazed -eagerly over Mbutu's head into the forest. No British troops -were to be seen; but the Arab, after a moment's irresolution, -appeared to decide that the bugle-call was the signal for -another advance, and fearing to be cut off entirely from his -friends, he turned and disappeared among the trees. Mbutu, -however, had recognized the notes of the recall, and wondered -what he was to do. He bent down to examine his master's -prostrate body. Finding that he still breathed, he tried to -lift him, but loss of blood from his wound and his own fierce -exertions had exhausted him, and he laid Tom gently down, -feeling anxious and distressed. A minute's consideration -showed him that he must follow the retiring troops and bring -assistance. He started at once in the gathering darkness, but -being weaker than he had supposed, he could walk but slowly. -It was more than half an hour before he reached the British -lines, just after Lieutenant Mumford had rejoined the major, -who had set his men to form a strong zariba. To the major's -anxious enquiry for Tom, Mumford replied that, having seen -him go off to the right and not return, he had taken it for -granted that he would come into touch with the main body. -At this moment Mbutu staggered up. In faint, laboured tones -he explained what had happened, and begged that a party -might be sent at once to bring his master in.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The major gave a gasp of relief when he heard that his -nephew, though wounded, was still alive.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank God!" he exclaimed. '"Now to find him before it -is quite dark."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The major himself, with twenty men, accompanied Mbutu -in search of his master. The Muhima nearly fainted as he -started, and Dr. O'Brien, giving him some brandy and hastily -bandaging the torn shoulder, declared that he too must go in -case of "evenshualities". The party hurried off, and went as -quickly as Mbutu's condition permitted, supported as he was -between Fadl and Abdullah. With native sureness he led -them, as the sun set across the river, straight to the spot -where he had left his master. It was just light enough to see -several human forms strewn upon the trampled grass. Mbutu -bent down to examine the bodies, and the little party shivered -as the long whine of a jackal came swelling up from the -distance, waking its echo from the rocky escarpments of the -river. The Muhima went swiftly from body to body, then -uttered a forlorn and heart-broken cry.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not here! not here!" bewailed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Major Burnaby and the doctor both stooped in consternation. -There were five bodies. One was that of Sadi the -Somali, the rest were Arabs. Tom was no longer there!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A dreadful silence fell upon the group. Mbutu stood as -though paralysed. The major and Dr. O'Brien looked mutely -into each other's eyes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Toots!" ejaculated the doctor at length, giving himself an -impatient shake. "Recovered consciousness and walked off, -of course he did. That's what it is, to be sure. Must have -been a slight wound, you see."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What can we do, Doctor?" said the major. "We can't -search for him in the dark; we might be cut down by the -Arabs anywhere. The moon rises late; he will hardly find -his way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Get back to camp and blow a blast on your bugles and -send up rockets; he will hear one or see t'other, and come -into camp. Never fear, that young fellow's safe enough. -He didn't come dancing here from the ends of the earth to -be sent to kingdom-come by Arabs."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Dr. O'Brien's cheerfulness, though it was more than half -assumed, somewhat reassured the major. The party returned -rapidly to camp, and there bugles were blown and rockets -skied as had been suggested. But though the blare and the -illumination were continued far into the night, the major -watched for Tom in vain, shuddering as he heard the melancholy -howl of jackals far and near, and longing for the dawn.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="in-the-toils"><span class="large">CHAPTER VIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">In the Toils</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">With the Raiders--The Hakim--Mustapha--A Trap--In a -Slave Camp--Man's Inhumanity--De Castro Again--De -Castro Eloquent</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>A few minutes after Mbutu had left his master to go on -his painful quest for help, four big Manyema warriors came -bounding through the forest. They carried spears, the iron -heads of which were as yet clear of blood. When they -caught sight of the six prostrate bodies in the narrow glade -they halted, and with one consent bent down to rifle the -dead. They had stripped two of the Arabs of what small -articles of value they possessed, when the negro who had -stooped over Tom's body uttered a sharp exclamation, at -which his companions left their gruesome occupation and -came hastily to his side. As he was tearing a button from -Tom's coat, the eyes of the apparent corpse had opened for an -instant, and the body had moved uneasily. The four men -stooped, peering at it, talking excitedly, and waxing hotter -and hotter in argument. Three of them were for spearing -the body at once, declaring that, from the nature of the -wound, death was inevitable, and that they might as well -hasten matters and share the spoil. But the man who had -come first upon the scene obstinately opposed this course. It -was the body of an Englishman, he said; there was still life -in him; and it would tend very much to their advantage to -keep him alive and carry him to the Arab chief, who would -no doubt reward them handsomely for so valuable a prize. -As a final argument, he reminded his friends that they had -been among the first to bolt from the field, and as they were -aware of the punishment that awaited them, it was well to -propitiate the chief and save their skins. This argument had -its effect, and without wasting more time on the fallen Arabs, -they prepared to carry Tom away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The leader tore a strip from the burnous of one of the -Arabs, and deftly wound it about Tom's head, to prevent -further loss of blood from the deep gash at the base of his -skull. The rest as quickly fashioned a litter out of two -spears and another burnous; and before Mbutu had walked -halfway to the British camp, his master was being borne by -the four Manyema swiftly in the opposite direction.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was still unconscious when the men placed him on the -litter. The terrific blow inflicted on him by the Arab, followed -by his heavy fall, had been very near causing concussion of -the brain, and the loss of blood he had suffered would of itself -have deprived him of consciousness. Indeed, but for the -opportune arrival of his captors, and the interested -thoughtfulness of the man who had bandaged his head, there can -be no doubt that Tom Burnaby would in a short time -have done with mortality and become a prey to jackals and -vultures.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the Manyema hurried on with elastic stride, the -gentle swinging motion of the litter appeared to revive him -partially. The moon had just risen, and Tom, opening his -eyes, fancied that he was being borne along by the Soudanese -who had carried him into camp the day before. His lips -moved, and the bearers started when they heard their helpless -prisoner muttering light-headedly until he dozed again into -quietude.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After the negroes had tramped for about an hour, following -a narrow track by the light of moon and stars, they were -stopped by an Arab who came suddenly out of the forest, -and demanded of them who they were. He looked with -interest at the pale face of the sleeping stripling in the litter, -and informed the carriers that he himself was one of a number -of scouts left at various points along the track of the Arab -chief, to direct stragglers to head-quarters. After the second -repulse, and his single-handed fight with Tom, the chief had -made no further attempt to rally his men, but struck due -north, picking up several parties of fugitives on the way. -At the distance of some few miles from the scene of his -disaster he knew of a ford over the river, at which he crossed, -continuing thence his march in a westerly direction until he -reached the right bank of the River Ntungwe, not far from its -entrance into Lake Albert Edward. There he encamped for -the night, leaving word of his whereabouts, as has been shown, -and appointing a general rendezvous at a village on the farther -bank of the Rutchuru.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All this the four Manyema learnt from the Arab scout, who, -while speaking, had helped himself to Tom's watch and chain, -roughly telling the negroes that he would shoot them if -they breathed a word of that little performance to the chief. -He then allowed them to proceed. They soon afterwards -struck into a path leading to the ford, crossed the river -under a ghostly moonlight, and reached the encampment an -hour before dawn.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Their arrival was not the important event they had -anticipated. Shortly before, the Wanyabinga chief against whose -village the British expedition was directed, and who had -brought a contingent to the Arab force, had come into camp -to plead with the Arab for one more attempt to destroy Major -Burnaby's little army. He had himself done all he could, he -said; he had "eaten up" all his rivals in the neighbouring -villages for a score of miles round, in order to starve the -British force; his knowledge of the country had proved -invaluable to the Arabs in their raids for ivory; and it was -due to information given by him that the ambush from which -he had expected so much had been planned. It was -unfortunate, a calamity only to be ascribed to some ju-ju or -medicine-man, that the ambush had failed; but for all that, he -contended, his services still merited some reward. If his lord -Mustapha was not prepared to make a direct assault on the -expeditionary force, he might at least help in the defence of -the speaker's village, which was encircled by a triple stockade, -and impregnable, he thought, if strongly held.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now the poor Wanyabinga chief had all along been the -dupe of his astute Arab ally. Mustapha had used him entirely -for his own ends. He had instigated the acts of insubordination -and treachery which Major Burnaby was proceeding -to punish, persuading the credulous negro that the white man -would before long be altogether expelled from the lake country, -and promising, when that happy day came, to establish him, -the native chief, as King of Uganda. But the Arab was -furious at the failure of his cherished scheme. He was beside -himself with rage, ready to vent it on whatever person or -thing came first in his way. His answer to the black chief's -plea was a brutal laugh, a curse, a jibe. The Wanyabinga -attempted to bring him to reason. "When I am king of -Uganda," he said, "I will repay your kindness with hundreds -upon hundreds of slaves, and untold wealth of ivory." "You -king of Uganda!" retorted Mustapha derisively; "you will -one day carry my wash-pot and tie the latchets of my shoe!" The -man protested, whereupon the Arab flew into a passion, -and, drawing his sword, declared flatly that he would slice -the importunate wretch into little pieces if he did not -immediately withdraw from his presence. The negro hastily -departed, nursing wild purposes of vengeance in his heart.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was just after this scene that the four tired Manyema -brought Tom into the camp. They sought an interview with -the chief. He declined to see them. They sent word to -him that they had with them a wounded officer of the British -force. His answer was that they might kill him and eat him -if they pleased. Astonished and crestfallen, they were -considering with one another what to do with their captive when -the chief's hakim appeared on the scene. Put in possession -of the facts, he advised the men to attempt nothing further -with Mustapha in his present temper; in the meantime he -himself would be answerable for the prisoner. The negroes -were loth to let him go without some tangible recompense -for their labour; but when the Arab glared at them, and -threatened them with the mysteries of his art, with -superstitious fear they left their unconscious burden and went -moodily away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom owed his life to the skilful tendance of the Arab -physician. With such rough appliances and medicaments as -he had at hand, the hakim dressed Tom's wounds; he then -placed him in a comfortable position by his own watch-fire, -and sat by him until daylight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom awoke with the dawn, conscious of a terrible pain at -the back of his head, and a feeling all over him of emptiness -and collapse. He was too feeble even to be surprised -when he saw the grave face of the Arab a few feet from his own.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where am I?" he whispered, and wondered at the scarcely -audible sound of his own voice. The Arab shook his head. -He knew no English. He went away, and returned presently -with a cup of some warm liquid, which he administered in -drops on a horn spoon. Tom was grateful for the attention; -the Arab fed him thus for ten minutes, and the food revived -him, bringing a touch of colour into his pale cheeks.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Almost immediately afterwards the order was given to -strike camp. By eight o'clock the crowd was in motion. -During the night some four hundred Arabs had rallied to the -chief, as well as a number of their black allies. But the -majority of the Manyema had had their confidence in the -Arabs dismally shattered by the event of the previous day, -and had dispersed to their homes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The chief, knowing that he was new in the territory of -the Congo Free State, felt pretty secure from pursuit by the -British, and had decided to continue his march westward -towards the Rutchuru at a moderate pace. He stalked along -with downbent head before his troops, reminding Tom, when -he saw him presently, of Napoleon in Meissonier's picture -of the retreat from Moscow. The hakim had seen him early -in the morning, and spoken to him of the English prisoner; -and the chief had curtly bidden the physician tend him -carefully, as he might be valuable as a hostage. As for him, he -had other matters to attend to. Tom learnt later what these -other matters were.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The hakim sought out the four Manyema who had brought -Tom to the camp, and ordered them to resume their task. -The Arab walked by the head of the litter, and when the sun -rose higher, he arranged a linen screen above Tom's head, -which served to defend him from the burning rays and in -some measure from insects.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At mid-day the chief halted to dispose of the business that -weighed on him. He first called up the Wanyabinga chief, -who had clung to the band in the hope of the Arab's relenting. -But Mustapha told him bluntly that if he accompanied the -caravan farther it would be as a slave. The man stood -trembling for a moment as though paralysed; then muttering awful -imprecations, he collected his few tribesmen, brandished his -spear thrice, and bolted amid his men across the swamp. -Having reached a safe distance he halted, led a chorus of -execration, and hurling his spear in a last desperate defiance -at his late ally, he turned and disappeared into the bush.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the Arab formed a court of six of his leading men, -and summoned before him two miserable wretches whom Tom -had noticed marching painfully, with shackled feet and wrists, -under a close guard. They were charged with cowardice -during the first terrible fight on the previous afternoon. In -due form they were condemned to death and led away, and -shortly afterwards Tom heard two shots. In affairs of this -kind the Arabs waste no ammunition.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The march was resumed, and now that he had attended to -his other matters, the chief had time to take some notice of -Tom, He came up to the litter, and started when he saw -that the prisoner was none other than the stripling who had -held him in such desperate fight. He grunted, as though in -displeasure at discovering his doughty opponent still alive; -then a faint smile wreathed his lips, and the cloud that had -darkened his face all day cleared away. He spoke rapidly -to the hakim, who nodded his head and replied gravely. -Tom of course understood nothing of what they said, but he -inferred that the physician had declared him out of danger, -and that the Arab was calculating on turning the capture to -some profit. Giving Tom another glance, in which there -was a tinge of admiration for a warrior worthy of his steel, -Mustapha returned to his place at the head of the caravan.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Late that night they reached the right bank of the -Rutchuru. The chief and his men had slept for but one hour -during the past twenty-four, and were too tired to attempt -a crossing. They formed a zariba on a stretch of dry ground -about half a mile from the river, intending to continue the -march next day towards their stronghold beyond the hills. -Tom was again carefully tended by Mahmoud the hakim, and, -thanks to his fine constitution, was steadily gaining strength.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next morning, just as the Arabs were breaking up camp, -one of the scouts who had already been sent across the river -returned with the news that, some distance beyond the farther -bank, he had descried from an eminence a body of about -a hundred men in uniform preparing to march. They were -commanded by a white officer. The question naturally flashed -into Mustapha's mind: "Could they be a part of the British -force sent out in search of the missing officer?" He had already -heard, from one or two late stragglers from the force which -had engaged Captain Lister, of the rockets sent up and the -bugles sounded when darkness had fallen after the fight, and -he had no stomach for encountering a vengeful search-party. -The force just discovered, it was true, was in a quarter where -the British were little to be expected, but it was well to be on -the safe side. Hoping that his troops had not yet been seen, -and that if they had been seen they would be mistaken in the -distance for a peaceful caravan, the Arab determined on a -strategic move. Instead of crossing the river, and thus -coming upon the other force at an acute angle, he moved off in -a north-easterly direction, as though making for the -south-eastern corner of Lake Albert Edward, leaving a few trusty -scouts to watch the movements of the unknown troops. But -this was only a feint. After marching for a few miles he -swung round suddenly to the south-east, cut across the track -of his previous day's march, pressed on rapidly over the -swampy ground, and struck the Rutchuru some ten miles -from his first position, the river bending there almost due -east. There he crossed, and, finding a stretch of comparatively -clear and level ground between the forest and the hills, he -halted his men, to rest them after their forced march.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Not many minutes afterwards a scout came up at full speed -to say that the unknown force was following hot-foot at their -heels, and taking a more direct line, having evidently divined -the object of the trick. The news was hardly out of his mouth -when another scout followed and informed the chief that the -pursuing force was composed of Bangala, and was unmistakeably -Belgian, and not British. Mustapha smiled grimly. His -four hundred Arabs were a match, he thought, for a body of -Bangala of one fourth that number, and rather than run the -risk of being dogged and harassed, he determined to chance -a fight. Sending his transport on in advance, under an escort -of fifty Arabs and a crowd of negroes, he proceeded to prepare -a hot welcome for his pursuers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He knew every inch of the ground. Between his halting-place -and the foot of the hills intervened a swamp some two -miles long and half a mile broad. It was crossed by two paths, -one leading straight to the hills, the other intersecting the first -at right angles about a quarter of a mile from the outer edge -of the swamp. The whole region was mere mud and water, -except along the paths, with elephant-grass at least twelve -feet high standing up in all directions.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mustapha made his dispositions rapidly. He posted a -hundred of his men on the second and shorter path, about two -hundred yards to the left of the main path, at a spot where -they were absolutely concealed by tall grass. At the farther -end of the main path he placed another hundred, with orders -to offer a feeble resistance to the Belgian troops, and to retire -before them into a dense copse at the base of the hills. A -third hundred were stationed some three hundred yards north, -at the edge of the swamp, on a line curving to the east, so -that they commanded the right flank of the advancing force. -These positions had hardly been taken up when the Belgian -scouts, having crossed the river, advanced cautiously to the -edge of the swamp and began to move forward along the main -path. Just as they came to the crossways they caught sight -of a few Arabs retiring in their immediate front, these having -been instructed so to do in order to lure them on. The plan -worked perfectly. Not troubling to examine the crosspaths, -they returned with the information that the Arabs were -retreating to the hills, obviously desirous of avoiding an -engagement. The Belgian commandant, who had arrived but recently -from Europe and was burning to distinguish himself in the -pursuit of raiders, ordered his men to press forward rapidly. -The Bangala advanced in single file, their commandant at their -head, between hedges of grass, sometimes in their haste -slipping knee-deep into the swamp.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They came in sight of the end of the path, and were met -by a few shots from the Arabs there assembled, who then -retired in apparent trepidation. At the same time the Arabs -stationed to the north opened a brisk fire on the Bangala's -right flank, to which they replied vigorously, but ineffectively, -for the grass was too high to allow them to see the enemy or -take careful aim. The commandant, at the head of the column, -ordered a halt, and was amazed now to hear shots in his rear. -The Arabs posted on the crosspath had begun to fire on the -rear of the slender column. Fearing for his transport, which -he had left under a small guard at the edge of the swamp, the -commandant made the fatal mistake of ordering a retreat. -His men turned about and began to run back. Meanwhile -the Arabs behind them had come from their place of concealment -and taken up their position at the crossways on both -sides of the path, and those at the other end, who had -pretended to retire, returned in brisk pursuit. Caught between -two fires, the Bangala were thrown into a panic. The -commandant was hit, and speared as he lay; his men, paralysed -with fright, either stood until they were shot down, or plunged -into the swamp and met their death in the ooze.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mustapha, with grim exultation in his face, then swept -down upon the feebly-defended transport. The Bangala, -after firing one shot, threw down their arms and begged for -mercy. They were given a choice between instant death and -slavery; and in the upshot, when the Arab chief continued -his journey westward, he was richer by the whole of the -Belgian baggage and a slave-gang of twenty Bangala, with -as many more negro carriers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom in his litter had been sent forward with Mahmoud the -physician and the Arab baggage. At the sound of firing his -heart leapt with the thought that it was perhaps his uncle -who had overtaken the Arabs. The watchful hakim observed -his excitement, and dashed his hopes with a shake of the head. -At that moment a slug, shot from who knows where, dropped -within a yard of Tom's litter. The Arab started and let fall -an exclamation in German.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you know German?" asked Tom eagerly in the same -language. He felt quite friendly towards the grave hakim -with the high narrow forehead and the long straggling beard.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, a little," said the Arab in surprise. "I lived a long -time in Bagamoyo, when the Germans first came, and I have -learned to speak a little in their infidel tongue."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I can't tell you how glad I am. I've been longing to have -someone to talk to now that I am getting better. Who is -firing away over there?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Belgians."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh!" Tom looked glum, and the Arab's lips wore a queer -little smile.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You may give up hope of rescue," continued the Arab. -"We are miles and miles away from your friends, and they -would never find you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What am I to expect, then? Better shoot me at once--if -they think of keeping me as a prisoner."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You have rich friends, no doubt; they will pay."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ransom! Much I'm worth! What are you taking me -right away from my friends for, then?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Arab shrugged.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You can judge," he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And indeed, when Tom thought of it, he saw that the chief -was wise in seeking his remote and inaccessible stronghold -before opening communications with the British authorities.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It took two days to reach the village appointed by the chief -as the rendezvous for his scattered force. Tom was carried all -the way in the litter, the hakim refusing to allow him yet to -try to walk. They talked together in German, but though -the Arab spoke freely enough about things in general, giving -the captive many bits of curious and interesting information, -he was very reserved on all matters relating to the chief's aims -and plans and movements.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On reaching the village the chief announced his intention of -remaining there for three days, to give his friends and allies -ample time for rejoining him. From the hut in which the -hakim had fixed his quarters Tom had a clear view through -the village. He saw a scene which haunted his memory and -imagination for many a long day. Within a fence of banana -stalks stood a series of low sheds, many lines deep. Between -them, and around, were packed rows upon rows of naked -negroes, standing, lying stretched upon the ground, or moving -about in utter listlessness. Young men, women, children, all, -save the very youngest, were chained and fettered; their necks -were encircled with iron rings, through which a chain passed, -binding the wretched creatures together in gangs of twenty. -Tom saw one man raise his hand to his neck to ease it of the -galling band; another, worn to a skeleton, lay panting his life -out by a heap of filth; two tiny black boys were innocently -playing with the links of the chain that bound their mother to -other women. The look of agony and despair upon the faces -of the grown slaves, still more the happy unconsciousness of -the little children, touched Tom to the heart, and there and -then he vowed, if in God's providence he ever escaped from -that place of horror, to do all in his power to help stamp out -the cruel trade. He poured out his indignation in fierce words -to the Arab, who smiled and shrugged, remarking simply, -"Allah is good." Tom tried to reason with him, but found -him absolutely incapable even of understanding what the -pother was about. "There always had been slaves, there -always would be slaves; Allah is good."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom turned away, impatient and sick at heart. His eye -fell on an adjacent enclosure, in which the relics of innumerable -raids lay scattered or heaped up in profusion. Drums, -spears, swords, assegais, bows and arrows, knives, ivory horns, -ivory pestles, wooden idols, the wardrobes and paraphernalia -of sorcerers, baskets, pots, hammers--thousands of things, -useful and useless, bore witness to the Arabs' depredations. -As he looked, a picture seemed to form itself in his mind. -Through the darkness of night he sees stealthy, long-robed -forms creep towards a sleeping village; no sound issuing from -the gloom save the drowsy hum of cicadas or the croak of -distant frogs; when suddenly the glare of torches gleams upon -the huts, the thatch bursts into flame, and the scared sleepers -wake amid the rattle of musketry, some to meet swift death -with momentary pain, others--alas! the youngest, the strongest--to -wear out their lives in the lingering death of slavery. -Tom brushed his hands over his eyes, and begged the -impassive Arab to take him away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the third morning of his stay in the village Tom -observed that the chief was in a towering rage. He asked the -physician, as the caravan again moved out westward, what -was the cause of his master's disturbance. Mahmoud refused -to explain. The truth was that one of the scouts despatched -by the chief to the scene of his fight with Major Burnaby had -returned with the news that he had discovered, on the bluff, -the corpses of eight of the nine men placed there to hurl down -the logs. Up to that moment the chief had been entirely at -a loss to account for the failure of the ambush so carefully -arranged, and had only nursed vague suspicions. But the -fact that the ambush had failed, as now reported, in the very -first detail, coupled with the nonappearance of De Castro, -whom he had expected to join him immediately after the -battle, convinced the chief that he had been betrayed, and by -his supposed friend, the Portuguese. Chewing the bitter cud -of his wrath, Mustapha ordered his men to set off early in the -morning, including in the caravan six hundred of the slaves.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom was no longer borne in a litter. The hakim had -declared him well enough to walk. He was provided with -a linen turban to protect his head, and with a gourd and -wallet to hold water and food for the day. That he was -a prisoner was left in no doubt by the guard of six men, -armed with loaded rifles, who marched with him, three in -front and three behind. The six were changed every three -hours, a precaution against any attempt on Tom's part to -become too friendly with his guards, unnecessary in the -circumstances, for when, from sheer tedium, he ventured to -address a few words to them, they shook their heads in -unfeigned ignorance of his meaning.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Indignant as he had been at the sight of the herded slaves -in the village, his blood boiled at the scenes which met his -gaze during the march, and his fingers itched to get to grips -with the slave-traders. "If I were only Hercules, or Samson, -or any of the fabled giants of old!" he sighed, chafing at his -impotence. The slaves were driven on without remorse or -ruth, the heavy whip descending upon their shoulders or -curling about their loins at any sign of lagging. Mothers -carried their babies till they collapsed from exhaustion, strong -youths fell, utterly spent, by the path-side. Some of the -weaklings were butchered as they lay, the rest were left to die of -famine, or perchance to be enslaved again if haply some Good -Samaritan found them and nursed them back to strength.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Besides these actual evidences of present cruelty, the path -itself bore witness to savageries in the past. Leading, like all -native paths, up hill and down dale, crossing rocky uplands or -traversing dense forests, it had been trodden with no attempt -to find the easiest way, sometimes winding like a snake where -a straight course would have saved miles, sometimes making a -straight line up a precipitous ascent where a circular route -would have been more expeditious. If a tree had fallen across -it the obstruction was not removed, but a new path was trodden -round it, joining the original path again at a point beyond. -At more than one spot Tom saw a skeleton across the track, -and there the path made a little divergence of two or three -yards, returning to its course at the same distance on the -other side. In answer to Tom's question the hakim told him -that if a man died on the road he was never buried, but left -to the beasts of the field and the fowl of the air. The loop -formed by the path about the body remained for ever, though -the obstacle in course of time disappeared. Several of the -grisly skeletons there encountered had the iron rings still -about their necks; and with each, fuel was added to Tom's -wrath, and strength to his resolve.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Towards noon, on the second day after leaving the slave-village, -Tom, marching among his guards, felt more than -usually dejected in spirit. He held his head high, and -preserved an undaunted mien before the Arabs, but in reality he -was beginning to despair of ever beholding England and his -friends again. For one thing, he was physically out of sorts; -the villages in which the long caravan encamped at night -were not models of cleanliness, and he was sometimes too sick -to swallow the unsavoury foods provided for him. Moreover, -he had been terribly plagued with the jiggers, the scourge of -African travel,--insects which pierced the skin and laid their -eggs beneath it, these in their turn becoming worms that -caused intolerable pain and irritation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Towards noon, then, when he was feeling particularly -unhappy, he observed signs of commotion in the column ahead. -The chief, posted upon an ant-hill, was looking eagerly into -the distance at a group of men whom he had descried upon -the sky-line a mile away. He ordered the caravan to halt, -and, suspecting from the smallness of the group that it might -be the advance scouts of another force led by Europeans, he -despatched fifty of his men to reconnoitre. They divided into -two equal bands, and went off through the bush on either side -of the path so as to surround the little party, and, if it proved -hostile, to cut off its retreat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mustapha, in the meantime, collected the best of his fighting-men -around him, and waited intently for his scouts to reach -the strangers, who had halted upon an eminence and seemed -to be hesitating whether to advance or to retire. But after -a short period of indecision the group moved slowly towards -the halted caravan. It proved, as it came more distinctly -into view, to consist of ten men, all fully armed. They were -soon met by the Arab scouts, with whom they exchanged, not -shots, but friendly greetings, and who turned and escorted -them towards the caravan. As they approached, something -in the bearing of the leader seemed familiar to Tom, and it -was with a thrill almost of dismay that he recognized him, -a hundred yards away, as indubitably his old enemy, De -Castro.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a different De Castro, however, from the brisk and -alert pursuer whose clutches he had so narrowly escaped. -The Portuguese was haggard and worn; his self-confidence -had vanished; his clothes were in tatters; even his green coat -was sober and subdued, for constant exposure to the sun had -bleached it to a dirty gray. His hunt for the Arab had -evidently been particularly arduous, and there was no eagerness -in his tone as he greeted his friend Mustapha.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom had been watching the chief, and wondering at the -ominous scowl that darkened his face, growing ever blacker as -the Portuguese drew nearer. To De Castro's greeting the -Arab replied with a curse; then turning, he gave a sharp word -of command. Twenty of his men sprang forward, and the -wayworn new-comers were disarmed in a twinkling, standing -helpless with dull amazement. A change instantly came over -the attitude of the surrounding Arabs, the ready smile of -welcome gave place to a dark scowl, and many a forefinger -moved suggestively to the trigger. The Portuguese, after the -first shock of surprise, gave vent to a torrent of indignant -remonstrance, to which the chief turned a deaf ear; whereupon -De Castro, with a shrug that seemed to say: "He's in one of -his tempers", held his peace, and accepted the situation with -stoical indifference.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom, in the meantime, had watched the scene with curious -eyes, careful to keep out of the man's sight. "Strange," he -thought, "that both of us, after our former tussle, should be -prisoners in the same hands!" When the march was resumed, -the Portuguese was sent forward under surveillance to the -head of the column, Tom being nearer the centre, puzzled -beyond measure at the incivility with which the chief had -received one supposed to be bound to him by special ties.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Camp was pitched that night at the verge of the forest, in a -deserted and half-ruined village, the stockade of which was -broken down at many points of its circumference. Tom, in -charge of the hakim, was located in a hut near the centre of -the village, some distance from that appropriated by the chief. -The chief's hut was the principal habitation, but it was little -less ruinous than the rest. The thatch was broken in places, -and there were two apertures in the walls wide enough to -admit a full-grown man. It was overshadowed by a large and -bushy tree, one of whose branches, springing from the trunk -some fourteen feet from the ground, and bending down under -its weight of foliage, overhung the roof, actually grazing it as -the freshening breeze swayed the bough.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom, reclining on the grass before the hakim's hut, to eat -his evening meal in the cool air before turning in, saw the -Portuguese led under guard into the presence of the chief. In -a few moments the sun went down, but Tom still sat, wondering -what was going on at the interview. Once he thought he -heard the sound of angry voices raised in altercation, but in -the absence of the moon he saw nothing more, and by and by -re-entered the hut, and sought the rough blanket that formed -his only bed. At first he could not sleep for thinking over -the, to him, unexpected arrival of the Portuguese. "It bodes -no good to me," he thought. "Things are bad enough, but -may easily be made worse. That villain will tell how I -treated him; how he saw me afterwards with his runaway -boy on the track of the expedition; that it must have been -through our information the ambush came to grief. Heavens! what's -to be the end of it all?" More than once during the -march he had had thoughts of attempting to escape, but he -had barely recovered his full vigour, and not the shadow of -an opportunity had as yet presented itself. He pondered and -pondered until his anxieties were drowned in quiet sleep.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It seemed but a minute later, it was in reality an hour, -when he was awakened by the glare of a torch held close to -his face. The smell of the pitch-soaked tow clung to him for -months afterwards. Dazed at first, he soon made out the -swarthy features of the Portuguese behind the torch, and met -his keen eyes peering closely at his own. The Portuguese -clicked his tongue, and uttered an exclamation of gleeful and -vindictive satisfaction. Turning to the Arab chief, who stood -behind, just within the doorway, he cried in Arabic:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is the very man!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom lay watching. Now that a crisis was manifestly at -hand, his tremors had ceased; his very life depended on his -coolness and nerve. De Castro had begun an impassioned -speech to the grave Arab. If Tom could have understood it, -he would have heard him say:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You charge me, forsooth, with being a traitor, with betraying -you to the English--me, De Castro, the best hater of the -English in all Africa! There you have the man who spoilt -your game--our game. Man, I call him--that cub yonder, -who tricked my boy away from me, and paid him, no doubt, -to spy on me!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>("Wonder if he's telling the chief how I punched him!" -thought Tom, noting the gleam and gesture of anger in his -direction.)</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And you talk of accepting a ransom for him! Bah! 'tis -the idea of a white-livered fool! Ransom! Mustapha, you -were not always like this. Once upon a time you would have -been hot for revenge--your wrath would have been satisfied -ere the sun went down. Now you will sit supine after a -shameful defeat, and take its price in gold!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Arab winced under the sting, and Tom saw him scowl -as he laid his hand on his scimitar. He was beginning to -speak, but the Portuguese gave him no time.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Threats! I care not a straw for your threats. Come, -Mustapha, do not let us quarrel. Think! Who was it started -this parrot-cry, 'Down with the slave-trade'? Who was it -stopped the raids for ivory, and hounded your people out of -their ancient haunts till they have no rest now for the soles of -their feet? Who was it strewed the sands of Egypt with -thousands of your kin who were struggling in Allah's name -to rescue the country from the Ottoman tyrant? You know -who. We have had enough of these accursed English in -Africa. But for them the Arabs would have been masters of -the continent from Zanzibar to the Atlantic, from Tanganyika -to the Great Sea. Bad enough, the swines of Belgians; but -they can be bought. You can't buy these insolent dogs of -English! Will you be deafened by their barking, and lacerated -by their bites? Do you, like a poltroon, throw up the game? -If not, let there be no talk of ransom, no faltering; let it be -blood for blood, till Africa is our own again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Portuguese had waxed more and more vehement, but -Tom was cool enough to look on critically as at an oratorical -performance, and he even smiled the usual British smile at -the fervid, unrestrained eloquence of the Southern races. De -Castro went on in calmer accents:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come, Mustapha, your men will think you afraid to touch -a white man if you allow this bear's whelp to be bought off. -They will say: 'Give Mustapha so many gold pieces, and you -may draw his teeth!' My friend, hand the cub over to me. -I will make an example of him for his countrymen to shiver at!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The taunts, even more than the arguments, of the Portuguese -had roused the cruelty in the Arab's nature.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do as you like with him," he said impulsively. "It will -teach them a lesson. I can trust you, no doubt, señor," he -went on with a half-sneer, "not to let him off too easily. As -for me, I have no taste for butchering curs; I prefer to employ -others."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Portuguese glared for an instant, but, too glad to get -the long-coveted prey into his own hands, he pocketed the -affront.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So be it. To-morrow's sun will see what shall be done -with him. Meanwhile, haul the dog from his kennel. Why -give him a comfortable hut? Treat him like the rest."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The chief nodded. The Portuguese went to the door and -called in three of the usual guard of six.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Here, men," he said, "the chief orders you to remove this -prisoner. Take him and tie him to yonder tree, and see to it -that he does not escape."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the men approached, Tom sprang to his feet and -prepared to resist any handling by the Arabs. At this moment -the hakim, who had stood in a corner of the hut, came forward -and spoke a few words in the chief's ear. But they seemed -only to strengthen the Arab's resolve. He bluntly told the -physician to mind his own business,--that his intervention was -vain. By this time Tom saw that resistance was hopeless; -a struggle would probably end in his being butchered; and -while there was life there was hope. He suffered himself to -be led out. The Portuguese himself superintended the tying-up, -the tree being the stout acacia shading the chief's hut. -Eight men were set to watch the prisoner during the rest of -the night, and with a look of malignant satisfaction in his evil -face, the Portuguese, no longer suspected or distrusted, -repaired, a free man, to his own quarters.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="gone-away"><span class="large">CHAPTER IX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">Gone Away!</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">Through the Net--A Call in Passing--A Chase in the Dark--On -the Track--Signals--The Little People--Ka-lu-ké-ke--Visions -of the Night</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>It was desperately cold. Since he had left Kisumu, Tom had -spent every night under a blanket, and, standing now with -his back to the tree, a rope about his waist, another about his -legs, a third tying his arms, he had nothing to defend him -from the keen air but the clothes he stood in, and was unable -to gain warmth by movement. He chafed under this bitter -constraint; tried the strength of the ropes by straining at them -with all his might; gave up the effort in sheer impotence, and -wondered whether he should live to see another dawn.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The blackguards!" he said to himself. A whimsical smile -twitched his lips as he caught sight of the eight men set to -watch him, squatting around a fire some distance away, and -beguiling the time with a game somewhat resembling knuckle-bones. -He fixed his eyes on the fire, following the leaping -flames, indulging his fancy in imaging strange monstrous -shapes; then recalled chestnut nights by the big-room fire at -school; by and by found himself whistling "Follow up" and -"Forty years on", at which the watchers dropped their dice -and their talk for a moment and turned their listening faces -towards him. Then the numbing cold began its soporific -work. He felt dazed; fantastic visions danced before his eyes. -Presently his lips moved without his knowing it, framing -foolish remarks at which it seemed that another self was -laughing; then his head bent forward, and he slept.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Somewhere about midnight it seemed to him in a dream -that water was trickling down his neck. He awoke and threw -back his head and hitched his shoulders, and felt that it was -not water but something sinuous and solid, caught between -tie back of his head and his coat collar. While he was -wondering whether a snake had sought refuge there from the cold, -he felt the intruder withdrawn, or rather was conscious that -he had jerked his head away from it. The next moment the -cold thin line, of he knew not what, wandered round and -tickled his nose. Again he moved his head away. Now fully -awake, he concluded that a strand of some creeping plant was -dangling from the tree, and hoped forlornly that his -discomfort, already not far short of actual torture, was not to be -increased in any such irritating manner. He could not bend -low enough to scratch his nose. The detestable thing seemed -to follow him. He might move his head to left or to right, -jerk it back or bend it forward, but he could not avoid the -persistent tickler, which he had now recognized by the wan -light of the moon, in her fourth quarter and sailing high, as -the leafless tendril of a creeper.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was tempted to call out to the watchers, and ask them -to relieve him of this torment. But at the same moment he -noticed that the eight negroes about the smouldering fire had -dropped their heads on their knees, and that the creeper was -swinging to and fro with a regular pendulum movement that -was hardly natural, and was certainly not due to the wind, -which blew fitfully in sudden gusts. It flashed upon him that -somebody, perhaps the hakim, was up the tree, signalling to -him. Bending his head back as far as he could, he peered -up into the branches. At the same instant, the dangling -switch ascended before his eyes; he gazed more intently, and -by the faint glow of the fire from below, rather than by the -filtering rays from the moon, he distinguished a crouching -form at the fork of bough and trunk. It might have been -an animal, but while Tom was still gazing up in a kind of dull -amazement the form moved, a human arm was stretched -downward, and within the grasp of a human hand a long blade -caught a glint of red light from the watchers' fire. Tom -longed to snatch at it. There it was, three feet above his -head! He tore desperately at his fastenings, but the cords -only cut into his flesh. "Come down and cut me free!" he -whispered; but just then one of the Manyema turned his -head, the knife was instantly withdrawn, the figure crawled -back upon the branch, and disappeared from view.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom wondered. Surely the hakim, if it was the hakim, -was not going to desert him. He waited and fretted; minute -after minute passed; there was no sound, no sign. His heart -sank; somnolence was again creeping over his senses when, -nearly an hour after he had been first awaked, he heard -a faint rustle in the tree above him. He looked up; there -again was the form, its features indistinguishable in the foliage. -As he gazed he saw a rod let down; the long knife was swathed -about the end. It came lower; it reached the level of his -hands, and stopped. He looked at it with wonder; then from -the tree came a whisper:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Cut; quick!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He almost laughed at the absurdity of the suggestion. His -hands were tied; his arms were bent in front of his chest, -elbows and palms together, and strong cords were wound -tightly about the wrists and forearms. But there was the -sharp blade turned towards him, within half an inch of the -ropes, held stiffly as though some malicious elf were bent on -tantalizing him. Again came the eager whisper:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Cut, cut; up and down, up and down!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The knife moved closer, it touched the rope about his -wrists; he felt its pressure. Was the thing possible? He -tried to pull his cramped arms apart, and found that, firmly as -they were bound, he could move them up and down for about -an inch. He made a downward movement, the ropes scraping -against the blade; up again, then down, again, again, with -increasing rapidity as his excitement grew. One of the guards -heaved a great sigh; Tom instantly stopped rubbing, and when -the negro turned sleepily to look at the prisoner, he saw him -tied to the tree, his head bent on his chest, his eyes closed. -The man stretched out his arms, shifted his position, and -gave himself again to slumber. Then the knife moved again, -the rubbing was resumed; one strand gave way, then another, -the tension was slackened, and with one final wrench Tom -found his aching hands free!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He pressed them under his armpits to warm them and -remove something of the pain; but the figure above was -impatient, insistent. He lowered the knife still farther, and -pressed it against the rope around Tom's waist. Tom took it. -A few moments' sawing severed that rope also; then he stooped -to his feet, and with three sharp strokes upon the cords about -his ankles his last bonds were snapped, and he stood once -more a free man. The negroes still slept, and the fire had -died down upon its embers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>What was he now to do? Who was his obliging friend? -He had little time to wonder; the rod was withdrawn into the -tree; a few moments later it came down--the knife was gone.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Climb up, sah!" came the eager whisper.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom grasped the rod, set his feet upon the knobby bole, -and with exertions which strained the muscles of arms and -legs to the verge of cramp he heaved himself into the leafy -bough. The figure there clutched him as he was on the point -of falling. "Sah! sah!" it said with a sob of joy. Tom -gripped Mbutu's hand, and sat for a minute breathless, peering -down towards the circle of sleeping negroes. The wind blew -with increasing force, rustling the leaves, and the branch -swayed heavily, grazing the hut's thatched roof.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No time fink, sah," said Mbutu. "Must run away!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But now that he was free Tom had recovered his wits, and -saw that if he was to get clear away he must exercise all his -cunning. There was the hut in which the chief, his enemy, -lay; there were the guards, sleeping, it was true, but likely -to wake at any moment. Around was the village, filled with -Arabs, Manyema, and slaves; an alarm would set hundreds of -men on the alert, and there was but a slender chance of -escaping from so many. Beyond the village, three hundred -yards away, was the thin outer belt of the forest; could he -but gain that, Tom thought, he might hide and elude pursuit. -There was danger from wild beasts, no doubt; but a wild -beast was less dangerous than the vengeful Portuguese. It -must be a dash for life and liberty, he saw. How was he to -escape immediate danger of detection?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His quick eye noticed that Mbutu wore the burnous and -turban of an Arab. With a leaping heart he saw in a flash -of thought his way made plain. It involved manifold risks. -"Never venture never win," he said to himself, and proceeded -to put his plan into operation. Tying the knife again to the -rod, but at an angle to form a crook, he let it down, and -hooked up the severed cords that lay at the foot of the tree. -He swiftly knotted them to form two strong ropes. Then -bidding Mbutu secure the knife and follow him, he crept -cautiously along the bough towards the hut. The wind was -stiffening to a gale; the horned moon was dipping behind the -forest, and the hut lay in shadow. He came to the end of -the branch, and crawled on to the roof, Mbutu following close. -Moving only when the swaying bough rustled against the -thatch, drowning all other sounds, he made his way cat-like -across the roof, reached the edge, slid over, and slipped -noiselessly down one of the wooden posts supporting the thatch at -the distance of a foot from the wall of the hut. He was on -the ground on the side farthest from the tree. For some -moments he stood and listened. There was a sound of voices -not far to his right, and he thought he detected a low murmur -from two or three quarters. Evidently there were many still -awake. Tom decided that the plan he had formed offered -a better chance of escape than a mere dash for the forest. -Taking off the turban with which he had been provided by -the hakim, he opened it out, and folded the sheet of linen over -and over until it made a long tight roll. In a few whispered -words he explained his plan to Mbutu; then, signing to the -boy to come after him quietly, he crept through one of the -holes in the wall, and found himself inside the hut. On a -rude table a small rushlight was burning, by whose glimmer -he saw the chief stretched upon his back on a narrow plank, -his burnous cast aside, his long form covered with a red -blanket. He was fast asleep, with his mouth open, his breath -coming and going with long soundless heaves. With heart -beating violently in spite of himself, Tom stole behind the -Arab, and then whispered to Mbutu that he was to hold the -man's head when he gave the signal. Both then stooped; -Tom gave a nod; Mbutu pressed the chief's head down firmly -with both hands, and at the same instant Tom stuffed the -rolled turban into his mouth, and knotted it beneath his neck. -He wriggled and half rose upon his elbow; instantly Mbutu's -arms were thrown around him, and he was pulled backward -and held in a firm grip. Tom had meanwhile run to his feet, -and, whipping one of the lengths of cord from his pocket, -he swiftly tied the chief's ankles together. Now that it was -impossible for the Arab to stand, Tom bade Mbutu assist him. -There was a short struggle, the Arab striving to wriggle out -of Mbutu's grasp. It was in vain; with the remaining cord -Tom bound the Arab's arms together, and in five minutes -after their entrance the chief lay securely gagged and bound.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Without losing a moment Tom donned the Arab's burnous -and turban.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you know the nearest way to the forest?" he asked -Mbutu.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Muhima nodded, and Tom told him that, relying upon -his disguise, he was going to walk boldly through the camp. -If they met anyone, Mbutu was to address him in his own -tongue in such a way as to disarm suspicion. Tom reckoned -on his own height to enable him to pass for the chief. There -was a box of matches by the rushlight; he put that in his -pocket, caught up a small bag of nuts that lay beside the -Arab, and without bestowing another glance on the prostrate -form, whose eyes were glaring at him with all the fury of -impotent rage, he walked slowly out of the hut, Mbutu a yard -behind.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They went quickly, stepping in the shade of the huts. -Their way led past the hut in which the Portuguese was -sleeping. The African native is sensitive to the slightest -tremor of the ground, and one of the negroes who had accompanied -De Castro, and was acting as sentry over him, crouching -over a watch-fire, heard the footfall of the two fugitives, -and came round the hut towards them. He dimly saw, as -he supposed, the tall form of the Arab chief stalking by, -accompanied by one of his men. He stepped back, and at -the same moment Mbutu, with a power of mimicry that -surprised his master, addressed him in a few quiet words, bidding -him keep good watch over the señor, while Tom walked on -with a dignified air, as though the negro were beneath his -notice. When out of the man's sight they quickened their -steps. They reached the outer circle of huts, evaded the -watch-fires placed at intervals, crossed the fence and ditch, and, -breaking into a run, plunged into the dense bush at the edge -of the compound. The fugitives had barely gone two -hundred yards when they heard a great outcry in the camp -behind. One of the eight guards had awoke and rekindled -the dying fire. Glancing at the tree, he discovered that the -prisoner was gone. He roused his companions, and with -mutual upbraidings they began to dispute who should venture -to inform the chief of the escape. Their voices rose in -altercation, and De Castro's sentry, hearing the noise, came to see -what had happened. As soon as he knew that the Englishman -had escaped, he ran to his master's hut, whence in a -moment issued the Portuguese, swearing great oaths at being -disturbed when he so much needed rest, and for the moment -not understanding what his man said. A glance at the tree -apprised him that his anticipated victim had escaped his -clutches. Heedless of the news that the chief had but just -before been seen walking through the camp, he rushed to the -hut, and finding Mustapha there bound and gagged, began -with frantic haste and fearful imprecations, in which he could -not refrain from mingling taunts, to cut him free. Both men -were beside themselves with fury. The whole camp was by -this time alarmed, and Arabs and Manyema alike cowered -before the wrath of their infuriated superiors. De Castro -ran wildly about crying for torches, while Mustapha ordered -every man in the camp to set off in search of the escaped -prisoner, and despatched parties in all directions. He went -himself to the hakim's hut, believing that the Arab seen -walking in the prisoner's company must be Mahmoud and -no other. Meeting the grave physician as he came out to -enquire the reason of the uproar, the chief roundly accused -him of effecting or conniving at the release of the Englishman. -The hakim's face showed neither surprise nor pleasure; -he was as coldly imperturbable as ever. Quietly denying -that he had had any hand in the escape, he asked the Arab -what he expected to gain by wild ill-directed searches in the -dark; the torches and the din would only give warning to -the fugitives, and help them to elude pursuit. Mustapha -saw the absurdity of his proceedings, and chafed under the -cynical scorn of the physician, whose calling and character -enforced his unwilling respect. Turning on his heel, he -ordered drums to be beaten to recall the search-parties, -and enquiry to be made for the traitor in the camp; and -when De Castro came up to him, foaming with passion and -shouting that the whole thing had been planned to spite him, -Mustapha bade him keep a still tongue in his head, or he -would find himself in the Englishman's place. It wanted still -more than three hours to sunrise, and giving orders that the -search should be diligently resumed at dawn, the chief -returned to his hut.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the meantime the outcry had at first caused the fugitives -to hasten their steps; but, fearing that the rustle and crash -of their progress through the bush would arrest the pursuers' -attention, they dropped behind a fallen tree. Not many -minutes afterwards a party of Manyema who had outstripped -the rest, keeping close together in their mutual fear, came -within a few yards of Tom's hiding-place. There was one -moment of suspense, then they passed on with torches burning; -but soon the tap-tap of the recalling drums sounded through -the wood, and they turned, passed within a few paces of where -the panting fugitives lay crouched, and retraced their steps -to the camp.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All go back, sah!" whispered Mbutu gleefully. "No catch -dis night. All jolly safe now, sah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I hope so," said Tom. "It was a narrow shave, Mbutu. -We'll wait till all is quiet, and consider what we had better do."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Must go on, sah; black men gone; rest by and by; time -fink by and by."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They rose and pursued their way into the forest, picking -their steps as best they could in the increasing darkness, -among trees, profuse grass, and creeping plants that threw -their sprays in intricate mazes across their path. When they -had gone about a mile from the camp the forest became so -thick that it was impossible to proceed farther that night. -Mbutu suggested that they should climb a tree as the best -protection from prowling beasts, and wait until morning. -To this Tom agreed, and finding a trunk easy to climb, they -got up into its lower branches, and made themselves as -comfortable as possible. Their ascent caused a commotion among -the feathered denizens of their shelter, and Mbutu declared -he heard the gibber of a monkey angry at the disturbance of -his ancestral home; but they rested without molestation till -the dawn sent feeble glimmers through the foliage, and during -that time Mbutu told his story.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His master's disappearance, he said, had caused the -utmost consternation and distress to the whole force. After -some hours of fruitless search next morning, the major had -sorrowfully decided that he must complete the object of his -expedition, leaving all further efforts to find Tom until his -work was done. Promising, then, a rich reward to any -native who should give him information as to the young -man's fate, he had continued his march, and arriving at the -native chief's village, after a stubborn fight had burnt it to -the ground. Most of the inhabitants fled, among them the -chief. The major then returned rapidly over his tracks, and -spent several days in searching far and wide through the -country. Mbutu, meanwhile, had felt sure from the very -first that his master was not dead, and had accompanied the -expedition in the hope that ere long some trace of him would -be found. Then, giving up hope of this, and learning that -the major had decided to return to Kisumu, he had resolved -to go on the search alone. Slipping away from the column -soon after it passed the scene of the ambush, he had cut into -the woods, and coming upon the dead bodies of Arabs, he had, -as a measure of precaution, appropriated the burnous and -turban of one of them. Then he sought for the trail of the -retreating Arabs, believing that his master was among them. -Fortunately they had marched in almost a straight line, so -that he tracked them easily until he came to the river where -they had sighted the Belgians, and there he was for a time -at fault. But he encountered a native, who informed him -of the sharp fight at the swamp, and put him on the right -track again. Two days before he arrived at the camp he had -descried the caravan, and from that moment he dogged it -patiently and warily, at one point of the route creeping up -so close that he was able to see, from the shelter of a bushy -tree, the figure of his master among the Manyema guard. -Then he followed up more cautiously than ever, in the hope -of discovering some means of effecting the prisoner's release. -No opportunity had offered, and his heart sank when he saw -the Portuguese join the caravan, still more when, as he peered -from a safe hiding-place among the trees, he saw the Arab -chief accompany De Castro to the hut where Tom lay. The -tying-up had made him desperate. He had thought at first -of creeping up and cutting his master free, but every time -he took a step forward towards the tree one of the guard -moved, or some noise had startled him, as a mouse peeping -out from its hole is startled by the faintest sound of -movement. Then he had the happy thought to climb the tree, -and endeavour to cut his master's bonds from above. The -discovery that he could not reach was at first agony, but he -was strung up to a pitch of desperation that set all his wits -on the alert. He had crept back into the forest and cut the -rod to which he had tied the knife; and now, with touching -earnestness, he assured his master that he would never leave -him until he was once more safe among his own people.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Poor old Uncle," said Tom, when Mbutu had ended his -story; "how I wish I could let him know I am alive and well -and free! And you, Mbutu, how am I to thank you for your -faithful service? I can tell you this: that when I do see my -friends again, you shall not be forgotten, my boy. But where -are we? What are we to do? Do you know anything about -this part of the country?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sah; know lot, sah. Forest ober dar, ober dar, ober dar."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He pointed successively in three directions--north, south, -and west.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then we must go to the east, eh?--the other way, you know."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sah, nebber do; all Arab dat way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And then he went on to explain that the open country -through which the Arab caravan had lately been travelling -was the last clear stretch by which their stronghold could be -reached. It was wedge-shaped, narrowing as it became -engulfed in the forest. The few natives whose hamlets were -dotted about it were all in the Arabs' pay, and were treated -with special and unusual consideration, in order that they -might be disposed to give early tidings of an enemy's -approach. Mbutu assured his master that the Arab chief would -at once acquaint the natives all through that district with -his prisoner's escape and offer a reward for his capture, -expecting him to make his way eastward, where every path -and cross-road would be narrowly watched.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"In that case we had better strike southward into the -forest," said Tom. "A pleasant prospect!" he mused. "I have -some recollection of reading in one of Stanley's books about -this forest: hundreds of miles long, and hundreds broad; one -could drop Great Britain and Ireland into it, to say nothing -of the kingdom of Man. But I suppose," he said, turning -again to Mbutu, "after a time we could safely make a turn -to the south-east and reach the River Rutchuru again? -What about your own country, Mbutu? Couldn't we make -for that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Fraid no, sah; my country days and days ober dar." He -pointed to the south-west, then looked puzzled, and -finally confessed that in the dark he was not quite sure of -the direction. "My people all gone dead, sah; live man all -stole, huts burnt in big fire. No; Mbutu no fader, no -mudder, no pickin: no nuffin--only sah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Poor fellow! Well, I see nothing for it but to go into -the forest as soon as it is light. We've nothing to keep us -warm at night; no food except these nuts I brought. I -have no watch and no compass: you've nothing but a knife; -we're both desperately poor, Mbutu, and we'll have to live -on our wits, I'm afraid.--Hark! what's that?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The dawn came up like thunder, indeed. Through the -wood resounded the thud-thud of many drums of various -tones, some rattling a rapid rat-tat, others booming with -deep, hollow, reverberating notes. Mbutu turned his ear -towards the sound, listening with peculiar intentness for -several minutes. Then he shook his head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not know dat!" he said. He explained that many tribes -had their own individual codes of drum-signals, which could -only be recognized by their own friends. By means of these -information was often telegraphed for miles in a very few -minutes, the note of the drum reaching far, and being taken -up and repeated from point to point. Though he had never -heard these particular notes before, he surmised that the -Arab chief was already signalling the escape of his prisoner. -It was clearly time to be off. Slipping down from the tree, -the two fugitives struck into the forest in a south-westerly -direction, and were relieved to hear the drum-taps becoming -ever fainter and fainter as they proceeded. When the sounds -had died away altogether, they sat down on a fallen tree and -made a frugal breakfast of nuts, sipping up the gigantic beads -of dew which covered the spreading leaves of plants near the -ground. Then they arose and went on their way.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>By this time they were well on the outskirts of the great -Congo Forest, which stretches for hundreds of miles westward -of Lake Albert Edward and the rivers flowing into it. Tom -began to be oppressed by a sort of nightmare feeling, which -damped his spirits and made him drop his voice to a whisper -when he spoke to Mbutu. The silence was awful. Trees -large and small, packed so close together that there seemed -at a distance barely room to squeeze between them, rose up, -some straight of stem, some twisted and warped, others -snapped off high above the ground, their foliage interlacing -and shutting off all view of sky and sun, the space beneath -as dim as the aisles of some vast cathedral. From tree to -tree ran huge festoons of creeper and vine, weaving intricate -patterns with each other, clinging in great coils about the -trunks. At every fork and on every branch huge lichens -were embossed, with broad spear-leaved plants, and clusters -of orchid and liana. The sodden forest floor was covered -with bush and amoma, save where a group of fallen trees, -split or scorched by the lightning, had made a gap and let -in the sunlight, and there innumerable baby trees had sprung -up, jostling each other in their eagerness to catch the stream -of light and heat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At one point Tom sat down to rest on a prostrate moss-covered -trunk. It crumbled into rottenness under his weight, -and, looking, he saw that it had been mined by countless -termites. Red ants scurried after one another in the wrinkles -of the bark, and a huge blue scorpion darted out of a hole, -causing Tom to start back with loathing. Near at hand was -a shallow pool, green with duckweed, its surface covered -with leaves of lotus and lilies, and a green, greasy scum of -microscopic plants. Above this was a crooked tree, whose -trunk seemed to have broken out in great ulcerous sores, -from which swollen globules of gum exuded, dropping with -heavy pong into the pool. Not a sound broke the stillness; -the silver trill of the mavis, the strident caw of rooks, the -brisk chirp of grasshoppers, all the myriad sounds of an -English wood, were absent; and Tom, gazing into the -confused mass of green, his feet chilled on the spongy humus, -felt that he was surrounded in very truth by death in life.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Marching on again along a narrow path which seemed a -mere tunnel in the forest, Mbutu had often to use his knife -to cut away obstructive growths--great sprays of thorn that -grabbed at their clothes, caught them under the chin, and -seemed bent on cutting their throats. Presently they came -to an abandoned clearing, where the vegetation now grew -more luxuriantly than ever; the charred poles of native -huts covered with climbing plants of vivid green, mingled -with white and purple flowers, forming bowers fit for Titania -the fairy queen. Just beyond was a stream, dashing over -rocks between banks covered with vegetation, some of the -larger trees bending over the current at the height of fifty -feet, thus forming a huge shed beneath which hundreds of -boats might have been sheltered. Here Tom got Mbutu to -cut him a stout cudgel of hard wood from one of the stooping -monsters, thinking it might prove useful as they progressed. -The pedestrians drank their fill of the delicious water, crossed -on the rocks, and forced their way up the opposite bank into -the forest again. Half a mile farther on they came to a -trickling stream, and beyond it, in a hollow, under a dense -canopy of foliage so thick that, but for twinkling points of -blue here and there, the sky was invisible, they lighted upon -tiny, cage-like habitations no more than three feet high, made -of sticks and leaves, and erected in a narrow clearing between -clumps of gigantic trees. Mbutu stopped short and uttered -a low cry of alarm, looking round with evident apprehension.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is it?" asked Tom in surprise, for the boy had -hitherto shown himself absolutely fearless.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bambute, sah!" he whispered; "little tiny people, berrah -tiny small. Dey shoot poison, sah: one scratch, man dead."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And Mbutu pulled his master away, and did not quit his -hold until he had led him half a mile farther into the forest. -He then explained that here and there, in such small clearings -as they had just traversed, there dwelt little communities -of strange dwarf-like people, whose naked bodies were covered -with a thin down, and who lived a sort of elfin life, stealing -about from glade to glade, hardly ever visible, as difficult to -discover as mice in a corn-field. They were skilled in woodcraft -and the chase, agile and fleet of foot, and so well versed -in poisons that with their toy-like bows and arrows they could -kill fowl, and men, and even elephants, with a mere scratch. -They could shoot three arrows so rapidly that the last -sprang from the bow before the first had reached its mark. -They fed on grubs and beetles, honey, mushrooms, and roots, -besides coneys and hares and other spoils of the chase, and -had a sweet tooth for the potatoes and bananas cultivated -by their taller neighbours. Mbutu said that he was not -afraid of ordinary negroes or Arabs, they could easily be -avoided; but if he and his master stumbled into a nest of -dwarfs, he feared they would not escape with their lives.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At noon Tom sat down upon a recently fallen trunk to -rest. Mbutu went off by himself to find food, and luckily -came upon a deserted clearing where bananas were still -growing. He returned with a luscious bunch, and after eating -and resting a while, the travellers again resumed their march. -The heat of the afternoon had brought out myriad insects -that buzzed about their heads, darting in every now and -then to sting. Bees, wasps, and ticks innumerable sported -hither and thither across their path; sometimes a flock of -pigeons would clatter out of a tree, and high over their heads -shrilled the mocking notes of parrots.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the afternoon wore on, the heat became oppressive, -suffocating. An ominous heaviness brooded over everything; -the dimness deepened into darkness, and a feeling as of an -approaching calamity crept over Tom. Suddenly he heard a -faint rumble like artillery far away; through a narrow -opening in the forest he saw a spear of white flame dart across -from tree to tree; then the silent trees rustled, swayed, and -smote their tops one against another like masts straining -under heavy canvas in a hurricane. Then roared the thunder; -forked lightning flashed pale-green across the tree-tops, and -the massive trees bent and reeled like rushes, recovering -themselves from the first blow, staggering forward, jerked back by -the climbing plants around them, clashing, roaring, screaming -like fierce savage warriors in mortal fight. Tom stood still, -amazed at the wild warfare, deafened by the reverberating -thunder-claps, blinded by the scathing flames of lightning, yet -exhilarated as he watched the fray. Then out of the black -sky poured a deluge of rain, sheet upon sheet, hissing like -water poured on hot iron, every drop as large as a crown-piece, -penetrating the cotton garments of the travellers, -drenching them in a moment to the skin. For three minutes -the torrents fell; then, as suddenly as it had begun, the storm -ceased, its fury was extinguished, the sky cleared, the trees -stood still, and there was nothing to mark the terrific elemental -strife but the streaming foliage, the soaked ground, and two -giant stems which, cleft by the lightning, had crashed down -and overwhelmed many smaller trees beneath them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Whew! that was a storm indeed!" said Tom. "What are -we to do now? We can't go on in this sopping state."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I know, sah; climb tree, dry clothes in sun."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A novel drying-room!" said Tom with a smile. "Well, -let's try it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The fallen trees lay across others in such a way that they -formed a sort of inclined path leading from the ground up -into the forks of trees still standing. Tom and the Muhima -nimbly climbed up until they were almost at the top of a giant -of the woods, and there they sat amid the foliage and easily -dried their dripping garments in the fierce sunlight. When -that was done they felt hungry, and after they had reached -the ground, Mbutu found some small berries which he assured -his master were perfectly good to eat. Then they went on -again. It was impossible to tell how far they had come. -Tom had left the direction to Mbutu, who seemed to find the -way by instinct. Judging by the height of the sun that it -was now about four o'clock, Tom wondered how they were to -pass the approaching night. They had seen no human beings, -and few living creatures at all save insects and snakes; Mbutu, -indeed, assured his master that beasts of prey were not much -to be dreaded in such dense forest, though he would not be -surprised if an elephant should come rushing out upon them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They were sitting at the edge of a clearing, with their backs -against a huge tree, to rest for a few minutes before starting -for the last hour's walk, when Mbutu suddenly clutched Tom -by the sleeve. At the same moment Tom heard a curious -rhythmic chant, beginning on a low note, skipping three or -four tones, and then descending to a chromatic note midway -between. Then out of the forest to their left came a strange -procession, a line of some thirty little naked figures, -well-formed, cheerful-looking, diminutive men less than four feet -high, trotting along in single file, their passage absolutely -soundless save for the crooning chant in time with their -footsteps. "Ka-lu-ké-ke, ka-lu-ké-ke," they sang, their voices low -and pleasant and melodious, their motions lithe and graceful. -They carried bows and arrows, and one, who appeared to be -their chief, had a light spear in addition. Without turning -their heads they rapidly crossed the glade, and disappeared -like gnomes in the forest on the other side.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu heaved a sigh of relief.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bambute!" he said. "No see us dis time; plenty poison -dem arrows."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So those are your pigmies, eh? Upon my word, Mbutu, -they looked quite an interesting lot of little fellows. I liked -that song of theirs much better than the 'man all alone', you -know. We have a saying in my country, 'little and good'; -many a little man has been a hero. There's Bobs, you know; -ever heard of Bobs? Well, I'll tell you all about him some -day. I declare I'm sleepy; there's no hut for us to-night; I -think we had better climb that big tree there and sleep on the -lowest fork, eh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All right, sah! No dago man now, sah," he added.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's true; but we aren't out of the wood yet! We have -done well to-day, I think; now for our leafy bed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu was asleep as soon his head touched the bough on -which he had perched himself. But Tom was awake for -hours, pondering on many things. The night-wind swayed -the branches all around him, waking a chorus of creaking -stems, swinging boughs, rustling leaves. From below came -the ceaseless scraping chirp of crickets, the shrill piping call of -cicadas, the tuneless croak of frogs. In the distance he heard -the harsh, rasping cry of the lemur, and a strange sound like -the noise of a stick rattled against iron railings; this, Mbutu -explained afterwards, was a soko or chimpanzee amusing -himself with striking upon a tree. Once Tom was startled by -a sudden crackle, followed by a rending and rushing and a -heavy thump that shook the fork on which he lay. In the -morning he found that a dead tree had fallen, crashing through -the forest and overwhelming many a living tree with its -weight. All these sounds, breaking in upon the sad rustle of -the foliage, filled Tom's soul with a sense of forlornness. By -and by the sounds were unheeded; his mind was occupied -with thronging memories and thoughts. He was reminded of -the sleepless nights he had sometimes spent in his father's -parsonage, hearkening to the rooks in the trees just opposite his -window. He thought of his boyish ambitions; of the pride -and eagerness with which he had listened to his uncle Jack's -stories when he came on rare visits to the parsonage; of the -blow to all his hopes when his father died. Then he lived -again in thought through the long months at Glasgow; heard -the din of the engine-shop, and felt once more the dissatisfied -longing of that dreary time. That appeared now to be far -back in a dim remote past. It was only a few weeks since he -had left England, and yet how much had happened in the -interval! The events of years seemed to have been -compressed into days. His thirst for adventure was more than -satisfied; yet here he was, in the heart of an African forest, -with who could tell what new experiences in store for him?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And as his mind rolled question after question round an -empty ring, eerie shapes seemed to creep out of the darkness, -mocking and jibing, whispering words of evil augury, -prophesying comfortless days of weariness and pain, of aimless -wandering in the immeasurable forest, where he would finally -drop and die, a prey to jackal or vulture. He strained his -eyes, as though to see if these were in very truth bodily forms -surrounding him; then upon his mental sight another scene -rose--reminiscences of his brief captivity with the Arabs; -stark forms lying in chains upon the swampy path; men and -women and children sobbing out their lives in slavery; the -slaver's cruel whip descending on the backs of young boys -and maidens, who writhed and shrieked and fell bleeding and -exhausted, many to rise no more. His own dark fancies fled -the horrors of the slave-trade came home to him. He -forgot his own puny troubles, and even his present extremity. -Once more he registered the vow that, if he were spared, he -would strike a blow, however feeble, against this hideous -traffic in humanity. Suddenly there fell upon his inward ear -the cry of the Arabs in the fight by the bridge: "Allah-il-Allah! -God is God!" A solemn quiet brooded upon his -mind; the wind itself lulled and the rustle of the leaves -around him ceased. Looking up through the canopy of green, -he saw one star faintly twinkling. His depression passed -away; he found himself murmuring the lines of a poem that -had been a favourite with his father:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"God's in His heaven,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>All's right with the world".</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Thoughts of all the good things of life crowded through his -mind; he felt contented and at rest; and with recollections -his uncle, Dr. O'Brien, Mr. Barkworth, and the padre -making a dancing medley in his brain with hippos and -crocodiles, Arabs and pigmies, he at last fell into a dreamless -sleep.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-land-of-the-pigmies"><span class="large">CHAPTER X</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">The Land of the Pigmies</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">Slow Progress--Forest Life--Hunger--Overtures--A Change -of Diet--In Straits--A Man Hunt--At Bay</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Tom awoke when the darkness was fading, and a ghostly light -showed him the still sleeping form of Mbutu hard by.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wake up, my katikiro," he said cheerily. "I shall have -to teach you those lines about the sluggard, my boy. Come, -what about breakfast?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu was wide awake in an instant. He slid down the -tree with the agility of a cat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Me get breakfast, sah," he said, "jolly good breakfast."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was out of sight before Tom, in a more leisurely way, -had descended. Soon the Muhima returned, his arms full of -magnificent mushrooms. He put them down at the foot of -the tree and disappeared again, this time remaining somewhat -longer away, and bringing back with him some red berries of -the phrynia and the oblong fruit of the amoma. Tom made -a wry face as he bit one of the berries, and Mbutu laughed -and explained that the kernel was the edible part; but he -found the tartish amoma fruit refreshing, and of these and the -mushrooms, fried over a twig fire, he made a satisfying meal. -Then they started on their way, taking their direction from -the rising sun, of which they caught a glimpse through the -trees.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But soon the sun was hidden from their view, and they had -to tunnel their way through creepers, rubber-plants, and -tangled vines. The heat was like the damp heat of a -hot-house many times intensified, and they sweated till they were -wringing wet. Sometimes they floundered into thick -scum-faced quagmires green with duckweed, into which they sank -knee-deep, the stench exhaled from the slough almost -overcoming Tom. Then came a new patch of thorn, which Mbutu -had to cut away laboriously with his knife, Tom standing by -chafing at his inability to assist. When they got through, -after taking more than an hour to traverse half a mile, their -clothes were in tatters, and Tom's rueful look provoked a -smile from Mbutu.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Soon get used to it, sah," he said cheerfully. "No -clothes; all same for one."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Which means, I suppose, that I'm only very much in the -forest fashion! Well, it's hot enough for anything; certainly -too hot to talk. Let us rest."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Berrah soon, sah. I see coney track; rest ober dar."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Following up the slight track which his sharp eyes had -discovered, he led the way to a spot where a camp had evidently -been formed not very long before. The ground was cleared, -and several logs of various lengths lay about. On one of -these Tom sat down thankfully to rest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's time for dinner, I'm sure. I'd give anything for -a glass of cider, but, as that's out of the question, can you -find me some water anywhere, Mbutu?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh yes, sah; camp here, must be water."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He went into the undergrowth, and returned by and by -with a broad leaf of the phrynia held cup-shape in his hands, -brimming with delicious water from a rivulet. After quenching -their thirst and eating a few berries they went on again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Marching began to be monotonous. There was little -variety. Sometimes they crossed the track of an elephant -or a buffalo; once they came upon a stretch of fifty yards of -flattened undergrowth exhaling an unpleasant musky smell, -and Mbutu explained that that was the trail of a boa-constrictor. -Later they crossed a track evidently made by human -footsteps, and once Tom was only saved from falling into a -deep elephant-pit by Mbutu snatching at him as he trod at the -edge. Always there was the bush to be penetrated; colossal -trees to be avoided; riotous creepers to be dodged; and Tom -was very glad when night came and Mbutu found him a -hollow tree to sleep in.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On this night the parts were reversed, for while Tom fell -into a sound sleep at once, Mbutu sat up, watchful and -anxious. He had been disturbed by the sight of leopard -scratches on the trunks of teak, and as a measure of precaution -had borrowed his master's box of matches and kindled a -fire--a slow process with the damp wood. But he was still more -disturbed by the scarcity of food. He had noticed during -their last hour's walk the almost complete absence of the -edible plants on which they had fed hitherto, and he feared -that they might have reached one of those regions of the -forest where food, except wild animals to be hunted, is -unprocurable. Before he at last closed his eyes he tore a strip -off the burnous girt about his loins, and contrived to make -with it a running noose, which he hung a foot or two above -the ground upon a spray of thorn. This was a simple snare -into which he hoped that a coney or some other small animal -might run its neck before morning. But when the dawn -broke, the noose was still hanging empty, and Mbutu, after -a scrutiny of the bush, announced that his master would have -to dispense with breakfast. Tom took the news lightly, in -order not to discourage his companion.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Cheer up!" he said. "It won't be the first time I've been -for a tramp before breakfast. There's plenty of dew, I see, -so that we can have a drink, and perhaps by the time we're -sharp-set we shall be in the land of plenty."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So they started cheerfully enough, making still towards the -south-west. But Tom's confidence proved to be not justified. -The character of the vegetation had somewhat changed. It -grew as thick as ever, but while many of the plants bore -attractive-looking berries, Mbutu informed his master that -they were all poisonous. They did come upon a mass of wild -bananas, but only the cultivated fruit is eatable. Even when -they reached what had once been a clearing, where a grove of -plantains might have been expected, they found that -elephants had been running riot, and the vegetation there was -trampled into a pulp. Once Mbutu uttered a cry of joy on -catching sight of a small arum bush; he sprang forward, dug -up the roots with his knife, slit them into slices, and roasted -them over a fire. That was all the food they obtained that -day. It had been very hot, the air had seemed almost solid, -and the foetid exhalations from the soft places they had -passed made Tom feel sick and disconsolate.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When they stopped for the night, Mbutu again lit a watch-fire, -and set his noose. In the morning he was wakened by -a faint cry, and, springing up, he saw that a coney had been -caught in the snare, and had at that moment been pounced -on by a wild cat. He was too hungry to allow himself to be -forestalled. He picked up his knife and made for the cat, -which turned its head without relaxing its hold, and showed -its teeth as though inclined to fight. But when Mbutu was -almost upon it, with an angry snarl it loosed its prey and -sprang up into a tree. The coney was already dead, its neck -broken by the cat's fierce onslaught. Mbutu had the animal -half-skinned when his master awoke.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What are you about?" cried Tom, horrified at seeing -Mbutu lifting a piece of raw flesh to his mouth.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hungry, sah; coney berrah good."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But you can't eat it raw, surely! Ugh! you'll make me -sick."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu put down the morsel with a look in which mingled -emotions were expressed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Make fire in two ticks," he said resignedly, a phrase he -had heard Tom use; and in a short time he was toasting some -steaks at the fire, while his master searched for fruit. He -found a few berries, and both he and Mbutu ate their meal -ravenously, feeling still hungry when they had finished.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The fourth day of their forest march was but a repetition -of the third. They found almost nothing eatable, and even -good water was scarcer than on the previous day. At -one point a huge puff-adder lay coiled in their path, and -Mbutu wished to kill it, assuring his master that the reptile -was too sluggish to defend itself. But Tom shuddered, and -bade him come away. Later in the day Mbutu suddenly -flung his knife at a tawny creature with black spots and a -long, striped, bushy tail--a genet cat, as Tom afterwards -discovered,--but the weapon missed by barely an inch. That -was the last chance they had that day of securing animal food, -and they had to content themselves with a few dry and -unpalatable, though perfectly wholesome, roots, which Mbutu -grubbed up, and the leaves of herbs growing low.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Both the travellers had spoken jestingly of their hunger, for -each was unwilling to depress the other; but it was a hollow -pretence. Both, but Tom more especially, were already feeling -the weakening effects of privation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Before they settled for the night, Tom thought it well to -speak plainly to Mbutu. His own uneasiness was deepened -by his feeling of responsibility for the boy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mbutu," he said gravely, "if we do not find food -to-morrow we shall begin to starve. I don't know what -starvation means; it is too horrible, almost, to think of. Yet we -must face the possibility. Now, I brought you into this, and -it isn't fair that you should come to harm on my account. -If we find no food to-morrow, I think you had better go on -without me. You can make your way more easily than I, -and if you come to a village and get food you can bring me -some; if not, go on; it is better for one to starve than two."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No! no! no!" said Mbutu vehemently; "sah fader and -mudder. Food come by and by; no die dis time."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But the poor boy, when his master had fallen asleep, looked -anxiously at his pinched face. The cheeks were thinned and -drawn, there were dark sunken patches below the eyes, and -his tall frame seemed even taller and thinner. Ever since the -young Englishman had saved him from De Castro's whip, -Mbutu had cherished a sentiment of absolute devotion for -him, only intensified by the hazards of their later adventures. -He would have laid down his life for him, and indeed, though -Tom had not noticed it, the boy had already stinted himself -even of the little food he had obtained. "My master is much -bigger than I," was his half-formed thought, "and needs more -to keep his strength up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The morning of their fifth day in the forest broke dull and -depressing. Huge blankets of mist clothed tree and shrub, -and a light breeze set up strange cross currents which rolled -great white billows one against another, swirling and eddying, -twisting and twining like animate things. Tom shivered as -he awoke; the violent changes of temperature had made him -somewhat feverish, and his sunken eyes, unnaturally bright, -seemed for a moment to gaze out vacantly upon the encircling -walls of misty green. His limbs ached, and he got up stiffly. -Mbutu was not in sight, but returned presently, bringing with -him some cassava tubers and arum roots which he cooked for -his master's breakfast. Tom found it difficult to eat them. -He smiled a weary smile.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We shall have to tighten our belts to-day, Mbutu," he said. -"Did you ever hear of that? Twist your burnous more -tightly round your loins and you won't feel the pain so much. -And we must be careful of our matches, too. The box is -half-empty and we can't get any more."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Make fire with wood, sah," said Mbutu.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But wouldn't that be difficult with the damp stuff around -us? We must keep up our courage and get on. We can't -tell the way till the sun is up, and indeed I'm afraid we shall -never see the sun in this thick forest."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Me climb tree, sah; see sun den."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu began to clamber up into the foliage, and springing -dexterously from branch to branch ascended to the top, where, -a hundred and fifty feet from the ground, above the rolling -banks of mist, he caught sight of the red sun rising above the -limitless expanse of waving green. Descending rapidly, he -told his master he was now sure of the direction in which -they should go, and before seven o'clock they had begun again -their painful march.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom had to stop frequently to rest. The gnawing pains of -hunger told more seriously upon him than upon the Muhima, -for his life for the past three weeks had been more than hard, -making unaccustomed demands upon his strength. He still -felt the effects of his wound. They found a few berries and -edible roots, and if such supplies, meagre as they were, -continued, Tom hoped to stave off actual starvation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Surely we shall come to a native village by and by," he -said hopefully. "Even the pigmies might take pity on -starving men."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Mbutu shook his head; he had no faith in the -compassion or generosity of pigmies; he knew of them only as -dangerous foes. In the afternoon they reached a spot where -the ground began to slope downwards, and the vegetation -appeared still thicker and more entangled.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Coming to ribber, sah," said Mbutu eagerly. "Perhaps -huts; perhaps catch fish."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Fifteen minutes later, in truth, they came suddenly to the -brink of a river, through a hedge of creeping-plants covering -every inch of ground from the water's edge to the green-black -forest behind. The current was fairly strong, and the water -was tea-coloured, suggesting iron in solution, swirling with -dingy froth around a few boulders that stood out above the -surface here and there. Mbutu, scanning the opposite bank, -uttered a cry of joy. The stream was some fifty yards wide, -and on the other side there was a narrow rift in the vegetation, -so narrow indeed that Tom did not discern it until it was -pointed out to him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Path, sah!" said Mbutu. "'Spect huts ober dar. Huts, -food. Plenty food, oh yes!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They sat down for a few moments to rest on a rock at the -edge of the stream, gazing in silence at the gurgling water. -Suddenly Mbutu twitched his master's sleeve and pointed to -the farther bank. Just emerging from the leafy hedge, through -the narrow opening, was a diminutive and graceful little -woman, copper-coloured, with raven-black hair, a broad round -face, and full lustrous eyes. Three iron rings were coiled -spiral-shaped about her neck. She was crooning happily to a -tiny brown child toddling by her side, and on her head a small -pitcher was cleverly balanced. She came down to the water's -edge and stooped to fill her pitcher, still chanting softly a -quaint song that Tom thought wonderfully pretty. Her boy -leant over the water in comical mimicry of his mother.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bambute woman, sah," whispered Mbutu.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Low as the words were uttered, the channel between the -high banks acted as a sound-board, and the sharp ears of the -little woman heard them. She looked up, gave a startled -cry, and stepped back. At the same instant the tiny fellow, -alarmed by his mother's cry, lost his balance and toppled over -into the water. The stream there was deep, flowing in strong -and steady current. For one brief moment the mother seemed -dazed, and Tom looked at the little brown bundle floating -down stream as at some picture, not an actual thing at all. -Then the woman screamed, dropped her pitcher, and forced -her way along the bank, wringing her hands and moaning -pitifully as she saw the stream bearing her little son away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"She can't swim!" cried Tom, realizing the situation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He sprang up, leapt on to the first boulder, then to the -second two yards from it to the left, and took a header into -deep water. Excitement lent him strength; he forgot where -he was, forgot all his late sufferings, forgot the danger of chill -and crocodiles; all that he saw was the drowning child, all -that he thought of was his duty to save it. He struck out -energetically, the current assisting him. As yet the stream -had borne the child along upon its surface, but just as Tom -arrived within a dozen yards of him he sank, and the mother's -heart-broken cry echoed from the forest. Tom quickened his -stroke, and, gathering his breath, dived just beyond the spot -where he had last seen the brown body. It was difficult to -make out anything in the tan-coloured water, but he fancied -he saw the little black head, threw out his right hand, caught -a foot, and in a few seconds was safe at the surface again, the -boy in his grasp.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>By this time Mbutu had reached his master's side. He -relieved him of the burden, and together they swam to the -shore, where Tom turned the pigmy urchin on his face and -slapped his back and worked his arms about till the little -fellow recovered his breath. A lusty cry soon proclaimed -that there was vigorous life in the tiny body. Then they -carried him with some difficulty along the steep bank to the -path by which he had come from the forest. They caught -sight of his mother darting like a timid gazelle among the -trees. Mbutu at Tom's command called to her to come and -fetch her pickin, using all the dialects he knew; she stopped -and faced the strangers again, but evidently understood -nothing of what the Muhima said, and was too much scared -to approach them. In spite of his exhaustion, Tom could not -help smiling at the woman's fears.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Put the little beggar down," he said, "and see him run."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Want food, sah," expostulated Mbutu; "woman gib food."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But she wants her baby first; perhaps she thinks we are -cannibals, and mean to make a meal of both of them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu shrugged, and set the boy, now fully recovered and -crying lustily, upon his feet. Instantly he scampered off with -wild delight to his mother. She snatched him up, smothered -him with kisses, then threw him over her back and ran fleetly -into the forest. In vain Mbutu called to her to bring food, -shouting that the big white man would give his buttons, his -coat, anything, for a chicken and some plantains. His voice -only made her run the faster, and soon a turn in the narrow -path concealed her altogether from view.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'd better go along the path after her," said Tom. -"There must be a pigmy village somewhere near, and they're -surely human enough to give us food."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu shook his head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bambute much bad people," he said. "See white man; -no fink; shoot one, two, three; sah dead."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But we saved the youngster."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bambute no stop fink. Woman say big sah, berrah big; -Bambute no wait; all come in one big hurry, shoot sah. -Better go away too quick."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, you ought to know them better than I." (He -suddenly, in one of those odd flashes of memory that come at -the most unlikely moments, remembered Mr. Barkworth's -positive statement: "There's no gratitude in these -natives!") "Let us go, then; lead the way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They scrambled along the bank, stumbling over rocks and -projecting thorn-sprays, Mbutu urging his master to hurry, -lest the whole pigmy village should come hot-foot at their -heels. It seemed strange to Tom that the little people should -feel animosity against inoffensive travellers who had actually -done them a service, but he relied upon his boy, in whom he -had seen no signs of cowardice. The fact was that Mbutu had -never before actually come into contact with the pigmies, and -knew them only by hearsay. He had a child's dread of the -unknown, and the stories he had heard prompted him to keep -as far as possible out of harm's way.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom's exertions, acting on his enfeebled frame, had worn -him out, and but for Mbutu's entreaties he would have refused -to budge. His clothes were drying in the sunlight, but he was -chilled to the bone, and terribly hungry. Mbutu insisted that -they ought to hide their trail by wading in the stream where -it was shallow enough, and thus, alternately on land and in -water, they covered rather more than three miles. Then -Tom declared that he could go no farther, and sat down upon -a dry rock to rest, while Mbutu scrambled up the bank and -into the forest in search of food. He brought back a handful -of papaws and amoma fruits.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, this is quite luxurious!" said Tom, delighted at -getting a change from the disagreeable roots on which he -had subsisted for the past few days.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sah wait bit," said Mbutu with a knowing smile. He -waded out to a large rock in mid-stream, threw himself flat -upon it, and peered over into the water. A few moments -passed; then Tom saw the boy's knife flash as he plunged his -arm into the water. He drew it up, and there was a fine fish, -somewhat resembling a trout, gleaming on the point. He -looked round triumphantly at Tom; then bent once more over -the water, and soon speared another fish in the same way. -When he had caught four he returned to the bank, and asked -his master for the box of matches.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, they're soaked; absolutely useless, Mbutu. You'll -have to make fire some other way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu at once cut a small block of hard wood from a tree, -and scooped out a little hollow in it. Then he found a thin -straight switch, and sharpened it at one end. He inserted this -in the hollow of the block, and began to twirl it round rapidly -in both hands. He was out of practice, and looked rather blue -when no fire came; but, persevering, he succeeded after some -minutes in kindling a spark. He then lit a fire, slit and -cleaned the fish, and had the delight of offering his master -some appetizing broiled fish-steaks. Not content with this, -he returned to the rock, rapidly captured half a dozen more -fish, and then, throwing on to the fire the leaves of plants -that made a thick smoke, he attempted a rough-and-ready -process of dry-curing. This done, he searched about till he -found a thin and flexible tendril, on which he strung the dried -fish, declaring gleefully that his master would certainly have a -good breakfast next day.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There being still two hours or more of daylight left, as they -judged by the position of the sun, they walked on again, -feeling refreshed in body, and more cheerful in mind than they -had been for a week. They still clung to the edge of the -stream, and at one point narrowly escaped treading on a -crocodile basking by the bank, where it was indistinguishable -from a log of wood. Mbutu was only warned of the danger -by a sudden startling flash of light. Jumping back, he pointed -out that the glare was the reflection of the sun in the saurian's -greedy eye. By and by they came to a tributary flowing into -the river on the right hand. It was a fairly large stream, -about thirty yards broad at the point of ingress, and as its -course was from the south-east, Tom decided to turn and -follow it up. While tramping below the left bank, which -was high and steep, and finding the walking rather easier -than it had been hitherto, the ground being rocky, they came -to a deep inlet, at the bottom of which there was a cavern; -half-hidden by vine-sprays trailing over the bank.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The very place for our night's rest," said Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They entered, strewed leaves and grass on the smooth dry -floor, and slept soundly till daybreak. Though his limbs -ached when he rose, and he was still feverish, Tom felt better -than on the previous day, and ate heartily of the broiled fish -and roots which Mbutu had prepared for him. Then, leaving -the cave, they walked for about half a mile, and found that -the stream bent suddenly round to the left. Mbutu climbed a -tree, and told his master that he could see the water for some -distance, forming a loop and winding away towards the north. -Arabs would certainly be ranging the country in that direction; -there was nothing for it but to strike into the forest -again, and pursue their journey to the south or south-west.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom was not reassured by the aspect of the forest. While -there was less of tangled undergrowth and thorn, the trees -appeared to be thicker and larger than ever. There was -no sign of edible plants, but the animals were even more -numerous, and the insects more multitudinous and irritating. -As they crossed a babbling rivulet, apparently a tributary -of the stream they had recently left, they were met by a -cloud of moths reaching from the water's face to the loftiest -tree-tops, and looking, as it approached, like a glittering shower -of lavender-coloured snow, the particles whirling about in the -slight gusts that blew along the course of the streamlet. -Farther on, a dozen tree stems, thrown down during a -recent storm, lay across one another at various angles, -completely blocking the way, and the travellers found that the -easiest mode of proceeding was to clamber up one of them -that sloped at an angle of forty-five degrees, and to scramble -thence on to another, and then to another sloping downwards, -until they reached terra firma again. Their progress was -terribly slow and arduous, and long before the mid-day heat -rendered rest imperative, Tom felt thoroughly exhausted. -His clothes were now a miscellany of rags, his boots mere -gaps. He noticed what appeared to be ulcers breaking out -upon his arms, and found that the exertion of walking and -climbing made him faint, and produced a keen pain in his -chest. He had had nothing to eat since the last of Mbutu's -fish was consumed, and with the faintness and hunger came -inevitable dejection of mind.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>While he rested on a log, Mbutu went off alone to search -again for food, but could find nothing but a few withered -berries and some fungi, which, suspicious as they were, Tom -was fain to swallow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We must try again," he said presently. "I am beginning -to think it would have been better to follow the stream -and chance the Arabs. I can't keep up much longer, Mbutu."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Muhima was speechless, though his eyes eloquently -expressed his anxiety and affection. Before they resumed -their journey he cut his master another stout staff from a -sapling of hard wood, the first having been lost in the stream. -After struggling through the forest for about an hour, every -step more painful to Tom, they came suddenly upon an -unexpected scene of desolation. It was a wide clearing, on -which a village of considerable dimensions had at one time -stood; the blackened ground told a tale of burning and rapine. -Beyond it there were whole groves of banana-trees scorched -and ruined, hundreds of palms lying prostrate, and acres of -ground, once cultivated, now denuded of every vestige of -life. Near a heap of ashes lay a number of charred bones, -and Tom shuddered as he passed on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Beyond this area of destruction the forest was less dense, -and Mbutu by and by discovered a narrow track which he -declared was the pathway of pigmies. He looked round -apprehensively, fearing every moment lest swift arrows from -unseen bows in the brushwood should put a sudden end to -their lives. Once he exclaimed that he heard the clash of -spears amid the foliage, but Tom assured him it must be -simply the rustling of stiff leaves. As the evening shades -were falling, the boy asserted positively that he saw little -faces peering at him from the trees, and Tom, with a weary -sigh, answered:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not care, Mbutu. Elves or sprites or human beings, -they don't concern us unless they bring us food. Perhaps -the pigmies have been shadowing us all the way since we -saved that boy; why should they wish to hurt us? If you -see one again, call to him. Call now; perhaps there is a -settlement near; we might miss many in this wild forest."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu plucked up courage to call, but the only answer -was a manifold echo from the trees, the squawk of parrots, -and what sounded like the barking laugh of the hyena. Tom -could walk no farther; he felt that he would fain rest for ever. -On this night Mbutu built up a small hut of leaves and -twigs for his master, and lit a watch-fire to scare, away wild -intruders. For supper they gnawed some leaves, but Tom -fell into the sleep of exhaustion in the middle of his scanty -meal, and Mbutu sat for hours watching him uneasily. He, -too, was at last overcome by fatigue, but not until he had -thoughtfully heaped enough fuel on the fire to last until dawn. -Tom woke first. He rose feebly and staggered oat of the -hut, his forehead hot, his hands clammy; and there, between -the still burning fire and his rough shelter, was a huge -bunch of plantains! He could scarcely believe his eyes. He -called Mbutu, but the boy did not stir. He went to him -and shook him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where did you get them?" he asked. "Have you eaten -some yourself?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu sprang up and stared, not understanding what his -master meant, and believing that he must be light-headed. -When Tom pointed to the plantains, the boy gave a gasp -and looked up in the trees and all around in amazement. -Without another word both began to eat ravenously, and -not till they had nearly finished the bunch did Mbutu suggest -an explanation of the godsend. The spirits of his ancestors, -he said, must have been watching over him, or perhaps the -Great Spirit of whom he had heard the White Father speak, -and who really did seem to care for the black man and white -man alike, as the missionary had averred. Tom let the boy -talk on. Suddenly a hare-shaped animal darted across the -ground in front of them; there was a whirring sound; the -animal fell, a short arrow piercing it to the heart. Mbutu -sprang up, and ran towards it; then started back, and looked -about him with wide scared eyes. Nothing happened; the -skilful marksman did not appear to claim his prize; the -morning stillness was not broken by so much as a rustling -leaf. Mbutu again moved towards the animal, treading -delicately, and stopping at every second step to glance fearfully -around. He seized the animal, and ran back swiftly with it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bambute, sah!" he whispered, in a tone of awe. "Sah -him friends. Sah sabe pickin; Bambute much glad. Oh yes! no -want food no more; Bambute gib food."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Again Tom seemed to hear Mr. Barkworth's voice: "There's -no gratitude in these natives! I know them." He wondered -whether the fact was as Mbutu had surmised; whether the -woman had brought her people to see the white man; whether -they had dogged the travellers all the way, or had come upon -them by accident. Mbutu was already skinning the animal, -and preparing it for the fire. Never was flesh more welcome -to starving men. Refreshed and strengthened, Tom rose with -renewed hope to continue his march.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But next day the old dejection returned. Of the pigmies -there was no sign; no heaven-sent food was placed at their -feet; they trudged on and on, almost blindly, always hungry. -So four days passed, days upon which Tom could never look -back without a shudder of horror. Stories of prisoners -starving in barred dungeons recurred to his mind; and he wondered -which was worse, slowly to pine away in confinement, within -bare stone walls that invited death, or to die in the midst of -vigorous life, with liberty to range immense spaces. "Death -is only death after all," he thought, and he remembered -Gordon's words, quoted by Mr. Barkworth: "Heaven is as -near the hot desert as the cool church at home". But his -mind revolted against death. "I am young--young!" his heart -cried. "I want to live, to do things. I am not a broken -horse or a rusty engine. No, Tom Burnaby, I'll never forgive -you if you chuck it all up yet." And he braced himself and -plodded on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Just after noon, on the fifth day after the pigmies' -present, the travellers found that the forest was thinning -somewhat; the trees were farther apart, and there was a renewal -of the low bush, not so dense or so obstructive as it had been -for the past few days. Presently they came to an almost open -glade, and Mbutu pointed to a track crossing the direction of -their march from clump to clump. It was not four hours old, -he declared; the footprints were still soft and clearly marked. -They were too large to have been made by pigmies. The -weary travellers sat down on a heap of leaves, hastily collected, -to talk the matter over, Mbutu being in favour of going in the -same direction as the footprints, which must lead, sooner or -later, to a village. Suddenly they heard a rapid thud-thud as -of heavy footsteps on the sodden ground, accompanied by -a curious clanking, suggesting to Tom the sound of a loose -horseshoe on a turfy moor. As they were wondering what it -might be, a tall black figure, scantily clad, ran out of the forest -on their right, labouring heavily, the sweat rolling off his face -and body, his eyes protruding with eagerness and fear. Tom -had just noticed that part of a chain, with a broken block -of wood attached to it, hung from a gyve on the man's left -ankle, and another chain from an iron circlet about his left -wrist, when three Arabs and a negro came out of the wood at -short intervals in hot pursuit.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom and Mbutu were partially concealed from the strangers -by the straggling bush. Pursued and pursuers had almost -crossed the wide open space, the foremost Arab but a yard -behind, when the fettered negro stopped short suddenly, -turned round, and with a desperate movement of his left arm -struck the Arab full in the face with the dangling chain. -The Arab dropped, and the hunted man turned again to flee, -but the rest were almost upon him. Tom saw that, -encumbered as the negro was, he must inevitably be run down in -a few moments. Instinctively taking the weaker side, and -forgetting his own exhaustion, he sprang up, and sprinting -with all the speed of which his tired limbs were capable, -he dashed after the pursuers, followed closely by Mbutu. The -chase had evidently been a long one; hunters and hunted were -breathless, and trod heavily. In the excitement of the -moment Tom dashed along at a speed of which a minute -earlier he would have thought himself utterly incapable; and -he soon saw that he was gaining rapidly on the Arabs. They -had muskets, which he inferred they had already fired, and -had had no time to reload. He had his staff, and Mbutu -clutched his knife.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The foremost of the two remaining Arabs and the negro -were closing on the fugitive when Tom overtook the second -Arab. He, hearing the thud of rapid footsteps immediately -behind, checked his pace, and gave a startled glance backwards. -Instantly Tom's fist was flung out, and the Arab, receiving the -full force of the blow between the eyes, spun round, and -rolled over and over. Mbutu, as he shot by, snatched at his -falling musket, and making upon the pursuing negro, thrust it -between his legs, so that he was tripped up and fell heavily. -He clutched at Mbutu to save himself, and both reached the -ground together. There was a short, sharp struggle; Mbutu -wriggled out of the big man's grip, and drove his knife through -his heart.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Meanwhile the fugitive, taking advantage of this miraculous -succour, had stopped running, and was now engaging the only -remaining Arab in a singular duel. He was swinging the -chain upon his wrist like a flail, the Arab using the musket in -his left hand to parry its clanking strokes. It was an unequal -contest. The negro's force was spent; the chain was no -match for weapons firmly held. The Arab was just about to -rush in with his knife under the negro's guard when he was -struck smartly behind the knee with Tom's thick staff, and as -he half fell his panting opponent brought the chain down with -one tremendous sweep and stretched him senseless.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The rescued negro flung himself face downwards on the -ground, gasping, almost sobbing, with relief. Tom looked -round for the Arab whom he had first struck down, and -caught sight of him speeding back into the forest. The big -negro was dead; one of the prostrate Arabs was stirring, the -other still lay unconscious.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom sat down to rest, propping his head on his arms, and -panting from his exertions. Mbutu stood anxiously scanning -the fugitive, who by and by turned over, and looked at his -rescuers with eyes that plainly told how puzzled he was at the -mystery of their intervention. He was a fine-looking man, -with strong muscular frame, and a face of great intelligence -and some refinement of feature. About his close woolly hair -he wore two thin fillets, and a dozen necklaces of string -encircled his neck, a number of small wooden charms dangling -from them; from a longer string a cube of wood hung upon -his breast. Mbutu, after gazing at him in silence for a moment -or two, suddenly addressed to him a few words in a Bantu -dialect. The man started, fixed his eyes in keen scrutiny on -the boy's face, and then answered him in the same language. -A rapid dialogue ensued, and Mbutu, turning eagerly to his -master, exclaimed:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Him Muhima, sah; Muhima like Mbutu; him chief, name -Barega. Say sah him fader and mudder; him gib sah hut, and -food--eberyfing belong him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom smiled wearily. His recent exertions had, he felt, -precipitated the inevitable collapse. He was approaching the -last stage of exhaustion.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm glad, Mbutu," he said. "But had we not better be -going? These Arabs may belong to a party, and we shall -almost certainly be pursued and outnumbered. I can hardly -walk, but the chief's village may not be far. Can he take us -there?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu again spoke with his compatriot.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sah," he said at length. "Village five marches ober -dar. Say must go all too quick."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Five marches! I can never do it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Try, sah, try; must do it," cried the boy imploringly -himself trembling with pain and fatigue.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"One more try, then. Can we first knock off the man's -chains?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The negro, himself exerting tremendous power with fingers -and wrist, managed, with Mbutu's assistance, to break off both -chains, leaving simply the circles of iron about his wrist -and ankle. The three then prepared to start; but as they -turned Tom felt a touch of compunction for the two Arabs -prostrate on the ground, but still alive.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't like leaving them to perish. What can we do for -them?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nuffin, nuffin, sah," cried Mbutu. "All too bad lot. -Chief kill."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, I can't allow it," said Tom sternly. "Go to the dead -negro, and tear a strip off his loin-cloth. If you peg it to a -tree it is bound to attract the attention of their companion -when he returns with help."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu having, with rather an ill grace, done his master's -bidding, the Bahima chief led the way into the forest towards -the south-west, Tom and the boy, each with a musket in his -right hand, following him painfully. They never knew that, -just as they disappeared among the trees, half a dozen little -naked figures sprang silently out of the wood on the other -side. They darted to the fallen Arabs, pierced them through -and through with their spears, and then, despoiling them of -their clothing, vanished again into the forest as noiselessly -as they had come.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-valley-of-the-shadow"><span class="large">CHAPTER XI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">The Valley of the Shadow</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">Barega Tells His Story--Malaria--The Major Writes -Home--The End of a Long Vigil--Mabruki: Medicine-man--A -Moving Dialogue--On The Brink</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Ignorant of how the pigmies had rounded off their work, the -travellers accompanied the Bahima chief along the narrow -path into the forest. At first he went too fast for them, until -Mbutu explained that they had been wandering for twelve -days through the forest, and were on the verge of starvation. -He told also how his master, like the chief himself, had been a -prisoner among Arabs, and had escaped when barely recovered -from a terrible wound inflicted on him during a great -single-handed fight with the Arab chief. Mbutu did not fail to -impress his compatriot with the rank and prowess of the -Englishman. As for his present worn and enfeebled condition, -that was obvious to the most casual glance. On hearing all -this the rescued Muhima expressed his sympathy with a grace -and courtesy that seemed to Tom wonderfully well bred, and -further acquaintance with the people confirmed his belief, first -formed from his knowledge of Mbutu, that Central Africa -contains some of Nature's gentlemen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As they went on their way, Tom asked the chief through -Mbutu to tell his own story. He was nothing loth, and at -once began a narrative which beguiled more than an hour of -weary walking. It was often interrupted by questions from -Mbutu, who, as he translated, mingled comments and explanatory -remarks with the chief's own statements. Stripped of -these annotations, and rendered into straightforward English, -it ran somewhat as follows:--</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You ask me for my story? Know then, O white man, -that I am Barega, a chief among chiefs, owning no man lord. -Not of a handful of men and a few hundred cattle am I chief; -no, I am Barega; many chiefs own my sway; my rule extends -over ten times thirty Bahima, great hunters all of them, and -multitudes of Bairo like the stars of heaven. No menial -delvers of the soil are we Bahima; no, we tend countless herds -of cattle and goats, whose flesh we eat and milk we drink. -And I--I am Barega, a mighty chief. The Bugandanwe is -mine--the king-drum handed down from my father's fathers -through a hundred years, whose sound strikes terror into the -souls of our enemies, and even disquiets Magaso himself, the -devil that haunts our groves and feasts on our bananas. -Bananas!--I eat them not; my meat is the flesh of oxen, -sheep, and goats; but the Bairo eat them, the Bairo our -servants, whose blood is not our blood, nor their ways our ways.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Know this, O white man, son of the Great King, for thou -didst find me a prisoner, and 'tis not well that thou shouldst -think me one of the common people, born of slaves. No, I am -a mighty chief. Four years have I ruled my tribe, and there -are none like them in all the earth for strength or wealth, for -skill in hunting or prowess in war. My father had many -sons, but out of them all he chose me to rule after him. True, -I have an elder brother, Murasi is his name; and a younger -brother, Mwonga; but Murasi is a reed, a straw blown hither -and thither by the breath of Mabruki, my medicine-man, who -quaffs lakes of museru and then weeps rivers of tears. As for -Mwonga, he is but a boy, and him I keep as my chief mutuma, -head of the fifty boys who guard my dwelling and fulfil my -behest, and whom I train in arms and all manly doing. -Murasi I did not slay; no, nor does he languish in the prison -where he lies; he is fed with good food and wine. The white -man wonders? True, other chiefs would have slain him, but -I am merciful, I do but keep him in prison. Were Murasi -free, he would plot against me, work mischief among my -people, try to rob me of my hut and place. He must not be -free; it is I, Barega, that say it.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I was a prisoner with the Arabs--cats, jackals, beasts unfit -to herd with the Bahima's dogs! I hide my face; it shames -me to have been their captive. And yet it was no shame; if -any man cries shame, I say he lies. I was far from my village, -hunting great elephants. Twenty of my best spearmen were -with me, tall men and big of heart. We were far in the forest -towards the setting sun, and one day we saw, in a glade -beyond us, a herd of elephants with tusks longer than a man -and whiter than milk. My men stretched their net and dug a -pit, the skewers cunningly planted at the bottom, so that they -might drive the animals therein and take them thus. But -that, forsooth, is poor sport for a hunter like Barega. 'No, -let us take them with our spears,' I said, 'and have true tales -of a mighty killing to tell about our fires of winter nights.' Know, -O white man, that we Bahima tell truth and no lies. -So then did we stalk those noble animals, but they lifted up -their trunks and smelt us, and straightway uttered a great -voice and fled. But we are fleet of foot; no pot-bellied -sluggards are we, like the Ankole; no, we are slim, and straight, -and lithe of limb as thou seest; we are thy cousins, O white -man! Swiftly then did we pursue the elephants; leopards could -not have gone more silently. They forgot us, and stayed to -rest and pluck the tender leaves at the ends of the branches. -Not a word, not a cry. I was in front of my men; the chief -must ever show the way. I marked the prince and lord of the -elephants and said: 'He is mine; let no man touch him.' I -poised my spear; I flung it with aim swift and sure; it smote -behind the ear; the beast fell. Ere he could rise, another -spear, and another, from this same right hand pierced him, and -in a little he died.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Two other elephants had fallen to the spears of my men, -the rest had fled. Then did we make a camp, and sat us -down to rest by our spoils. The sun went down, and as we -sang our hunting-song around our fire, behold! there came -out of the forest, silently, like the servaline, a band of Arabs. -Around us they made a ring, and with their loud fire-sticks -they slew ten of my people. I sprang to my feet; not mine -to flee; no, I hurled at them my last spear, and then a blazing -brand snatched from the fire. See, there is the scar on my -hand to-day--the mark of the fire. But they were more than -we; they threw themselves upon me, and put their cursed -ropes upon my hands and feet. Then they carried me and -my ten men to a fortress many marches in the forest, and -loaded me with the chains of slaves. Many days was I thus -fettered; then, at the rising of the sun they came to me and -said: 'Dog!'--woe is me, that I, Barega, was called a dog!--'take -us to your village.' 'Pig!' I cried, 'I would rather -die!' Then did they beat me with their whips till, in my pain, -I called on Muhanga, the Mighty Spirit that upholds the sky -and rules the thunder and rain, to slay me. Yet I bethought -myself: 'They will not all come to my village till they have -spied it out.' I know their ways. 'I will deceive them; I -will lead them into the forest, and then Muhanga will send a -storm, and I shall escape.' And then a band of them loosed -me, and fettered me with other chains, and made me walk -with them, my hands bound together, my two feet linked to a -block of wood between them, so that I hobbled slowly and with -pain.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then came we into the forest, by winding tracks that I -knew well. Nine nights ago the sky opened, Muhanga threw -his flaming spears and poured out his floods. The Arabs -cursed Muhanga; I praised him in my heart. They crouched -in hollow trees and in big bushes to escape the storm. 'Let -the dog wash,' they said of me. But in the black darkness, -when the thunder roared, I wrenched my hands apart till a -link snapped, and then with my free hand tore at my -ankle-chains until I had wrested one of them from the block. I -could not cast off my fetters altogether; the storm began to -abate, and I dared not stay. I ran and ran hard through the -night, and for days and nights after, away, away, far from the -tracks I knew. Woe is me! An evil spirit must have led -mine enemy! To-day, when the sun rose, I saw them close -upon me, but only four of them; the others, I make no doubt, -were searching for me otherwhere in the forest. I ran from -them, but the clank of my chains called them after me, and -when I was nigh to falling, thou camest out of the forest, O -white man, and smotest them even as Muhanga smiteth in his -wrath, and didst save me, and I hold thee in my heart for -ever. But they are many and will now pursue us; they will -come with their whole band, and with their fire-sticks will -seek us out, to kill me and all my people. Therefore let us -make what haste we can, and in my village the white man -shall live in peace; he shall see my wives and warriors and -all my gathered store; he shall eat my best cattle and drink -my newest milk and strongest wine till his cheeks are round -and his muscles firm again. I, Barega, have said it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Such was Barega's story. Tom had listened with an -interest that for a time made him forget his feeling of intense -weakness. He walked along as well as he could, stooping -occasionally to avoid creepers, using his musket now as a staff, -now as a means of fending off obstructions. But he felt that -collapse ere long was inevitable, and all that he could hope -for was that he might retain sufficient strength to reach the -Bahima village before he broke down.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The collapse came on the second evening after their -adventure with the Arabs. They had fed mainly on roots, -and drunk from the rills they met at intervals along the -track. Barega's woodcraft served them well when even -Mbutu's was at fault, but all three were racked with the -gnawing pains of hunger. Sores had broken out in several -parts of Tom's body; his head was never free from pain; -and on the evening of the second day, just as they stopped -to find a camping-place for the night, he tottered, and would -have fallen but for the ready support of Mbutu's arm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's no good, Mbutu," he said, with an attempt to smile; -"I'm done up. I can't hold out any longer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Soon get well, sah," said Mbutu, helping him tenderly to -recline with his back against a tree. But the boy was in -reality stricken with terror lest his master should die. He -had recognized the dreaded signs of malaria, and there, in -the midst of the forest, with no medicines at hand and no -nourishing food, he feared that there would be but one end, -and that speedily. Tom fell into a heavy sleep almost as -soon as he lay down, and Mbutu held an anxious consultation -with the chief. What could be done? They could carry the -invalid between them, but progress would be slow, and he -needed immediate attention, and above all, something to -protect him from insects during the day. They were still at -least three days' march from the village. Mbutu was almost -in despair, when the chief made a suggestion. Let them -build a grass hut, he said, at a reasonably safe distance from -the track, and let Mbutu watch his master there while he -himself hurried on alone to his village. They were not far -from the edge of the forest, which was already becoming -thinner. He would start at once for help, and could cover -the distance to the village at a run in a night and a day.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The plan seemed feasible, and indeed the only possible one -under the circumstances. To force a way for a quarter of a -mile from the track, clear a space, and build a grass hut upon -it was the work of rather more than two hours. When it was -done, the two Bahima gently carried Tom to the resting-place -and laid him down on a comfortable couch of leaves, and then -the chief, tightening his strip of bark cloth around his loins, -started, promising to travel, without resting, through the night, -and to use his utmost speed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu, left alone with the invalid, spent the last half-hour -of daylight in collecting a small quantity of ripe berries, and -then sat down to watch. He dared not light a fire in case the -Arabs happened to be near enough to see or smell the smoke. -It was no small testimony to Mbutu's devotion that he was so -willing, for all his dread of goblins, to remain with his master, -unable now to talk the boy's fears away or to defend him -against danger.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As Mbutu sat, touching his master's hand and brow -occasionally, and trembling as he felt how hot they were, he -suddenly remembered that he had seen him put a packet of -the quinine given him by the missionary into his vest pocket. -He wondered whether it was still there. The Arabs were not -likely to have taken it; he only feared lest, with the wettings -it had suffered, the drug should have lost its virtue.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Gently lifting the burnous which he had thrown over his -master, and feeling in his clothes, he was overjoyed to find -in the pocket where he had seen it put a small paper packet, -showing only too plain signs of the soakings it had gone -through. He opened it, the paper dropping to pieces under -his touch. There was a little something there, not a powder -any longer, but a paste. Was there the least remnant of -virtue in it? There could be no harm in trying a dose, and -Mbutu carefully and tenderly put a small quantity of the -paste between Tom's parted lips. Twice again during the -night he repeated the dose, anxiously feeling the invalid's -brow each time, as though hoping for an instant result. Not -for a moment did he close his eyes, but when he felt -drowsiness stealing upon him he rose and walked to and fro before -the hut, murmuring the half-forgotten words of some fetish -spell he had learnt when a child. But he had little faith -in fetish now. If only the white medicine-man were there! -He had unbounded confidence in Dr. Corney O'Brien.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Dr. Corney O'Brien was, alas! more than a thousand miles -away, sitting in the smoking-room of the Mombasa club, -waiting with some impatience for Major Burnaby to finish the -letter he was writing at the table. It was a letter home, -to Mr. Barkworth, and the doctor knew why his friend's face -wore such a look of concern as his pen scratched over the -paper.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>... "I thought," he wrote, "that I knew my nephew pretty -well, but I know only now--alas! too late, I fear--what grit -there was in him. We old stagers are too much inclined, -perhaps, to pooh-pooh the enthusiasms of our juniors. The -boy was built for a soldier and nothing else, and I blame -myself now for not moving heaven and earth to get him into -the service. When I saw him come into camp that evening, -I own I was at first desperately annoyed with you for allowing -him to follow us up; although I could not help admitting it -was an uncommonly plucky thing of the youngster to undertake -such an enterprise through a strange and savage country. -He showed both courage and resource in the adventure with -that rascally Portuguese; but what I feel most proud of is -the grit with which he stuck to his task when every step must -have been agony. But for him the expedition might easily -have come to grief. The enemy's plan was as good as any I -ever met with; if it had come off it would have been touch -and go with us. You may be quite sure that in my report -home I have taken care to represent in its true light the -service he did us. Nothing has yet been heard of him. I've -offered the most tempting rewards. He either died of his -wound, or is a prisoner with the Arabs. In the latter case -the strange thing is that no attempt has been made to get a -ransom for him. Perhaps the Portuguese is in some way -concerned; if so, then God help him! I have asked Father -Chevasse to do what he can--the missionaries have as good a -chance to get news of him as anyone,--and be sure that I will -let you know if anything turns up. I am entitled to come -home on furlough, but I've arranged to stay out here a month -or two longer. It was very pleasant to get your cable of -congratulation, and to hear of all the nice things said of me -at home; but you'll believe me when I say that I'd give it all -up and drop out of sight gladly, if by so doing I could get a -glimpse of Tom."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>For three terrible nights and days Mbutu kept faithful -watch over his sick master in the forest. It seemed an age -to the poor boy. Tom was unconscious almost all the time, -his eyes burning bright, his cheeks flushed, his lips ever and -anon muttering and babbling of things incomprehensible to -Mbutu. The Muhima hardly dared to leave him for a moment, -and when he did leave him, wore himself out in scouring the -forest within a short radius in search of food. He ventured -on the second day to light a fire, over which, in a bowl he -carved out of hard Wood, he tried to brew a decoction from -some leaves and berries, for he found it impossible to get -his master to take such solid roots as those on which he -barely sustained himself. The quinine was soon exhausted. -Fortunately there was plenty of good water, and at short -intervals he poured a small quantity between Tom's parched -lips. He hoped that the pigmies would again provide food, -but there was never a sign of the little people. As hour -after hour dragged slowly by, the boy fretted, feeling his -helplessness, in an agony of grief for his master, and beside -himself with despair when, after brief intervals of -semi-consciousness, Tom relapsed into delirium, tossing and moaning -on his couch of leaves.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At sundown on the third day after the chief's departure -Mbutu was walking restlessly up and down the track, peering -into the tunnel of foliage. The night before, he had been -scared by the cries of animals in his near neighbourhood, and -his nerves were in a state of tremor. He had kept a large -watch-fire burning beside his master's hut, for he felt now -that, even if it did attract the Arabs, it was no worse to be -slain by them than by wild beasts. More than once during -this third day he had put his ear to the ground, hoping to -hear the tramp of feet from the direction in which Barega -had gone. Now he walked farther along the path, thinking -that, if the chief had reached his village, as he had promised, -in a night and a day, surely there had been time for him to -return. He lay down again and pressed his ear to the beaten -path. The air was still, not a leaf rustled; the sounds of day -had ceased, and the nightly hum and murmur had not yet -begun. What was that? Faintly, like the sound of ripples on -a stream, rather a movement than a sound, something touched -his ear. He got up and ran still farther along the track, then -flung himself down again. He could hear nothing but the -throbbing of his heart. He held his breath; yes, the sound -was growing, growing; it was the sound of running feet. -Was it of animals or men? It was too regular, too heavy, -to be the pad of animals; it was coming nearer! He almost -screamed in his excitement. Thud! thud! thud! nearer and -nearer--not one sound now, but many sounds conjoined. Yes, -his doubts were gone; it was a force of men, running steadily -towards him. He got up, and stood, his lips parted, his eyes -astare, his body bent forward in the direction of the sound, -every nerve tingling, every sinew tense. Minute after minute -passed; he stood alone in vaulted darkness. Now the sound -was audible through the air: the steady thud of runners, -broken in upon at moments by the faint far jingle of metal. -Hark! there was the hum of voices, like the sound of water -stirred by gusts of wind. Louder and louder it came; Mbutu's -sharp ears were strained towards it. It rose and swelled; he -recognized it; it was a marching-song he had not heard for -years! His heart gave a great leap for joy; beyond a doubt -these were Barega's men approaching; his agony was over. -Hardly knowing whether to run back to his master or to run -forward to meet his fellow-countrymen, he stood irresolute, -his breath coming and going in quick pants. He tried to join -in the song, but his throat was parched, and his voice broke -in a soundless sob. He waited, waited; there was commotion -in the forest; crickets and cicadas had raised their notes, as -though to drown the unaccustomed sounds. He heard the -crackle of snapped twigs and the rustle of parted leaves; then, -a deeper blackness in the black, a form appeared, and another, -and another.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wekaine kenaina? Can you see me?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The words, shrilled from Mbutu's lips, brought the runners -to a dead stop. There was silence for a brief moment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mesitoka! I cannot!" came the answer. "Who are you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ema Mbutu, muzungu katikiro! I am Mbutu, the white -man's katikiro!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then ensued a scene that must have provoked from the -sylvan deities a kindly sympathetic smile. The foremost of -the line of strangers advanced and greeted Mbutu, who was -almost beside himself with excitement and relief. He wasted -no time in words; he was all eagerness to lead the negroes to -his master. Running in advance, then doubling back like a -dog, he led the tall Muhima along the track. It was Barega's -katikiro, and with him were thirty spearmen. In single file -they followed Mbutu, turned aside towards the clearing, and -were soon collected in a group around the blazing watch-fire--thirty -tall straight warriors, the pick of Barega's body-guard, -breathing hard, but ready at a word to run again. The -katikiro informed Mbutu that their departure had been -delayed by exciting events in their village. They had come -with all speed, and behind them was another band bringing -goats and flour and cooking-utensils to provide food for the -sick man. A brief rest, and he was ready to start on the -return journey, and he proposed to travel through the night, -so that the muzungu at his first removal should not have to -endure the day's heat. The spearmen, squatting in a circle -about the fire, showed their native politeness by obeying the -katikiro's command to talk in subdued tones.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After an hour's rest, four of the Bahima gently lifted Tom -into a litter they had brought with them, and the order of -march was formed. The line was led by the mugurusi, the -chief's provider of firewood, who was followed by fourteen of -the spearmen; then came the katikiro at the head of Tom's -litter, borne by four, Mbutu walking behind; and the rear -was brought up by the remaining eleven. They marched -with long regular swing, and before they had gone far the -omutezi wahanga, or harpist, who strode along immediately -in front of the katikiro, struck up the marching-song:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Yakuba emundu ngagayala</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Mukamawange Katabuzi eikyasenga</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Amaso zamynka mwenywera omwenge".</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -<div class="line"><span>Bravely he fights; no foeman doth he dread;</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Never by craven chief will I be led;</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Let me drink and drink till mine eyes be red.</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Three hours' march brought them to the camp, where they -were boisterously greeted by an equal band gathered about a -huge fire. A large iron pot was placed in the midst of the -fire, and in it the flesh of a goat was simmering in stew, -thickened with plantain flour. When the new-comers had -eaten their fill, a guard was set, the katikiro himself -undertaking to share with Mbutu the duty of watching his master.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At dawn they resumed the march, the katikiro deciding to -finish the journey by easy stages, resting for three hours at -least in the hottest part of the day. The route lay through -country that was thickly wooded, but not such dense forest as -the wayworn travellers had just traversed. Every care was -taken to protect Tom from the sun's rays and the assaults of -insects, an awning being cleverly arranged about his litter, -with air-holes defended from insects by a fine network of -goats'-hair. The sick man was fed at intervals with diluted -marwa, and with soup whenever the procession stopped.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the way, especially when they encamped for the night, -the katikiro, a man of exceedingly pleasant countenance and -genial manner, talked a good deal to Mbutu, asking innumerable -questions, and showing the most lively interest in the -story of the ambush. In return he gave the boy, to whom he -appeared to have taken a strong fancy, some very interesting -information about affairs in his village. He half apologized, -indeed, for the non-appearance of his chief with the -rescue-party. It was due to most important events. When week -after week passed by, and the chief had not returned from his -great elephant-hunt, Mabruki, the medicine-man, declared -after consulting his fetishes that Barega was dead. Who was -to be his successor? Mabruki had at first sounded some of -the more important men as to their willingness to accept -himself; but finding that there was a strong feeling against anyone -not of the chief's blood, he had nominated Barega's elder -brother, the weak and vicious Murasi, who, drunk or sober, -was completely under his thumb. Murasi, accordingly, became -chief, and Mabruki appointed himself kasegara, or steward of -the household. The katikiro himself, an easy-going man, -ready, like the Vicar of Bray, to serve anyone so long as he -retained his own office, had given his adhesion to the new -chief, and remained katikiro.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>These arrangements had hardly been made when Barega -suddenly reappeared. The majority of the Bahima were -unfeignedly glad to see their chief again; he had a kingly -presence, they knew his prowess as warrior and hunter, and -loved him as a fair-dealing ruler in peace. A small minority -of the Bahima, however, with a considerable number of their -Bairo dependents, had hoped great things of Murasi's -accession, and were disposed to stick to their new chief. But the -medicine-man saw that his game was up; he lost no time in -obsequiously making his peace with Barega, and was the -loudest in upbraiding Murasi when he whimpered at his fall -from power. But though Mabruki was outwardly the loyalest -subject of his chief, he was deeply chagrined at the failure of -his bid for greatness, and inwardly resolved to seize the first -opportunity, fair or foul, of reinstating the elderly drunkard -and getting rid of Barega.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This news gave some concern to Mbutu. With internal -dissension in the village he was not sure that his master's life -would be safe. But when he imparted his fears to the katikiro, -that burly and cheerful soul laughed them away, assuring -him that the chief's party, already numerically the stronger, -would grow still larger as time went on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the fourth afternoon after leaving the forest, the -katikiro informed Mbutu that they were approaching the village. -The ground began to rise gently, and was less thickly covered -with scrub. By and by a large banana-plantation came into -view, a welcome sight to Mbutu's eyes, and beyond it wide -fields of maize, beans, sweet-potatoes, sorghum, and tobacco, -in some of which negro women were at work. They looked -curiously at the closed litter as it passed, and then with one -consent flung down their clumsy implements and followed at -the end of the line, behind the spearmen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Passing through these extensive plantations, the procession -arrived at a wide open space on which a herd of splendid -long-horned oxen were tethered. The katikiro explained that -these were the chief's own cattle, the animals belonging to -the rest of the community being kept beyond the southern -extremity of the village. Then they came to a number of -huts made of grass and wattles, with untidy haycock roofs -coming nearly down to the ground, and low doorways. The -population had so largely increased that these huts had been -built outside the village stockade, which at last came into -sight, surmounting a steep acclivity. The ascent was by a -narrow path, running straight up the incline, with a deep -depression of rough land on the left, and on the right a -banana-plantation. There was a gate in the stockade, and at -this Mbutu saw a large crowd gathered. In front, was a -group of young boys, their graceful forms almost bare of -clothing, the foremost of them being Mwonga, the chief's -young brother. Behind this group stood Barega himself -among his principal men, all dressed in their ceremonial array -for the occasion. Tom was quite unconscious of the -gorgeousness of the finery there displayed in his honour, for during -the day he had patently become worse, and Mbutu feared that -he had reached the village only to find a grave. As the -procession reached the gates formal greetings were exchanged -between Mwonga the mutuma and the first spearman.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Is it well?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is well."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Um!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Um!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Such was the dialogue, a conversation in those regions -never ending without a number of sighs and grunts. Then -the group of boys parted, and the chief came forward. Over -his woolly tufts of hair he wore a cap of antelope-skin, adorned -with a mighty crest of cock's feathers, and across his breast -was slung a broad shoulder-belt of leopard-skin, from which -depended a miscellaneous assortment of the tags and tassels -of fetish mysteries. He stepped forward with a splendid air -of dignity. The katikiro then advanced to the head of the -procession, and removed the fillets from his hair as a sign of -respect. Then ensued another brief dialogue.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hast thou slept well?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have slept well."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well indeed?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well indeed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am thy servant."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thou art my servant."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ma!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ma!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mum!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mum!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And the grunting being finished, the chief went up to the -litter, and, discarding his array, which seemed to irk him, he -bent over to look at his sick visitor. He turned, and beckoned -to the medicine-man, who all the time had stood a little -behind, scowling darkly, for he felt by no means tenderly -towards the white youth who had saved Barega from the -Arabs, and thereby tumbled down the short-lived authority -of Murasi. He stepped forward at the chief's bidding, and -pulled a preternaturally solemn face as he scanned the -unconscious Englishman. He shook his head, causing his fantastic -head-dress of skin and feathers to make strange gyrations, -and the wooden charms about his neck to clatter as they -knocked together. Fingering the tufts of fetish-grass dangling -from a string across his shoulder, he gravely announced that -the muzungu would surely die. Mbutu had been anxiously -watching the man of mystery, and he shuddered as he heard -his master's doom. But the katikiro shrugged his shoulders -behind Mabruki's back, and the chief himself, in a tone of -petulant annoyance, bade the medicine-man retire. Then the -procession was re-formed, and, amid a crowd of nearly two -thousand, mingled Bahima and Bairo, men, women, and -children, the whole population having turned out to see the -wonderful white man who had given their chief back to them, -Tom was carried to the centre of the village, where the -katikiro's hut, standing nearest to the chief's, had been assigned -to him. The katikiro was the essence of good-nature; and when -Barega ordered him, in conjunction with the mwobisi wamarwa -(his cup-bearer), and the muchumbi wanyama (his chief cook), -to provide everything necessary for the white man's comfort, -he went smiling to do his master's behest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A fortnight passed away, and during that time Tom hovered -between life and death. As day followed day, and Mbutu, worn -almost to a skeleton with watching and anxiety, saw no change -in his master's condition, he felt the bitterness of despair. -Mabruki offered to make medicine and employ all the mysteries -of his art. He produced one day a gourd filled with mead, in -which a kind of hay had been steeped for twenty-four hours. -Acting on the advice of the katikiro, who had become his -bosom friend, Mbutu accepted the offering with profuse thanks; -but as soon as Mabruki had turned his back, the katikiro -advised the boy to throw the liquor away, though he refused -to say plainly why. From that time Mbutu maintained a -still more jealous guard over his master. He kept the hut -spotlessly clean, renewing every day the grass that covered -the floor, and doing all that he could, by changing the -arrangement of the skins and calico sheets upon the rough clay settle, -to render Tom's position easy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Thus the weary days went by. For a short period each -day Tom was conscious, alive to the presence and the -attentions of Mbutu and his friend Msala the katikiro. At such -times he would swallow a little goat-broth, or an egg beaten -up in milk, relapsing into unconsciousness again. He was too -ill to think; he was only conscious of terrible weakness and -pain. He could not sit up, could scarcely move his arms, and -when it was necessary to change his position, Mbutu had to -lift him. One morning, realizing more clearly than before -the dreadful prostration of his body, he was possessed of a -presentiment that he would die.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I shan't bother you much longer," he said faintly to -Mbutu. "When I am gone you'll find my uncle and tell him -all about it, won't you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu could not speak for the lump in his throat. At this -moment the katikiro entered, bringing a fresh gourd of banana -wine. Mbutu poured a little between his master's lips, and -watched him in an agony of suspense. Tom opened his eyes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I should like to thank the chief," he said. "Ask that -good Msala to fetch him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The katikiro soon returned with the chief, and they stood -at the foot of the settle, their intelligent faces expressing a -real sympathy with the sufferer. He tried to speak to them, -but his voice failed. Barega advanced and clasped his hand. -A strange drowsiness was stealing upon him; with a strong -effort he moved his lips again.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Chief," he said, "I thank you for your kindness. If ever -you--"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But the sentence remained unfinished, a dark cloud seemed -to come between his face and the chief's; his eyes closed, and -the silence was only broken by an irrepressible sob from Mbutu.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="big-medicine"><span class="large">CHAPTER XII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">Big Medicine</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">Barega's Village--The Cavern in the Cliff--Mutterings--Under -a Cloud--The Bell and the Basket--A Challenge--In the -Lists--A Palpable Hit--Vae Victis</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>For twenty-four hours Tom lay stark and motionless in one -position, the flush in his cheeks and his quick breathing -showing that he was still alive. Then, as the morning -sunlight entered by the narrow doorway, he opened his eyes. -Mbutu was in the act of spreading new and fragrant grass -upon the floor.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mbutu!" came a faint voice from the settle. The boy -flung down the grass and ran to his master.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am terribly hungry," said Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu looked for a moment incredulous.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am indeed. I think I shall get well after all."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Neyanzi-gé!" cried Mbutu with a shout of joy, his emotion -finding expression in his native tongue. "Neyanzi-gé! I -praise too much, sah! I fank too much!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was indeed bubbling, over with thankfulness. He went -out of the hut and joyously spread the good news. In a few -moments the whole camp knew that the muzungu was recovering. -The chief ordered Bugandanwe, the big drum, to be -struck, and arranged a spear-dance for the evening. A goat -was instantly killed to make fresh soup, and some of the -spearmen who had carried Tom to the village brought him -voluntary offerings of bananas and sweet-potatoes. Even at this -moment of excitement the chief displayed an amount of tact -which, characteristic as it is of his race, seemed in strange -disaccord with the European idea of the negro. He refrained -from visiting Tom, and strictly commanded that no one except -Mbutu, not even the katikiro, should go inside the hut on any -pretence until the invalid's recovery was assured. As for the -katikiro himself, he beamed on everybody, and, observing the -dark look on the face of the medicine-man, whose prestige was -bound to suffer somewhat from the failure of his prediction, -he smiled still more broadly. He had no love for Mabruki, -and, being a man of shrewd sense, nourished a strong -suspicion that he was a humbug; but being also a discreet man, -he was very careful never to give verbal expression to his -thought.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From that time Tom grew slowly better. At first his limbs -seemed paralysed, and he suffered intense pain from bed-sores; -but the good food and Mbutu's careful nursing worked -improvement day by day. He was soon strong enough to receive -short visits from Barega and Msala, and on the tenth day was -so far recovered as to have himself carried out before the sun -was hot into the fresh air, well wrapped up in leopard and -antelope skins, and sheltered by an awning. A week later he -first ventured to walk, leaning on Mbutu's arm, and he laughed -with something of his old light-heartedness when he saw what -thin sticks his legs had become. The few paces from his bed -to the outside of the hut seemed a matter of immense labour. -But new strength came daily, and in three weeks he was -strong enough to walk unassisted through the village.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Those three weeks had not been wasted. He got Mbutu -to teach him the language, and was intensely amused at the -chief's gasp of amazement at being one day addressed in his -own tongue. He obtained also a great stock of information -about the habits and customs of the people. Remembering -his long-standing promise to gratify Mbutu's appetite for -stories, he drew on his memory for tales of war and adventure, -and found that nothing pleased the boy better than the old, -old story of the fight between the Pigmies and the Cranes. In -return, Mbutu told him legends of the country: the meaning -of the Hyena's cry; why the Leopard catches his victim by the -throat; and how the Hare outwitted the Elephant. And Tom -at last heard the story of the Uncle and the Crocodile.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The village itself, with its surroundings, was a subject of -considerable interest for Tom. From Mbutu he had learnt -that a Bahima village usually contained some twenty huts, -with a total population of perhaps a hundred and fifty. But -Barega, as the place was called after the name of its chief, -was by comparison quite a large town. It was built upon a -gentle slope, rising from the north gate, by which Tom had -entered, for some five hundred yards up a hill-side. On its -north-eastern boundary, extending for some hundred and -fifty yards, there was a sheer precipice about two hundred -and fifty feet deep, partly overhanging a large open space of -prairie-like land. Through the centre of the village meandered -a clear streamlet two feet broad, flowing gently downward -from south-west to north-east, and escaping in a light cascade -over the precipice. About sixteen yards before it reached its -outlet, the brook passed through a large reservoir sunk six -feet in the ground, in which the water was always fresh and -pure because of its constant flow. The chief's hut, a round -structure of sticks and wattles, plastered with bluish clay -ornamented with designs in white kaolin, stood amid a -ring-fence in the centre of the village, and in an adjoining -courtyard a perennial spring bubbled up, joining the streamlet -outside the fence. The katikiro's hut, where Tom was located, -was placed a few yards from the chief's, and the rest of the -thatched dwellings were arranged in two streets round the -whole circuit of the village. A thick and well-kept stockade -encircled the place, broken by only two gates, north and south. -There were some four hundred huts in all, and the population -consisted of about five hundred of the aristocratic Bahima, -whose only occupation was tending cattle and hunting, and -nearly fifteen hundred menial Bairo, who grew what crops -were required, chiefly for their own consumption, and also -took part in the larger hunting-expeditions.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The unusual size of the village was explained by its -situation. Being near the edge of the forest, within the range -of the depredations of Arabs and pigmies, it had become, -during the rule of Barega, a sort of harbour of refuge for -people of kindred stock. Barega had won an immense -reputation for miles around as a dauntless warrior; he had more -than once inflicted trifling defeats on wandering bands of -raiders; spearmen with their families had put themselves -under his protection; and the consequence was that a number -of people which, in other parts of Central Africa, might have -been spread over fifteen square miles in scattered hamlets, was -now collected on a space not much more than a quarter of a -mile square. The plantations were all, save for one large -patch of bananas, on the north side, nearer the forest, while -the cattle, huge herds of oxen, sheep, and goats, had their -grazing-grounds to the south.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he walked through the village, Tom met none but smiling -faces. Everybody seemed pleased that the rescuer of the -chief was restored to health. Ere many days passed, his usual -escort was a throng of naked youngsters, who gazed with awe -at his tall gaunt figure, and scampered off in a panic if he -happened to turn round and look at them. Before long, however, -his form lost its terrors, and he became the idol of all the -children in the village. As he grew stronger, he was never -tired of romping with them, showing them simple tricks, and -finding endless amusement for himself in setting them to play -at English games. "If games make men of us," he thought, -"why not of black youngsters too?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"'Pon my word, Mbutu," he said one day, "I believe I -could make something of these little beggars if I had them for -a year. Look at those little chaps over there, with sticks over -their shoulders, marching exactly like a squad of recruits. -Uncle Jack would go into fits if he saw them. I shall have -some funny things to tell him by and by."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he gained strength Tom made long excursions in the -surrounding country. In these jaunts he was always attended -by Mbutu, under whose tuition he made rapid progress in -Central African woodcraft, and the thousand artifices with -which semi-civilized man carries on his more or less successful -struggle with the elemental forces of nature.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As a boy, crags and cliffs had always had a strange fascination -for him; and for hours together, while still too weak to -walk more than a few yards at a time, he would watch the -birds circling around the spur at the north-eastern extremity -of the village. He noticed that hundreds of these birds -disappeared into a narrow cleft, which seemed from the base of -the cliff to be no more than a couple of feet in height. For -some days he was content to note the fact, but as his strength -returned, he felt the impulse of a born cragsman to explore -the cleft. It was clearly a hazardous undertaking, for the -spot in question was some two hundred feet above the ground, -and the face of the cliff was almost perpendicular. Above -the cleft the precipice jutted out at a considerable angle, -rendering any attempt to reach it from above impossible. -There were, however, traces of a narrow ledge along the face -of the cliff, running from the desired spot for some distance -parallel with the ground, and then sweeping gently downwards -to a point some fifty feet above the surface, where it suddenly -ceased. Tom resolved to attempt the ascent, and not all the -entreaties of Mbutu could turn him from his purpose. Armed -with an improvised alpenstock, and a grappling-hook to aid -him in clinging to the face of the cliff, he reached the ledge -with some difficulty, owing to the loose nature of the soil. -But once on the ledge his progress was more rapid, and in less -than half an hour from the start he found himself at the -entrance of an extensive cavern in the side of the cliff. The -opening was, for the most part, hidden from view by a large -mass of loose rock that had fallen from the roof. The slope -of the cavern led upward, and although he soon found himself -in darkness, Tom was surprised to find that the air was quite -pure. At the expense of his shins, he groped his way -upwards, disturbing on the way innumerable bats and birds, -which cannoned against him in a panic rush for the open air. -After some thirty yards of toilsome progress he came to a -sudden stop, discovering as he did so the reason why the -cavern had none of the vault-like stuffiness which he -associated with many similar adventures at home. Through a cleft -in the rock ahead filtered a thin beam of light, but there was -no passage even for Tom's lithe frame, wasted though it was -by a month's illness. Tom was curious to know at what -point of the cliff he had arrived, and, returning to the opening -of the cavern, he made signs to Mbutu to betake himself to -the hill overhead.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Again retracing his steps, Tom thrust his alpenstock through -the narrow opening, and shouted to attract Mbutu's attention, -to the complete discomfiture of the bolder spirits among the -feathered inmates of the cavern, which had clung to their homes -throughout this alarming episode. Mbutu's quick ears easily -caught the signal, and he had no difficulty in discovering the -cleft, which proved to be only a few feet from the stockade. -Tom then returned by the road he had come, well satisfied -with this little adventure, which came as a welcome break in -his enforced idleness.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A day or two after this, Tom said to Mbutu:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The people here are exceedingly kind, and I have learnt -a great deal that is extremely interesting; but we can't stay -here for ever. I should think in another week I'll be strong -enough to make tracks, eh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sure nuff, sah. Nyanza ober dar;" he pointed almost -due east; "chief send men too; help sah 'long."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"As a sort of escort, you mean, for I don't want to be -carried again. I shan't forget that time in the forest, Mbutu, -nor how much I owe to you. I feel years older, somehow; -and, by the by, d'you think there's such a thing as a razor in -the village? I can't see myself, having no looking-glass, but -I feel that during that illness my face has got a trifle downy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No razor, sah; Bahima pluck hair out. Muzema-wa-taba -do it for sah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's the chief's pipe-lighter, isn't it? No, thanks! let -him continue lighting his master's pipe. Talking of that, -since everybody smokes here, women included, I feel rather -out of it without a pipe too; but really their tobacco is -so--well, so intensely aromatic that I don't care to risk it. How -that medicine-man scowls at me, by the way." Mabruki had -just passed them. "I am extremely sorry to have been the -unconscious means of upsetting his apple-cart; and I wish he'd -see reason and make friends."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No like medicine-man," said Mbutu hurriedly, looking over -his shoulder at the strange figure departing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I wonder what he does in those little fetish-huts all round -the village," added Tom. "Come now, d'you think he'd be -pleased if I asked him for one of those wooden charms I've -seen him gibbering over?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nebber, nebber, sah," returned the boy earnestly. "Sah -white man; no want dem things; sah laugh inside."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, it was only to please the man!--Here's our friend -Msala coming. I wonder why the light of his countenance is -gone for once."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The katikiro did indeed look unusually grave as he came -up. In answer to Mbutu's enquiry, the regular formula "Is -it well?" he replied that it was certainly not well, for he -had just discovered that one of his best oxen, as well as two -of the kasegara's, had died mysteriously during the night. -He could not account for it; they had shown no signs of -sickness, and none of the other animals were affected. The -devil Magaso had hitherto confined his attentions to bananas; -it seemed strange if he had suddenly become a destroyer of -oxen. One of his Bairo herdsmen, said the katikiro, suggested -that Muhoko, another evil spirit, had paid a flying visit to -the village; but this suggestion he treated with scorn; he -couldn't imagine a Bairo devil having the impudence to -interfere with Bahima property. Altogether, the usually genial -official was decidedly upset.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps they've got poison somehow," said Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Poison! It was unheard-of. The beasts would not of their -own accord eat anything poisonous, and who should want to -poison them?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Perhaps someone has a grudge against you and the kasegara."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Against him, the katikiro! It was impossible. Wasn't -he a friend to everyone, never bad-tempered, never greedy, -never in anybody's way? The kasegara--oh! there might -well be a grudge against him, for he thought a great deal -too much of himself, talked a great deal too volubly at the -village palavers, and had yet to learn that he was inferior to -the katikiro after all.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No doubt," said Tom, inwardly amused at the whole affair. -"Some enemy of the kasegara, then, has paid him out by -poisoning two of his cattle, and got rid of one of yours too, -by mistake. All cats are gray in the dark, you know."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This explanation somewhat consoled the katikiro, when -a Bahima equivalent for the proverb had been found; and -then, with Mbutu's assistance, he engaged in animated -conversation with Tom about the prime minister of the Great -White King, whom he was very eager to emulate.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The death of the cattle passed from Tom's mind, but two -days later the whole camp was in an uproar at the discovery -that no fewer than six other oxen had died in the same -mysterious way. Tom, as he went with Mbutu for his daily -walk round the village, was surprised to find that the people -looked much less pleasantly on him than usual. The change -was shown in more than looks. He beckoned to a handsome -little boy of four, a special favourite of his, and the child was -running to him when he was checked by a sharp call from his -mother, who sent him howling into her hut.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This looks as though we're outstaying our welcome, -Mbutu," said Tom. "Perhaps we had better arrange to -start in a couple of days, when the chief gets back from the -hunt. I think I'm strong enough to manage the journey if -we don't have to hurry."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That night, soon after Mbutu had settled to sleep in his -usual place just inside the doorway of his master's hut, he -felt the stealthy touch of a hand upon his shoulder. He -sprang up, wide awake in an instant. It was the katikiro's -voice that spoke to him, and asked him to come out for a -little conversation. Surprised at his choosing such a time, -Mbutu followed him to the hut in which he had for the time -taken up his abode, and there, in low tones, Msala explained -the mystery of the villagers' changed attitude.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was due to the medicine-man, he said. That individual -had been for some time doing all he could to stir up the -people against the white man, but had met with little success, -so confident were they that their chief would never have -made a friend of a man likely to harm them. But the -loss of the cattle had now given Mabruki a strong leverage. -He had gone about among the villagers, declaring that the -Buchwezi, the spirits of their ancestors, had revealed to him -most positively that the white man was the cause of all their -recent losses. The katikiro scouted the suggestion, and had -determined to show his friendliness towards Tom by acquainting -him with the origin of the hostile movement. He advised -Mbutu to lose no time in getting his master away from the -village, for if the infatuation got a thorough hold of the -people, even the protection of the chief would be quite unable -to save their lives.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu returned to the hut in a state of unconquerable -nervousness. After a sleepless night, he gave his master the -information he had received.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What bosh!" cried Tom, laughing. "What a fool the -medicine-man must be! I don't see what he has to gain by -putting this on to me. Supposing he worked up the people -to tear me to pieces, he couldn't get rid of Barega, and Murasi -would be as far from being chief as ever."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, no, sah," said Mbutu, "him say sah kill oxen; berrah -well. Chief say bosh; berrah well. Black men say no bosh; -chief fool; white man him master; bad chief; must hab nudder -chief. Oh yes! dat what medicine-man say!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I see; you mean he'll hit at the chief through me. Very -well; we'll be off as soon as the chief returns; he shan't suffer -loss of prestige through me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the second day after this, early in the morning, the -chief returned from a hunting-expedition, in high feather -at having secured several magnificent tusks of ivory. But -his jubilation was changed to terrible wrath when he was -met by the news that two of the finest of his Hima bulls -were dead. The Bahima are intensely proud of their cattle, -and any injury to them is most bitterly resented. When -Barega heard that his own loss was only the climax of similar -losses among his principal officers, he blazed forth in fury. -He threatened to chop off everybody's head, but contented -himself with summoning his household officials, along with -the medicine-man and other important tribesmen, to a palaver. -At this it was decided, after very little discussion, that next -day a great smelling-out ceremonial should be held. The -duty of conducting this important and mystic rite naturally -fell upon Mabruki, who at once went off with a gleeful look -of satisfaction to make the necessary preparations. As soon -as he found an opportunity, the katikiro went to Tom's hut, -and urged him to fly instantly. The medicine-man would -assuredly pitch on him as the worker of this evil spell on the -cattle, and nothing could then save him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why should he? What have I done to him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then, without making an explicit statement, Msala hinted -that Mabruki was bent on the white man's destruction, and -had himself poisoned the oxen to that end.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And you expect me to run, eh?" said Tom. "No, my -friend, I'll see this through. I'm not going to abscond, and -let that ass bray."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu had still sufficient superstition to be greatly alarmed -at hearing the medicine-man called an ass. But the katikiro -was greatly tickled when the boy reluctantly interpreted the -opprobrious term, and he went away chuckling and clacking -the native word kapa between his lips with much enjoyment. -He had no objection to other people calling Mabruki names.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Early next morning the adult population assembled in -a huge circle at the south end of the village, waiting for the -mysterious ceremony to begin. There was an absence of the -light-hearted chatter that goes on usually in a company of -negroes; they were too much awe-stricken at the occasion. -At length the principal officials took their places, and the -chief, in full dress, looking very grim in his leopard-skin -mantle and antelope cap, seated himself on a rough stool, a -large elephant's tusk being held on each side of him. Then -he gave the order to beat the drums; the great wooden -instruments sent forth deep-booming notes from their ox-hide -heads, and the medicine-man appeared.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He cut a most extraordinary figure. His fat legs and arms -were smeared with white kaolin; he wore a belt of cowries -with bunches of fetish-grass dangling all round it; on his head -there was a remarkable head-dress of feathers, and his face -was hidden by a fantastic grimacing mask. In one hand he -carried a bell, in the other a basket. He walked slowly into -the circle, treading gingerly, like a cat on hot bricks, and -halted in the centre of the silent crowd. Then the chief -ordered the katikiro to proclaim the reason for holding the -assembly. Msala made an oration lasting fully half an hour, -and licked his lips and slapped his thighs in thorough -enjoyment of his own eloquence. Then was the turn of the -medicine-man. In a hollow, sepulchral, and unsteady voice -he began to recite an incantation of the abracadabra sort. As -he progressed he worked himself up into a state of frenzy. -Then, depositing his basket and bell on the ground, he burned -a few bunches of specially-prepared grass which sent forth a -nauseating smell. Moving to the immediate left of the chief, -he began to make the circuit of the crowd, ringing his bell as -he went. Save for the dong of the bell, there was a silence -as of death; the natives, from the chief downwards, kept their -eyes fixed on the circulating medicine-man, and not even the -bleating of a calf, which had strayed into the village and -poked its nose over the shoulder of one of the women, brought -the faintest shadow of a smile to their faces, though the -animal's mild stare of wonderment almost convulsed Tom. -Round went Mabruki, coming nearer to the spot where Tom -stood on the right of the chief. Mbutu's knees were knocking -together; he gave a gasp of relief when the medicine-man -passed him. Suddenly Mabruki stopped; he was opposite to -Tom, three yards away. He flourished his bell up and down -frantically, but no sound came from it. A groan went round -the circle; the chief turned and gave Tom an anxious and -startled look, and Mbutu had gone gray about the lips.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Without a word the medicine-man returned to the centre of -the circle. Laying down the bell, he took up the basket and -again walked round the throng, removing the lid of the basket -as he came opposite each individual. He arrived at Tom, -who was standing now with his hands in his pockets, looking -on with a smile of amusement mingled with contempt. There, -though Mabruki apparently pulled with all his strength at the -lid of the basket, it refused to come off. Angry cries arose -from all parts of the circle; some of the men sprang up and -shook their spears menacingly, but the medicine-man called -for silence and began a frenzied denunciation of the white -man. It was he who had destroyed the much-prized cattle; -the Buchwezi had declared it. Before him the bell would not -ring, before him the basket-lid was immovable. The spirits -had given their doom; let the white man die!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom still stood with his hands in his pockets, now gazing -grimly at his denouncer. Inclined at first to pooh-pooh the -whole business, he saw that the people were impressed by the -medicine-man's harangue, and that the chief was troubled and -perplexed. "Poor fellow!" thought Tom, "I suppose he'll -have to give in." It was of no use his merely denying the -charge, he very well knew. It was equally useless to engage -in a war of words with Mabruki. It was a time for action, -prompt and vigorous. His resolution was instantly taken. -Almost before the last words were out of Mabruki's mouth, he -stepped before the chief, bidding Mbutu accompany him, and -asked to be allowed to speak. Then, in a clear confident -voice, he began his first public speech, the words, unpremeditated -as they were, pouring from his lips with a fluency that -surprised him and taxed Mbutu's interpretative powers to the full.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am amazed, O Barega," he said, "that you, and the -mighty tribe you rule, should be swayed by an ignorant, -stupid humbug like Mabruki. Look at him, forsooth! He -can't stand straight; he has been feeding his courage on tubs -of museru till he is fuddled. He says I destroyed the cattle. -Why should I, a stranger to whom you, O Barega, have shown -so many kindnesses--why should I so basely return evil for -your good, and bring death among those who brought me back -to life? There is no sense in it. You believe your medicine-man? -I don't care that for your medicine-man." (He walked -slowly to the centre,--Mabruki, with eyes glaring through the -mask, retreating before him,--and with two kicks sent the bell -and the basket flying among the negroes, who watched him -in dumb amazement.) "I will prove to you that his medicine -is no medicine. To-morrow at sunset, do you, Barega, call -your tribe together, and I will bring medicine to match against -Mabruki's. Then shall you see whose medicine is the stronger; -then shall you see that I am a true man, and know Mabruki -for the sham he is. Shall it be so?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A murmur of assent ran round the ring. Tom's dauntless -bearing and confident words, a little amplified perhaps in -places by his interpreter; above all, the fact that he had kicked -the magic bell and basket without suffering instant hurt; had -made their impression on the natives. And the negro dearly -loves a show. The prospect of a similar but more novel -entertainment entranced them. The medicine-man was in no -condition to offer a protest; he had seized the opportunity to -take frequent pulls at a gourd of museru, and, exhausted by -his own violence, he now lay a fuddled, huddled heap on the -ground. The chief, unfeignedly glad of the turn events had -taken, consulted with his officers, and was strongly urged by -the katikiro to agree to Tom's proposal. The trial of strength -was fixed then for the evening of the following day, and the -assembly broke up. Now all tongues were loosed; every -incident in the strange scene was canvassed by two thousand -chattering negroes. Some openly expressed their belief that -the fearless white man would effectually squelch the unhappy -discredited medicine-man, while others still had confidence in -Mabruki, and expected that even yet the white man would -smart for his impiety.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom spent the rest of that day in seclusion. He was -making medicine, was Mbutu's invariable answer to enquiries. -The white man was making medicine!--the word flew round -the village, and even the most sceptical began to believe there -was something in it. Just before sunset Tom sent for the -katikiro, who had been bursting with curiosity to know what -was going on in his own hut. Darkness fell, and the stars -appeared, and yet he remained with Tom. The chief, in the -hut adjoining, once or twice fancied he heard the sounds of -stifled laughter. Unable to contain himself, he went quietly -to Tom's hut, and crept in before Mbutu had time to -interpose. Tom was standing in the middle, with arms akimbo, -smiling down at the katikiro, who was sitting on the floor -fairly shaking with half-suppressed merriment. He got up -rather sheepishly when he saw his chief looking grimly at -him, and sidled out of the hut. Tom turned to the chief and -said cheerfully:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I was only finishing my medicine-making, chief. Everything -is ready now."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah, um! Are you quite sure that your medicine will be -stronger than Mabruki's? If not, I would urge you to flee at -once; I will send trusty men with you. For if Mabruki -prevails to-morrow my people will claim a terrible revenge."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't be alarmed, chief. I will answer for my medicine. -I hope your sleep won't be disturbed; as for me, I have been -working hard, and want a good night's rest."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Very early next morning the villagers began to assemble on -the site of the previous day's ceremony. Time does not exist -for the negro; sunrise and sundown are his only periods, and -the people were quite content to squat in a circle through all -the long hot day. The crowd was larger than ever; all the -boys and girls had been brought to see the show. Villagers, -even, from outlying parts had come in, the news having spread -with that wonderful speed which is one of the most striking -phenomena in African life. Nor were the tongues of the people -tied by any feeling of solemnity; on the previous day they -might have been compared to the congregation in a cathedral, -to-day they were like the spectators at a circus.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sunset was the time fixed for the trial of strength. As the -sun disappeared the officials came from their huts, the katikiro -apparently relishing his recollection of the previous night's -amusement, and failing lamentably to maintain the dignity of -his office. The medicine-man was brought in; he had wisely -laid aside his flummery, and looked more ghastly than ever in -his coating of kaolin. The chief entered the ring, with his -drummers and tusk-bearers, followed by Tom, and a score of -torch-bearers ranged themselves around.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Just as Barega reached his place a man came dashing up -the village from the northern gate, never pausing till he stood -before the chief. It was one of the principal scouts. In -breathless haste he stated that he had learned that a strong Arab -force was advancing through the forest. It was bent on some -great enterprise, for the caravan included thousands of slaves, -carrying all the paraphernalia of a camp and large stores of -provisions. It was by this time only twelve marches away, -and was coming steadily in the direction of the village. The -news went through the assembly in an instant, and silenced -every tongue. The medicine-man straightened himself, and -with something of his former assurance proclaimed that the -white man was accountable, and that unless he were expelled -or slain the village would fall an easy prey to the enemy. -He evidently welcomed the diversion, and was preparing for -a long harangue, when Tom, advancing, stilled the gathering -murmurs with an imperious gesture.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Chief," he said, "heed not what the medicine-man says. -It is a trial of strength between our magic to-day; if his -medicine proves the stronger, turn me out or slay me; but -if mine, then I promise you I will not leave you till we have -made a good account with your Arab foes. I know the -Arabs; I have fought them; I have been a prisoner among -them and escaped; I saved you from them. Is it a bargain?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Loud shouts of assent broke from the whole company, and -the chief, with a dignified inclination of the head, said: "It -shall be so." Then, amid breathless silence, the trial of -strength commenced.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom had resolved from the outset that he would make no -attempt to persuade the natives that Mabruki's medicine was -mere vanity and hollowness. Superstitions generations old -could not be banished in a night. His object was to show, -not that the medicine did not exist, but that it was poor -medicine, quite unworthy of an important village, and not to -be compared with the medicine he himself had at command. -He began with a short speech in which he recited the history -of the affair up to the present, finding it rather difficult to get -on without the interpreting aid of Mbutu, who was not at -hand. He laid stress on the strange disaster that had befallen -the primest cattle, and reminded the people how the medicine-man -had professed to discover that he was the cause, if not -the agent, of the death of the bulls. If this accusation was -merely the outcome of spite and hatred, the Bahima would -know how much reliance to place on it. If, however, it were -really due to the operation of Mabruki's magic--here Tom -turned swiftly toward the medicine-man, and cried: "We shall -see what faith can be placed on the words of an ignoramus like -this. Bahima and Bairo, look!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He seized the bell, which the medicine-man had placed on -the basket at his feet. Mabruki stood mute and motionless -with astonishment as Tom, ringing the bell with the same large -gestures as his enemy, began to march round the circle. -Before he had walked ten paces Tom found, as he had expected, -that by a simple mechanical contrivance the clapper could be -fixed at the will of the performer, and the trick had not been -discovered only because no one else in the village had dared to -touch the magic bell. He walked on solemnly round the circle -until he came to the place where Mabruki stood scowling, and -then, though he agitated the bell with more than ordinary -violence, not a sound came from it.</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 63%" id="figure-86"> -<span id="tom-surprises-mabruki"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="Tom surprises Mabruki" src="images/img-186.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">Tom surprises Mabruki</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was for a moment a silence as of death. Then a -low growl rumbled round the throng. The katikiro laughed, -the chief frowned ominously, as Tom, keeping a wary eye on -Mabruki, flung the bell contemptuously at his feet. The -medicine-man was livid with wrath. The scorn of his enemy, -the murmurs of the spectators, the despiteful usage of his fetish, -whose terrors were now gone for ever, were too much for him. -With a snarl of rage the burly negro hurled himself at Tom, -aiming a vicious blow at him with a strangely-carved fetish -staff he carried in his hand. It was the very move Tom had -intended to provoke; if only Mabruki could be goaded to -attack him he was confident of the issue. His confidence -appeared to be shared by Msala, who, alone of that vast -throng, seemed to be excited rather with suppressed -merriment than with any emotion of doubt or fear. The crowd -gazed open-mouthed, for Mabruki was to all appearance easily -able to overpower the slim stripling opposed to him. But as -the big man lurched forward Tom stepped nimbly aside and -evaded the blow. Before Mabruki could recover he found his -wrist firmly grasped, and was jerked sharply forward, his -elbow being gripped as in a vice by Tom's left hand. Then -Tom brought into play a trick of Japanese wrestling he had -learnt from a ship's engineer, who had taken advantage of -visits to the island empire to make a study of methods -unrecognized and unknown in Cumberland and Cornwall. The -medicine-man instinctively resisted when he felt the forward -pull. Instantly reversing his movement, Tom pushed his -opponent's elbow up with the left hand while pulling his -hand outwards and downwards with the right. At the same -time he placed his leg behind his opponent's knee, and before -the astonished magician could realize what was happening, -with a sharp jerk he was thrown on to his back, the earth -seeming to shake under his seventeen stone of corpulence.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The whole operation had not occupied more than a few -seconds. The medicine-man in an African village is rather -feared than beloved; he has countless ways of making his -dreaded tyranny felt. When, therefore, the people saw the man -whose power they had held in awe so rapidly overthrown, -apparently without any exertion on the part of his opponent, -a great shout of mocking laughter burst from them. The -katikiro was bent double with delight, and even Barega's -face relaxed its habitual gravity, Mabruki, with no breath -left in his unwieldy body, thoroughly cowed, was in no -condition to renew the attack. He still lay upon the ground -as Tom explained that he had turned Mabruki's medicine -upon him, and shown that white medicine had enabled himself -to do what no other man among them, not even the strongest, -could have accomplished. Mabruki had brought his -humiliation upon himself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But this," he added, "is mere trifling. In my country we -leave such simple things to the children. If you wish to see -what the white man's magic is like, pay heed to what I am -about to do. And I warn you, be satisfied with that, lest -worse befall."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He walked slowly to the centre of the circle, where the -huge king-drum was placed. The glare of the torches lit -up the hundreds of eager faces, all gazing at him with eyes -opened to their widest. Even the katikiro, who had shown no -surprise at the previous feats, looked on now with an air of -fearful expectancy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Put out your torches!" cried Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One by one the lights were extinguished. The whole -village was covered with the black darkness of a moonless -tropical night. For half a minute there was absolute silence; -then, taking the drum-stick, Tom smote the drum with three -measured strokes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Boom! boom! boom!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The hollow sounds rolled away and died in the distance. -Nothing could be heard but the quick pants of the waiting -crowd. A light breeze had sprung up, grateful after the day's -heat, and from far in the distance came faintly the trumpet -note of an elephant, followed by the quick bark of a hyena. -Again Tom struck the drum.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Boom! boom! boom!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A moment later he noticed a glow in the tree-tops of a -plantation three-quarters of a mile to the west. The silent -throng was still looking towards him, trying to pierce the -darkness. The glow increased rapidly in brightness, defining -itself as a globe of fire.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>B-r-r-rrrrrrrr!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A tremendous roll from the drum woke rumbling echoes all -around. Pointing dramatically with his drum-stick into the -sky, Tom cried: "Behold!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The crowd turned as one man. A huge blazing globe -was advancing slowly towards them out of the darkness. -The effect was stupendous. For a moment the throng was -inarticulate with dread. Then murmurs of fear arose. Some -of the women shrieked; many of the children buried their -faces in their mothers' bosoms. Most of the men sank into -their customary abject attitude of supplication; others were -too terrified to move, and gazed upwards in stupefaction at -the advancing and ascending ball of fire. It came slowly -along on the breeze, passed almost directly over the village, -then mounted higher and higher into the sky as it drifted -eastward. The crowd watched it in awe-struck silence as it -grew smaller and smaller in the distance, and at last -disappeared as a tiny speck on the horizon.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A gasp of relief rose from the throng. Barega cried again -for torches; by their light Mabruki could be seen shaking like -an aspen, the evidence of superior medicine having overpowered -him altogether. Among the people there was the inevitable -reaction. Their fear being removed, they turned against the -medicine-man and assailed him with vehement cries of scorn. -Barega sent for his executioner, and announced his immediate -intention of having Mabruki's head. But Tom called aloud -for silence, and beckoning Mbutu, who with the torches had -suddenly appeared at his side, said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Barega and Barega's men," he said, "you have seen with -your own eyes. You saw that with Mabruki's own bell I -proved against him, if such childish folly can be called a proof, -what he had proved against me. You saw that when he tried -to fell me with his weighty fist, with a mere turn of the hand -I laid him low. And now you have seen how, striking your -own king-drum, Bugandanwe, I summoned a globe of fire from -the trees yonder, and how it sailed away out of sight with a -message to the morning chamber of the sun. The trial is -made; who has the stronger medicine--Mabruki or I?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You, the muzungu!" shouted every creature in the throng.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And do you, O Barega, any longer believe that I caused -the death of your cattle?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, no; I do not believe it. If any of my people believes -it, he shall surely die!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Barega glared round the circle of his trembling subjects, as -if to dare any of them to confess himself a doubter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No one believes it," said Tom quickly. "Now I tell you -this," he added, turning to Barega; "you will lose no more -cattle, my friend. Your losses are due to Mabruki's bad -medicine."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I will have his head!" cried Barega furiously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wait, my brother. Let me plead for him. What will -his death avail? It will not bring back your cattle. No, it is -for the strong to show mercy. What shall be his doom? Let -it be this, that he give to everyone who has lost cattle by this -strange death one bull for every bull that died, you, O chief, -to choose first among his beasts. And mark, if in the days to -come any cattle die in the same way, let Mabruki give the -owner two bulls for every one that so dies. My medicine is -not concerned with cattle; but I think Mabruki has enough -medicine left to preserve your cattle henceforth."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The suggestion met with instant approval, and Mabruki -himself dared not raise a protest. As he slunk shamefaced -away, the assembly broke up, to discuss the wonderful -occurrences with shouting and laughter for hours afterwards.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom walked quietly back to his hut.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You did it very well, Mbutu," he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu grinned.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Like it berrah much, sah," he said; "jolly good bloony -bloon."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes; and we must never repeat the performance. We -will not stale our big medicine, Mbutu."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The explanation of the wonderful event was simplicity -itself.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When Tom had offered to pit himself against Mabruki, he -had in his mind the trick of Japanese wrestling. But that -was hardly sufficient, perhaps, to impress the people, and he -resolved to attempt something even more startling. While -thinking over the matter, he remembered how amazed he had -been himself when, as a young child, he first saw a balloon. -Could he make a fire-balloon? Suddenly he bethought him of -a roll of Indian silk he had seen among the chief's possessions. -Surely that would provide the very material he required. He -persuaded the chief to give him a few lengths from the roll, -and during the time of his seclusion in the hut he had, with -Mbutu's assistance, cut the silk into strips, stuck them -together with a natural gum obtained from trees near, stitched -the seams together, smeared the whole surface with gum to -make it air-tight, and bent a thin sapling to hold open the -mouth of the balloon, with a light pan dangling from it to -hold combustible material steeped in spirit. Mbutu had -smuggled the balloon into the plantation on the previous -night, while Tom was engaged in practising his wrestling trick -on the katikiro. When the performance began with the ringing -of the bell, Mbutu had inflated the envelope with hot air -over a large charcoal fire, and at the second drum-signal had -ignited the spirit-soaked material, and let the balloon rise.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Before Tom retired to rest that night, the katikiro came to -him and humbly begged to know how he had made fire come -from the tree-tops.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Msala, my friend," said Tom, smiling, "that is my secret. -We cannot all do everything; too much learning, like too -much museru, might turn your head. Be satisfied with -getting your cattle replaced, and take my word for it that you -will never lose your bulls in the same way again."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="blood-brotherhood"><span class="large">CHAPTER XIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">Blood-Brotherhood</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">Fortifying the Village--The Enemy at the Gate--An Attack -at Dawn--Bridging the Trench--Fireballs--Invested</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Tom's decisive victory over the medicine-man not only restored -him to his former place in the estimation of the people, but -raised him to a pitch of renown which he found somewhat -embarrassing. Presents of all kinds were thrust upon him -by the admiring villagers, and even the chief, who, though -always affable, had nevertheless stood a little upon his dignity, -now opened his heart to him without reserve. He showed -him one day, hidden carefully under the floor of his hut, a -magnificent collection of elephants' tusks, some being family -heirlooms handed down from generation to generation, others -the spoils of his own chase. And then he ventured to make -a proposal which he said would once for all fix the confidence -of his people in the white man. Would Tom become his -blood-brother?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Most happy, I'm sure," said Tom, who, however, looked -a little blue when the details of the ceremony were told him -by Mbutu. "I don't mind having my arm lanced, but I'm -hanged if I'll lick his blood; no, I draw the line at that."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Barega assured him that a trifle like that need not stand -in the way, and the ceremony was forthwith arranged. The -people were again called together by tuck of drum. In the -centre of the circle two mats of wild-cat skin were placed -opposite to each other, and on these Tom and the chief sat -cross-legged. The household officers stood around, holding -shields and spears and swords over Barega's head. Then the -katikiro made a small incision in the forearm of each, half-way -between the hand and elbow, from which a little blood oozed. -If the rite had been strictly observed, each would then have -licked the blood of the other, but in deference to Tom's -scruple, the chief was satisfied with their rubbing the cuts -together, so that their blood was commingled. When this was -done the katikiro began to knock two pieces of metal together, -keeping up a monotonous tink, tink, tink, and talking all the -time. He recited a sort of litany as the chief's representative: -"If you want shelter, my hut is yours; if you are in trouble, -my warriors are yours; if you are hungry, the food of my -land is yours; if you ever make war upon me, if you ever -steal from me, if you ever wound me",--and so on, the -if-clauses continuing for half an hour, "may you die!" Then -Mbutu got up and followed in a similar strain on Tom's -behalf, after which the chief presented Tom with a small cube of -ivory, and Tom in return gave him the only thing he had of -his own, a trouser-button. The blood-brothers then heartily -shook hands, and the assembled multitude shouted the name -by which the new brother was to be known among -them--Okubokokuru, which, being interpreted, means "Strong in -the Arm". Tom expressed his gratification at this mark of -respect, but pleaded that his new name might be shortened; -and the chief announced that his brother was to be officially -known as Kuboko.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>No further news had yet been received of the approaching -enemy. Tom was longing to see a white face again, but he -reflected that all his friends must now have given him up, and -that a few days more would make little difference. Besides, -he felt the military instinct alive in him. He was keen to -set his wits once more against the Arab cunning, and when -he seriously thought over it he did not regret his impulsive -promise to stand by his new friends.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Barega," he said, with a familiarity justified by his new -relationship, on the day after the ceremony, "if we are to -defeat these Arabs we must set about preparations in earnest. -Your scout said they were twelve marches away; twelve has -now become ten. We have ten days. How many fighting-men -have you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The chief replied that he had one hundred and fifty Bahima -spearmen, and four hundred and fifty Bairo, some of whom -had spears, the rest bows and arrows. They all had small -oval shields, made of light basket-work, with a large central -boss of wood. Tom had already seen and examined their -weapons in the course of his walks about the village. The -Bahima spear had a long wooden shaft and an iron head with -two blood-courses, one on each side of the central rib. The -Bairo spear was of ruder construction, the head containing -a depression on one side answering to a ridge on the other. -The bow was about four feet long, with a string of sheep-gut, -and the arrows, eighteen inches in length, had barbed heads.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not poisoned, I hope?" said Tom, as Barega called up -a Muiro to show his weapon. He was answered in the -negative. The quiver was a long tube of hard white-wood, with -a wooden cap at each end, and was worn slung by a string -across the shoulder. Striking designs had been burnt out -in a kind of poker-work on the wood, and Tom was delighted -with the artistic taste they displayed. Inside the quiver, -besides some dozen arrows, a fire-stick was kept.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Your arms are pretty serviceable so far as they go," said -Tom. "You haven't any guns, I suppose?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The chief produced a few old rusty flint-locks, along with -the three muskets taken from the Arabs, but as he had no -ammunition they were in any case useless.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well now, how is the village prepared to stand an assault? -It is impregnable on the north-east and east, I should say, -owing to the precipice. The path up to the north gate is -steep, and therefore an attack in that direction might be easily -beaten off; but on the west and south, as well as on the -south-east, your stockade, I am afraid, is easily scaleable. I -would suggest that you dig a trench, Barega, outside the -stockade, and fill it with water from the stream. And look -here, don't you think you could make your men work? You'll -never get things done if you leave them entirely to the women, -and in my country, you know, we'd think precious little of -a man who made his women do everything."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Stimulated by Tom's energy, the chief set the whole of his -people to work. Unluckily, the Bahima not being an -agricultural people, they had only their broad knife-blades to use, -though the Bairo were well supplied with crude implements. -Making the best of things, and impressing even the children -into the task, Tom had the satisfaction, after eight days' -strenuous labour, of seeing the vulnerable part of the stockade -defended by a trench six feet deep and fifteen across. It was -not carried right up to the stockade for fear of loosening the -fencing, but the interval was planted with sharp stakes, -forming a </span><em class="italics">chevaux-de-frise</em><span>. Under Tom's supervision a drawbridge -of wattles was rapidly constructed and thrown over the trench -at the southern gate. The huts outside the stockade, which -would afford good cover for an enemy, were cleared away, the -owners being accommodated with new huts within.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There were now only two days left before the Arabs, at the -earliest, could arrive, and Tom, thinking over the probabilities -and possibilities, and as yet ignorant of the size and -composition of the Arab force, wondered whether the attack might -resolve itself into a siege. It might of course be beaten back -once for all; still, it was well to be prepared. He advised -the chief, therefore, to lay in a large stock of provisions, both -animal and vegetable. A good many cattle could at a pinch -be herded inside the stockade, and the flesh of slaughtered -animals could be kept sweet under running water, in little -streamlets diverted from the brook, or preserved in pans of -salt. Great quantities of bananas, potatoes, maize, and other -crops were got in and stored in the village, until Tom was -assured that there was enough food collected to feed the whole -population for at least a month on full rations.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the eleventh day, walking round once more with Barega, -to see that nothing had been left undone, Tom observed that -one precaution had been neglected. Three hundred yards to -the south-east of the village there was a somewhat extensive -banana plantation, bounded on the west by the brook. This -would afford excellent cover to an attacking force armed with -rifles, and it seemed to Tom that it ought to be cut down, -a course he at once suggested to the chief. But Barega did -not appreciate the tactical point involved, and refused to allow -the plantation to be touched. Besides, as he said with some -truth, there was barely time to cut it down if the Arabs were -to show themselves next day. Accordingly Tom had to -remain satisfied with what he had achieved. He was indeed -rather surprised at finding so many of his suggestions adopted -without demur, and was inclined to ascribe it to Mbutu, who, -as he discovered, was constantly singing his master's praises -and dwelling on his brilliant fighting qualities. But he really -owed much more to his own tact, and to the care with which -he thought out his proposals before he placed them before -Barega. No man is quicker than the African native to -appreciate real force of character.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Scouts had been sent out to the north and east, the directions -from which the Arabs were presumed likely to come--men -familiar with the forest, who could be trusted to find -food for themselves and remain invisible. No tidings had -yet arrived of the enemy's near approach, but Tom did not -allow the grass to grow under his feet. There were several -smithies in the village, fenced off from the inhabited part, and -here Tom kept the smiths constantly employed in sharpening -spears and tipping new-made arrows. He found means also -of still further improving his defences. Barega told him, as -they were talking over their plans, that the Arab attack was -almost certain to be made in a half-light, just before dawn. -The question at once occurred to Tom: Could not the trench -be disguised so that the enemy might flounder into it -unawares? No sooner was the question put than the chief -slapped his thigh, and cried: "Yes". In his hunting he -frequently covered over his elephant-pits in such a way that -the animals trod unsuspiciously upon what seemed to be solid -earth, and fell helplessly into the hole. The same plan could -be pursued now. No time was lost; bushels of light branches -and twigs were speedily obtained from the woods and laid -across the ditch, then covered with earth and rubbish until -the surface, except to a most critical eye, could not be -distinguished from the surrounding soil. Just before sunset, -Tom walked all round the village, along the edge of the -trench, and, from his inspection, he felt confident that a -rapidly-moving enemy would never discover the trap.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The twelve days were past, and still there was no sign or -news of the Arabs. Sentries were posted every night at short -intervals inside the stockade, and more than once Tom himself -went the rounds in the middle of the night to see that all was -well. Late on the thirteenth day a scout came in, tired and -famished, with the news that the Arabs were within two days' -march. They had been harassed and delayed by pigmies, who -had dogged them almost all the way, and had given cruel -proofs of the sureness of their aim and the virulence of their -poisons. Soon afterwards other scouts returned, confirming -this information. Tom's eyes gleamed at the prospect of a -stiff fight. He got the chief to call a council of his principal -men, and to them he suggested a plan of operations.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Brothers," he said, "it is agreed that you trust me. I am -young, as you see; I have not fought so many fights as Barega -here; my friend Msala is as brave as a lion--either might well -lead you to victory. But the white men--your cousins--have -handed down from father to son many stories of great fights, -and these are in my mind. Have I done well up to this time?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You have," was the ready and unanimous answer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then hear me when I tell what, with your approval, I -think we should do. The enemy will come up to our trench -on the south and west; they will stumble into it and be thrown -into confusion. I will lead a picked band of men out of the -south gate, and my brother Barega another out of the north -gate. We shall thus have the Arabs between us, and we will -advance to meet each other, pressing them all the way. At -the same time Msala will direct the warriors in the village to -assail the enemy with a thick shower of spears and arrows, -taking care to hit the Arabs, and not their own friends. Is it -understood?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The assembly grunted approval.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then, Barega, do you at once select a hundred of your -steadiest men for yourself, and a hundred also for me, so that -all things may be ready when the enemy appears."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The arrangements were rapidly made. Every warrior in -the village had his appointed place; a number of the cattle -were brought in and tethered within the stockades, the rest -were driven away to the south under the charge of armed -herdsmen, who were instructed to elude the enemy to the best -of their ability.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the next day the force in the village was swelled by -the accession of two separate bands of Ruanda, whose hamlets -had been destroyed by the Arabs, and who had flocked to the -protection of Barega. The same evening the last of the scouts -came in, with the news that the enemy had been hastening -their march and were bound to arrive next day. He put -their numbers at five thousand, but Tom knew enough of the -African character to be assured that this estimate was far in -excess of the actual number, and he took the information very -quietly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now that an attack was imminent, he advised Barega to -call a mass-meeting of the inhabitants. Standing in the midst -of the circle of negroes, whose kind treatment of him forbade -their being called savages, he felt a deep sense of his -responsibility, and spoke with special seriousness.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bahima and Bairo," he said, "you are all my brothers and -sisters. I believe that I am doing right in helping you to -defeat the enemy who has caused so much misery to you and to -all your race. Please God, we shall defeat them. We must -all do our best--some to give orders, others to obey. My -sisters, you will stay with your children in the middle of the -village. The Arabs will have fire-sticks, and there is no need -for any of you to run into danger. Your husbands will defend -you, and strike hard for their homes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Speeches at greater length were delivered by the chief and -the katikiro. The people were deeply impressed; never had -they gone to war in any such way before; and Tom on his -side was struck with their intelligence, and the eagerness they -showed to follow instructions so novel to them. He was a -little uncertain of the steadiness of the Bairo, who were more -impetuous and less docile than the Bahima; but they had -been divided into companies under Bahima officers, and Tom -himself had put them through a little drill in the brief -intervals left by their task of fortifying the village. All that he -feared was that they might break out in wild rushes, after the -undisciplined negro's manner, and leave the stockade -insufficiently defended.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next morning, just as light was breaking, the sentries gave -word that the enemy was advancing. Tom, waked by Mbutu -out of a long quiet sleep, hastened to his post at the southern -gate. For days he had been hammering it home into the -negroes' heads that silence was a strong weapon on their side, -but the negro cannot change his nature in a week, and as soon -as the news had run through the camp, the eager warriors -came clamorously out of their huts to the stockade. Tom -bade them keep out of sight, and the enemy, advancing rapidly -in crescent-shaped formation stretching from south-east to -north-west, must have believed that the noise was merely the -usual morning bustle in a large village. On they came, Arabs -mingled with Manyema, in perfect silence and fair order, -confident of finding easy access to their expected prize. The -horns of the crescent reached the trench; twenty men at each -extremity stepped heedlessly on to it, and instantly they were -in the water, floundering beyond their depth. Loud cries of -dismay filled the air; the rest of the force halted in -amazement, scarcely able in the faint light to perceive what had -happened. Then the deep boom of a drum rolled from the -village, over the precipice, into the wooded plain.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Instantly a thick cloud of missiles flew from the stockade, -arrows whizzed, spears hurtled through the air. At the same -moment, Tom, with his hundred, sallied out from the southern -gate, the men raising a fierce whoop of exultation. From the -northern gate, after a barely perceptible interval, came an -answering cry; and within the stockade the warriors, hurling -their weapons at the centre of the Arab line, added their -shouts to the din. The confusion of the Arabs was too great -to permit of their firing a volley; a few separate slugs fell -among the Bahima, and ill-aimed spears struck down a few. -But the troops of Tom and Barega were pressing hard upon -the extremities of their line; they were driven in towards the -centre. An attempt was made by their leaders to rank them -in some sort of order, but the necessity of facing two ways at -once baffled their efforts; the Bahima were upon them in a -wild charge, and with cries of mingled fright and -disappointment they broke and ran.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With yells of triumph the Bahima dashed in pursuit. But -the sun was now peeping, large and red, over a distant ridge, -and by its light Tom saw a fresh and well-ordered body of -men advancing to the support of the fugitives. Divining that -this was the Arab reserve, he ordered his drummer to beat -the recall, at the very instant when the enemy, even at the -risk of killing their own men, opened fire. The command -was timely, for the Bahima, unaccustomed to the fire of -muskets, already showed signs of trepidation. His drum -was answered by the chief's, and the two bands retreated -to their several gates, followed by the hostile force, their -return being covered by a hot discharge of missiles from -the stockade. After some hesitation, the enemy drew off -to reconsider their plan of attack, pursued by a loud chorus -of derisive yells.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom had not the heart to check the self congratulation of -the people, who celebrated their victory with song and dance. -Victorious, certainly, had they been, but Tom, cool in the -midst of the excitement, had carefully scanned the opposing -forces to estimate their strength, and he saw that Barega's -warriors were greatly outnumbered. They were no more -than six hundred fighting men all told, while the enemy, -as nearly as he could tell, consisted of at least three times -that number, some ninety of them being Arabs, and the rest -Manyema. The success of the Bahima was evidently due -solely to the surprise and confusion of the enemy, for, even -with the advantage of the stockade, they could scarcely hope -to outmatch a force so much larger, armed, moreover, as two -hundred and fifty of them were, with muskets and rifles. The -Bahima losses so far had been few; two men had been killed -and five wounded, of whom two died later. Of the enemy, six -Arabs and about thirty Manyema had been left upon the field, -and others, doubtless, lay drowned at the bottom of the ditch. -It was with some anxiety that Tom awaited the dawn of -the next day. He passed a sleepless night, framing many -conjectures as to the enemy's further operations, and thinking -out plans for their discomfiture. But morning broke in -silence; Tom wondered whether spear and shield were to -remain idle. Looking over the stockade about ten o'clock, he -saw a movement amid a clump of trees about half a mile up -the slope to the south-west, and, carrying his eye downwards -to the north-west, he observed similar evidences of activity in -the thicker woods in that direction also. Before he had quite -realized what this might portend, a large body of the enemy -emerged from each clump, many of the men carrying what -appeared to be a kind of trellis-work. Their object flashed -instantly into Tom's mind; they were going to bridge the -trench. Drums beat, and Bahima and Bairo rushed to the -points threatened; but the enemy halted just out of range of -their arrows, and, under cover of a phalanx of native shields, -prepared to rush their extemporized bridge across the ditch.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Behind the stockade the defenders were keenly alert; Barega -had command of the north-western section, and the katikiro, -who, genial time-server as he was in peace, was a very -paladin in war, commanded on the south-west. Seeing that all -along the western boundary the defence was in good hands, -Tom hastened to the south-east to assure himself that no -danger need be feared in that direction. Barely half a minute -after he reached a smithy in the south-eastern corner, from -the yard of which he could scan the whole country to the -horizon, he saw a strong body of men spring out of the banana -plantation he had vainly urged Barega to cut down. They, -like their fellows on the other side, had with them a long piece -of trellis-work. Evidently there was not a moment to lose. -Tom despatched Mbutu to inform Barega of the danger; but -so quickly did the enemy move, that in less than two minutes -they had arrived at the edge of the ditch, flung the trellis -bridge across, and begun to swarm over to the other side, -nimbly evading the planted stakes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom looked around. Only some ten men were within call. -Summoning these to his assistance, he turned to defend the -stockade. He had no weapon but the musket got in the -forest, and that, in default of ammunition, he could only use -as a club. By the side of the smith's rude anvil he saw a -recently-sharpened sickle, with a handle eighteen inches long. -This he seized, and sprang to his post again. Some twenty -of the enemy, he saw, bore light scaling-ladders, hastily -constructed since the previous fight. These they placed -against the stockade and began to clamber up. There was -a fierce hand-to-hand fight. Tom caught hold of the top of -one of the ladders, on which two Arabs were ascending, and -putting forth his utmost strength, flung it back so that it fell -on the climbers. Some of the Bahima were thrusting their -spears through interstices in the stockade, and cries of agony -bore witness to their success. But for every man that fell -another sprang up to take his place. Already several of the -enemy had reached the tops of their ladders, and were firing, -fortunately with erratic aim, at the panting defenders. Three, -indeed, had clambered down on the inner side, and still there -was no sign of the expected reinforcements. Tom had been -slashing with his sickle in his right hand, and warding off with -the musket in his left the blows of Arab swords and Manyema -spears. Seeing three of the enemy within his lines, he was -down in a moment at the foot of the stockade. One of the -three he clubbed with his musket, and then, while Mbutu, who -returned at this moment, fiercely engaged the second, he -pressed hotly upon the third. Two of the Bahima were -prostrate; the remaining eight were vainly attempting to stem -the torrent now pouring over the palisade, and Tom was in -the thick of the mêlée, laying about him doughtily. It -was a tense moment; Tom and his little band were -outnumbered ten to one; and the fate of the village hung in -the balance. The enemy were creeping up behind for a -final rush, when the katikiro charged down at the head of two -hundred yelling Bairo. The stockade was cleared in a few -seconds and the baffled enemy driven back over the ditch.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Whew!" blew Tom, and then for the first time became -aware that he had received a slight spear-wound in the right -arm. "Blood-brother indeed!" he said with a smile to the -katikiro. "But Msala, my friend, you were only just in time. -In a minute or two it would have been another case of -what-d'ye-call-him against the world. Why were you so long -bringing up reinforcements?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The katikiro was exceedingly sorry, but just before Mbutu -had reached him a similar request had been made by the chief, -and he had felt bound, of course, to obey his chief first. But -it turned out after all to be a mere waste of time, for the -enemy in the north-west quarter, while making an extremely -blusterous demonstration, had never come within striking -distance, and Msala had soon recognized that their show of -activity was a mere feint to draw off attention from the real -attack at the other end. Tom saw that the delay had been -unavoidable, and could only be thankful that the much-needed -support had come after all in the very nick of time.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The brief rest was a boon; but the enemy were not routed, -nor even definitively driven off. They were still clinging to -their position outside the stockade, and the Bahima could not -get at them without exposing themselves, nor even assail them -effectively with their spears, for the Arabs had rifles, and -were indeed dropping shots over into the village. It was -clearly necessary to put a stop to these offensive tactics, and -Tom was perplexed as to what measure to adopt. Suddenly -the idea occurred to him: could he try a few fireballs? Vague -recollections came to him of something he had read about -fireballs in defence of towns during the wars in the Netherlands. -He had noticed plenty of coarse wool of sheep and goats in -the village; there were heaps of shavings where the artificers -had been making spear-shafts; and the place was reeking with -fat of various kinds. He knew also that there was a large -store of the native spirituous liquors, museru and marwa, in -a shed near the hut of the chief's cook and purveyor, the -muchumbi wanyama, and he thought it would be rather a -good than an evil if some of the spirits were consumed -externally. He therefore left the katikiro in command while he -himself went to consult the chief.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Barega was charmed with the simplicity and ingenuity of -the notion of worrying the enemy with fireballs, but -somewhat downcast when he learnt the use to which his -wine-cellar was to be put. Thereupon Tom, with the tact that -had marked all his dealing with the natives, did not insist, -but quietly pointed out that if the Arabs got in, they would -set fire to the village, and the spirits would be destroyed with -all the rest. It was surely better to use half of it in doing -some mischief among the enemy, and perhaps by this means -decisively turn the scale.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The chief thought over the matter, consulted the kasegara, -and finally, with an obvious wrench, gave his consent to the -course Kuboko proposed. No more time was lost; twenty -natives were immediately set to roll up balls about six inches -in diameter, made of wool and shavings and fat, and anything -else combustible that came to hand, and finally steeped in the -heady spirit. When some hundred balls were ready, Tom -had them carried to his old post, where the Arabs were once -more attempting to scale the stockade. They were lighted -and thrown in rapid succession over the stockade on to the -trellis-bridge. The Arabs at first tried to quench the fallen -balls, but others came flaming through the air still more -rapidly, and after some score had been thrown, fearing that -their retreat over the ditch was likely to be cut off by the -burning of their bridge, the enemy threw up the sponge and -beat a hasty retreat. As they retired, the Bahima gave a -tremendous whoop, and sent a cloud of arrows and spears -after them, causing many a gap in their ranks. They fled on -in rage and confusion, and vanished behind the plantation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! I think they've had enough," said Tom. "Barega, -my brother, what do you think of our morning's work?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Barega confessed himself "pleased too much", as Mbutu -interpreted him. "Say one fing, sah; say no want no more -museru wasted!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good heavens!" was Tom's thought, "it's all got to be -argued again. Wasted! As Mr. Barkworth would say, 'There's -no gratitude in these natives!'" But all he said was: "Tell -the chief that I hope we shall need no more of his excellent -stuff, and that I consider he has shown a fine spirit of -self-denial for the common good. The scamp!" he added under -his breath; "he ought to be as pleased as Punch!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom was in the highest spirits. He felt confident now -that the resources at his command were sufficient to defend -the village against all attacks in force, and he hoped that the -enemy would appreciate the situation and relinquish their -enterprise.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The rest of that day passed uneventfully. At night sentries -were posted as usual, and none of the precautions were -relaxed; but there was no attack. The day slipped by with the -same tranquillity. Parties of the enemy were seen at times, -but they were always out of range, and, so far as could be -ascertained from the village, were not making any -preparations for renewing the assault. That night Tom, walking -round by the stockade the last thing before turning in, -noticed that at short intervals from the north gate round -the western and southern sides to the extreme south-east -corner, where the ground shelved down rapidly to the foot -of the precipice, large watch-fires were burning, which had -not previously been the case.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What does that mean?" he thought. "Are they going to -make a regular siege of it? I hope not, for to be cooped up -here for another week would be awful. I'd give something -for a newspaper, or Ranjy's cricket book, or even Euclid--yes, -by Jove, even old </span><em class="italics">quod erat demonstrandum</em><span>--to help pass -the time away. By the by, I'll be forgetting all my maths -out here, and if I'm to stick to engineering that'll never do. -Well, if it turns out a siege, I'll set myself a few stiff problems -and correct the solutions experimentally, eh?--besides teaching -these beggars something of infantry drill. Heigh-ho! 'the -heathen in his blindness'--who'd have thought I should ever -be living among 'em, and a blood-brother too!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And as he walked back to his hut, in a fit of abstraction he -began to whistle the tune of "From Greenland's icy mountains," -to the great contentment of the katikiro lying awake.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-siege-of-barega-s"><span class="large">CHAPTER XIV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">The Siege of Barega's</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">The Arab Camp--A Balista--A Vain Appeal--Eureka--Cutting -a Channel--The Eleventh Hour--Barega's Last Fight--After -the Battle</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Tom's premonitions were well founded; on awaking next -morning he saw that the whole accessible part of the -village was blockaded by a chain of posts extending from the -north gate to the south-east corner. The banana plantations -on the south side appeared to be occupied in force, and the -object of the enemy was clearly to prevent any going in or -coming out, and so to starve the villagers into submission. -Naturally Tom congratulated himself on his foresight in -stocking the village with food, and expressed to the chief -his confident hope that the besiegers would tire.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That their intentions were serious was soon evident. Early -in the morning a large gang of Manyema were observed, -nearly half a mile up the hill, engaged in damming up the -stream, and diverting its course from the village away to the -left Tom turned to the katikiro, who happened to be by his -side, and smilingly pointed out what the enemy were doing. -The katikiro was never loth to laugh, and he fairly bubbled -over, slapping his thighs and chuckling with infinite enjoyment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How mad they will be," thought Tom, "when they find -that we can manage without water! The man who planted -this village round a constant spring was a genius. Besides, -they must know there's plenty of water in the ditch at -present, not very palatable, perhaps, but enough to keep us -alive."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He wondered where the enemy had fixed their main camp. -Those of them who came within sight were for the most part -Manyema, and it occurred to Tom that perhaps the Arabs had -departed for a time, to return with reinforcements of their -own race. However, on the third night of the siege a -Muhima managed to creep out without attracting the attention -of the besiegers, and returned after being absent about -three hours, with information that relieved Tom's mind on -that point. He discovered that the Arabs had formed an -entrenched camp in a green hollow at the foot of the -precipice at the north-east corner of the village. They had -evidently noticed that by moving in close to the base of -the cliffs they were protected by the overhanging spur from -the weapons of the Bahima, as well as from any other missiles, -such as rocks or fireballs, that might be hurled from above. -They had placed their camp so that any projectiles thus cast -at them would fall outside their eastern boundary, and their -rampart and trench were sufficiently formidable to secure -them against assault. The position had the further advantage -that the cliff protected them from the prevailing wind, while -they had a good supply of water from a stream that joined -the village stream a few hundred yards below the precipice. -Some little distance to the south, where the ground rose -steeply, a large body of their slave carriers had been penned -like cattle, under a strong guard. The Muhima said that the -chief camp contained some fifteen hundred Arabs, a number -which Tom thought might safely be divided by three.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Several days passed away, most wearisomely for the two -thousand people shut up within the stockade. While in -time of peace, with men constantly away on hunting expeditions -and women working in the fields, the village was never -offensively over-populated, yet now that all the people were -necessarily at home, with more than the usual number of -cattle, Tom feared that it would before long be a hot-bed of -fever. The people, he had found, were always accustomed -to allow calves and other young animals to sleep in their -own huts along with their families, but it was quite unusual, -even for them, to be cooped up constantly with full-grown -beasts. He did what he could to make the conditions as little -unfavourable to health as possible; but not much was in his -power, and he fretted at his impotence.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The besiegers had clearly abandoned all ideas of an assault -in force, but every now and then a bullet or a slug would -whistle over the stockade, and more than one man was killed. -Tom got the chief at length to forbid any of the people to -show themselves, and, accustomed as they were to a free and -open life, they were greatly irritated by the restriction. -Seeing that something must be done to keep them in -good-humour, Tom took advantage of their love of novelty and -their amazing fondness for drill to instruct them for an hour -or two every day in simple movements and formations, -finding that they were quite content to continue drilling on -their own account for hours at a stretch.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As time went on, the besiegers were amazed at the -unconcern with which the stoppage of the water-supply had been -received in the village, and came to the conclusion that the -people must have been drawing on the stagnant and dirty -water in the ditch. One morning, then, Tom, who never -relaxed his vigilance, saw a body of men approaching under -cover of a light palisade lined with skins of Hima oxen, -which effectually protected them from the spears and arrows -of the villagers. He was not long left in doubt about the -object they had in view. They came right up to the ditch, -and began to cut a channel where the ground sloped down to -the east, so as to drain off the water.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom was in no anxiety about the loss of water, but he -objected to being "done", as he put it to himself, and yet, -in default of firearms, saw no means of preventing the enemy -from effecting their purpose. Fortunately a tremendous -downpour of rain, forerunner of the approaching rainy season, -drove the Arabs away for that time, and Tom at once set his -wits to work to defeat their scheme should they return. -Thinking of one thing after another, all at once he -remembered, in an old illustrated edition of Caesar he had used -in a lower form at school, some engravings of the torments -used by the Romans in their siege operations. There was -the catapult--ah! and the balista; that was the very thing. -Could he manage to rig up a balista before the ditch was -effectually drained? It was worth trying.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good heavens! what it is to be without pencil and paper!" -he groaned. But he managed with a spear-head to scratch -on a stone a rough diagram of the machine, as nearly as he -remembered it, and then immediately set to work to construct -a model.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was plenty of wood in the village, and it took very -little time to hammer together the square framework, and -to chisel out the grooved beam on which the missile was to -run. While this was being done he set some of the Bairo -to twist two many-stranded ropes, and the native smiths to -forge an iron handle for his winch. When this was fixed -in its place at the bottom of the grooved plank, and the ropes -securely fastened at each side of the frame, he placed one of -the fireballs in front of the cross rope on the plank, sloped -this downwards at an angle of forty-five degrees, and drew -the rope back by means of the winch until it was stretched -to its utmost tension and almost as tight as a steel spring. -Then he released his hold of the handle, it flew round, the -spring was suddenly relaxed, and the ball shot along the -groove and over the stockade, falling some ten yards beyond.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll have a welcome ready for the Arabs if they return," -he thought, delighted at the success of his experiment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Some three hours after the downpour had ceased, the Arabs -came back in stronger force, again bearing their palisades. -Tom allowed them to arrive within five yards of the trench, -and then let fly a piece of rock from his balista. A tremendous -cheer arose from the crowd of wondering negroes as the -missile sped with sure aim to the very middle of the palisade, -with such force that it tore a hole through skin and -wicker-work, and struck a man behind.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Arabs were startled, as they might well be, and halted. -Before they had made up their minds what to do, another -missile struck the palisade, and ricochetted across it, inflicting -a blow on one of the Arabs that would have killed him if -its force had not been partly broken. Another stone, and -another, and then the enemy hesitated no longer; they -dropped their palisade, flung down their tools, and bolted -for their lives. Mocking jeers and exultant laughter followed -them, and then a shower of arrows, and four or five of them -dropped. Tom ordered his men to cease shooting, and allowed -the wounded to be carried off by their friends.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That was the last attempt the enemy made to take the -offensive. They had clearly recognized by this time that -they had a more formidable antagonist to deal with than the -average native of Central Africa. Tom, indeed, had freely -exposed himself to their marksmen throughout the operations, -and had had more than one narrow escape, as well as the one -slight wound in the arm, which gave him no concern. They -could scarcely have failed to perceive that they had to reckon -with a European of determination and resource, and from that -time on they contented themselves with a strict investment. -They rounded-up what cattle they could lay their hands on, -and, having the banana and other plantations of the villagers -to draw upon, they lived luxuriously without consuming the -provisions they had themselves brought. They could thus -afford to play a waiting game.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Within the village, however, things were becoming unpleasant, -nay, dangerous. The sanitary arrangements, at any -time crude and imperfect, were unequal to the necessities of -the case, and one or two cases of sickness had already occurred. -The strain upon the fortitude of the people was proving more -than it could bear. After three weeks the food-supply -began to run short, and the daily rations were diminished, -amid murmurings from the Bairo. A week later it was -found necessary by the chief to order the slaughter of several -of the much-prized cattle. Now that it had come to this -pass, the Bairo were bound to suffer most, for, living as they -did for the most part on fruits and grain, the stock of which -was well-nigh exhausted, they were without the resources -of the Bahima, and were earlier in straits for food.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Early in the fifth week of the siege Tom begged the chief -to call a palaver. Barega had displayed qualities of patience -and endurance which won Tom's unbounded admiration. -From the beginning of the siege he seemed to have recognized -that his only chance of successful resistance was to trust in the -ingenuity and prudence of his blood-brother, and he had sunk -his own pre-eminence without a shade of jealousy. No doubt -this was in great measure due to Tom's own tactfulness. He -took no steps without consulting the chief, and he had that -invaluable faculty which enables a man to get his own way -without the other party suspecting it. Barega, therefore, -willingly called a council, and showed his readiness to listen -to anything his brother had to say.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Barega and my brothers," Tom began, "we have held out -so long, and we are not going to give in." (Grunts of -applause.) "But we cannot shut our eyes to the fact that -we are in sore straits. Our food will last but a few days -more, and then, without help, we must starve. Now, if our -enemies had no firearms, Barega and I together would lead -you out of the village and attack them. But we cannot cope -with their weapons, and if we made the attempt it would -surely fail. Is it impossible to obtain help from outside? -Are there no villages within reach whose people have suffered -at the hands of the Arabs, and would aid us against the -common enemy? Brothers, it is for you to speak."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The katikiro at once replied that there were three villages -within a radius of thirty miles which certainly had suffered -by the Arabs' depredations and might possibly be able to -lend assistance. One of them, however, Barega reminded -the assembly, was ruled by a chief who was extremely -jealous of his power, and would not be much inclined to -put himself out on any such matter. Still, it could be -tried. Barega then selected three of his fleetest runners, -and two hours before dawn, under a moonless sky, they -were sent out singly from the north gate.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When morning broke, Tom was called from his hut by -furious cries in the village. Hastening out, he soon -understood the cause of the uproar. Outside the stockade, just -beyond arrow-range, a big Manyema was parading before the -eyes of the villagers, holding a spear aloft, and on the end of -it was the bleeding head of one of the three runners. Behind -him marched a crowd of mocking negroes, pointing derisively -to the impaled head, and shouting threats at the enraged -villagers. Tom mentally registered that as one more atrocity -for which the Arabs would some day have to pay, and then -did his best to pacify the people.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The other two runners, as it turned out, had been lucky -enough to get through the enemy's lines undetected. They -both returned on the following night. One of them announced -that Barega's rival had received him with scorn and insult, -and that he had barely escaped with his life. The other -brought news that a raiding-party of Arabs, evidently -despatched by the surrounding force, had surprised and burned -the neighbouring village a few days before, and that the few -inhabitants who had escaped were hiding in the forest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With this intelligence, it was impossible to disguise the fact -that the outlook was gloomy in the extreme. It was hopeless -to look for help from outside, and from the inside it appeared -that nothing could be done. The rainy season had set in, and -sickness had declared itself unmistakeably, especially among -the Bairo, who had all along been less well nourished than the -Bahima. They were reduced now to a few handfuls of grain -daily, and as they roamed about, the ribs showing through -their skin, they cast ravenous eyes at the few remaining cattle. -Murmurs of "Give us food! give us food!" met the ears of -Barega and his officers as they went about, and some of the -more violent of the poor people had begun again to listen to -the half-lunatic ravings of the medicine-man, who, since his -defeat, had sulked almost unnoticed in his hut. Even some of -the Bahima, talking among themselves, said that it would be -better to submit to the enemy than to die of slow starvation. -The katikiro, who through all the incidents of the siege had -never lost his faith in Tom, informed him of these murmurs, -and Tom impressed on Barega that he must still them at once. -The chief immediately summoned a mass-meeting, and -addressed his people in an impassioned speech. What would -their fate be, he asked, if they yielded? Nine-tenths of the -men would be butchered on the spot, along with all the older -women and all who were too infirm to stand the strain of -marching in a slave-caravan. What would become of their -younger women and children? Barega pictured the line of -miserable slaves, marching in chains at the mercy of their -brutal captors, dropping and left to rot on the path; if they -survived the march, to suffer tortures compared with which -the fate of their murdered kinsfolk would be happy indeed. -Let them choose, he cried, let them choose freely; as for him, -he would die in his village, fighting his foe if so it might be; -if not, still he would die a free man!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His burning words provoked a shout of approval from the -throng, and then Tom stepped forward. A deep hush fell -upon the assembly; every man there felt a strange magnetic -power in the young white man who had stood by them and -done them such good service.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"O Bahima and Bairo!" he cried, "brothers, all of you, -do not give up hope. You have heard your brave chief; his -words are the words of a lion-heart. I tell you now that I -believe we shall yet win. There is a town, in a far land -belonging to the Great White King, which was besieged like -this village for many long days, and where the people waited -and waited, hoping that at last their friends would come to -their aid and drive away the hordes besieging them. Their -food was gone; they were sick, aye, sick unto death; but did -they give in? Know that the children of the Great White -King never give in! No; they waited and fought, and some -of them died, and then at last, far over the fields, they saw -the spears of their friends advancing to help them, and the -enemy melted away like mist in the sun, and they were saved! -Let us wait also, a little longer, my brothers!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For a moment after he had ceased the silence was unbroken. -Then the katikiro sprang into the ring; his feelings could be -played on like the notes of an instrument; raising his spear -aloft he cried "Muzungu will save us! Kuboko will save us!" -The crowd took up his cry, and Tom was touched to the quick to -see their haggard faces lit up once more with the light of hope, -and their wild eyes fixed on him as their expected deliverer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That night he lay awake, thinking, thinking, racking his -brains for some means of compelling the enemy to raise the -siege and justifying the confidence of the villagers. All the -expedients that he had ever read of were passed in turn before -his mind, only to be dismissed as impracticable; the want of -firearms and gunpowder was against them all. Then suddenly, -by an inspiration seemingly quite unconnected with his train -of thought, a light flashed upon his mind. There was no need -to weigh probabilities; the idea carried conviction with it. -Crying "I have it!" he sprang from his couch, waking Mbutu -with a start.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come, Mbutu," he said, "a night's work and a day's -waiting and then we shall be free. Come with me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In pitch darkness, for the sky was heavy with threatening -rain, they made their way across the courtyard into the -village, past the silent reservoir and the swollen stream, up to -the stockade above the precipice. There they clambered over -with infinite caution, lest the slightest sound should arouse the -attention of the Arabs below. Feeling over the ground, they -searched for the small aperture through which Tom had thrust -his stick when exploring the cavern. Tom was half afraid lest -some shifting of the soil had covered it up; but after ten -minutes' careful search Mbutu whispered that he had put his -hand into it. Thrusting a stick into the hole to mark the -spot, they hurried to the chief's hut. When Barega came out, -rubbing his eyes, Tom asked him for the services of twenty -men, with baskets, spades, and bars of iron. He asked him -also to pretend to lead a sortie out of the south gate, and to -order his men to make as much noise as possible.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Beat all your drums," he said; "clash all your pots and -pans together; let the men yell their hardest, and keep up the -din until I send you word."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Barega naturally asked what purpose was to be served by -all this to-do, and what his brother would be about in the -meantime. But Tom begged him to wait a little; he had a -plan, he said. He would rather keep it to himself until he -was sure of its success, lest his brother should be disappointed. -The chief agreed to follow his instructions, and Tom left him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Getting twenty of the strongest men together, he led them -across the stockade, impressing on them that they must -exercise the greatest caution and hold their tongues. Arriving -the hole, he selected four of the longest and strongest bars of -iron and ordered the men to push them quietly for some -distance into the narrow cleft. Then, when he gave the word, -one man on the one side was to push and two men on the -other to pull at each bar, his aim being to widen the cleft into -a practicable passage. The bars had barely been inserted -when the noise of drums rolled over the stockade. A moment -afterwards a great clashing and clanking startled the air, and -wild cries from some hundreds of lusty throats woke echoes -from rock and plantation. The sounds of hurried movement -rose from the depths of the precipice; the Arab camp was -evidently alarmed; and then Tom gave the signal. The men -pushed and pulled as he had directed, but in vain; the heavy -rock refused to budge. Another man was told off to each bar, -and again they put forth their strength; but still there was no -sign of movement. The uproar from the village was greater -than ever; there was little risk, after all, Tom thought, of his -movements being heard; so he now ordered the men to exert -all the force of which they were capable, regardless of noise. -The result was startling. The whole of the ground; near the -rock suddenly gave way and fell with a swish and thud into -the cavern. Two of the men stumbled forward after it into -the darkness, and knocked their shins violently against the -rock. But they clambered up again, and Tom found that all -the damage they had suffered was a few contusions.</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 61%" id="figure-87"> -<span id="barega-s-village-during-the-siege"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="BAREGA'S VILLAGE DURING THE SIEGE" src="images/img-212.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">BAREGA'S VILLAGE DURING THE SIEGE</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom now went, cautiously feeling his way, to the extreme -verge of the precipice, and, bidding his men keep silence, -strained his ears to catch any sounds from below. There was -not a murmur. He judged that the Arabs had hastily left -their camp and made their way up to the south gate to meet -the anticipated attack. It appeared safe.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dig, men, dig!" he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The twenty Bahima began to dig a passage through the -debris. Not a word was spoken. The din in the village was -beginning to lull. Tom despatched Mbutu with the request -that the noise should be kept up. The baskets of earth, as -they were filled, were carried to the stockade and emptied on -the inside. The work went on as rapidly as possible in the -darkness, the men toiling with unabated zeal, sure that Kuboko, -the man of big medicine, must have some excellent plan in -view. Meanwhile the chief, finding the Arabs pressing close, -and their rifle fire, erratic as it was, becoming dangerous, had -withdrawn his sortie-party into the village; but the drums -still maintained a tremendous din that must have been heard -in the still night air for many miles.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Rather more than two hours had gone, and only the first -part of the task Tom had in his mind was completed. A clear -passage ten feet wide had been cut from the summit of the -cliff into the cavern. Ordering the panting negroes to sit -down and rest, Tom walked back the twelve feet to the -stockade, took a string of bush-rope from his pocket, and tying it -to one of the palings, returned to his men. The straight line -made by the string lay in the direction of the tank. Then he -set the men to dig a trench along the line towards the -stockade, making it ten feet wide and three deep. He ordered -them to stop within a foot of the fencing, lest that should be -loosened by the movement of the earth. This took another -two hours, as nearly as Tom could judge. It was approaching -three o'clock in the morning, and there was still much to be -done before his arrangements were complete. Thinking it -wise to defer the rest of his operations, for which light was -absolutely necessary, he dismissed the men, returned to the -village, and sent word to the chief that the weary drummers -might now take their well-earned rest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he unfolded his scheme to the wondering chief. The -Arab camp at the foot of the precipice was, it was true, secure -from missiles hurled over the spur; but it was immediately -below the cavern. Tom's plan was to let the water from the -full reservoir suddenly into the cavern, and he calculated that -the force it gained as it plunged thence over the precipice -would be sufficient to work havoc below. The reservoir was -eighty yards long and sixty wide; its depth was more than -six feet; the weight of the water it contained was thus some -seven thousand tons. By the time this immense quantity, -gathering impetus as it fell, reached the camp two hundred -feet beneath its outlet, the dynamic energy it would have -acquired would be tremendous. The plan threw Barega into -wild excitement, and he was eager to see it carried out at once; -but Tom smilingly informed him that there was work still to -be done, and, thanking him for so admirably making a noise, -advised him to retire to his hut and finish his broken sleep.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next day the whole village knew that Kuboko had some -terrifically big medicine in preparation, though none but the -chief as yet knew what it was. Tom had many times to drive -away the crowd of little half-starved children who came about -him, looking up into his face with admiration and awe. There -was still a trench to be dug from the reservoir to the stockade, -but as the village was exposed to the Arabs on the upper -ground to the south, no digging could be done during the -day. Rain fell heavily, and Tom hoped almost against hope -that it would cease before night, and that some glimmer of -moonlight would enable him then to complete his preparations. -During the day, however, he was not idle. He employed the -same men who had so intelligently constructed his balista in -making the rough semblance of the two doors of a river lock, -each five feet wide and six feet deep. When finished, the -edge of each was pierced with a red-hot bar of iron in three -places at equal distances apart. Then the two doors were -stitched together with bush rope through the holes, and the -seam was covered with cloth well plastered with kaolin, the -cloth being made to adhere to the wood with glue extracted -from the bones of oxen. Wood was getting short in the -village, but Tom, after some search, found four stout balks -which he laid aside for future use.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Well pleased with his morning's work, he slept all the -afternoon, and then, as soon as it was dark, set eight hundred -men and women digging the trench to connect the tank with -the trench outside the stockade. He placed them at various -points along the line of twenty yards, so that the work might -be quickly carried out, and nearest the tank left a bank three -feet thick untouched. When the trench was so far complete, -he let down at the end three feet from the tank the twin -hatchway he had constructed, so that it completely blocked -the channel, and shored it up with the four balks of timber, -two to each panel. Round the lower end of these he got his -men to fasten strong ropes, the other ends of which he tied to -posts driven into the ground above.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was now, he judged, about eleven o'clock. The rain had -ceased, and in three hours the new moon would rise. -Dismissing the great body of the workers, with orders that a -small gang of them should remain within call, he took the -chief aside to make final arrangements. As the edge of the -moon appeared over the horizon, Barega was to muster four -hundred men at the south gate, and the katikiro two hundred -at the north gate. Tom surmised that when the avalanche -of water descended upon their camp, the Arabs would in their -flight rush for safety to the higher ground on either side. -They would probably be unarmed, and should fall an easy -prey to the Bahima. Those who were encamped round the -village and in the banana plantation would naturally run to the -assistance of their friends, and would take the paths around -the south end of the village. Three hundred of the four -hundred Bahima there placed would take them in flank, the -remaining hundred were to attack the fugitives from the -camp, who would be assailed at the same time by the party -from the north. Thinking out all these details carefully, Tom -saw the possibility of a hitch should the Arabs become alarmed -before he was ready; but he impressed upon Barega and the -katikiro that they must entirely reverse the procedure of the -previous night, and, instead of making as much din as possible, -enjoin the strictest silence on their men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It only remained to scoop out the earth left between the -tank and the trench, and between the end of the outer trench -and the stockade. Some ten feet of the fencing was quietly -removed to facilitate operations; then the reserve gang was -called up, and in about an hour the work was done. The -scooping at the tank end was a delicate task, for Tom did not -wish to lose any lives by drowning. The last thin wall of -earth between the boards and the reservoir was pushed down -with long poles, and the water, flowing into the trench, was -checked by the hatchway. Beyond that there was a clear -course through a channel five feet wide and six deep to the -arch of the cavern, and that was perpendicularly above the -camp. Tom sent Mbutu to see that the sortie-parties were -ready, loosed the ends of the ropes about the posts, and placed -four strong men at each. His arrangements were complete.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now that the critical moment was so near at hand Tom's -heart in spite of himself beat with almost audible thuds. -There was the huge reservoir, the surface of the water just -discernible, only a gentle ripple on its surface indicating its -recent disturbance. In a few short moments that placid pond -was to become an impetuous torrent, rushing downward with -all the force of its seven thousand tons, nothing to check it, -nothing to prevent it from dealing death to the men below. -As his vivid imagination conjured up the scene at the base of -the precipice, and contrasted it with the peaceful scene above, -Tom felt a pang, a touch of pity and remorse, a shuddering -reluctance to launch so many miserable wretches into eternity. -But that inward vision dissolved, and another took its place. -He saw once more the long caravan of slaves, the gaunt, -chained figures, with the wild, hunted look, the terrible lash -of their masters provoking shrieks answered by redoubled -blows, the horrible mutilations inflicted on weak women and -children. There rang in his ears once more the piteous cry of -a poor slave woman who for some trivial offence was led away -to be slaughtered: "Oh, my lord, oh, my master! Oh, my -lord, oh, my master!" He felt a rush of hot blood to his face, -a flush of shame that such things should be. He remembered -that such treatment would be measured out to Barega's -people if the Arabs captured the village, and thought with a -solemn sense of awe of the strange chain of events which had -made him so potent a factor in the life and safety of these -black people. It was life against life--the Arabs were a -pest--and he set his lips and hardened his heart.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then, looking towards the horizon, he saw the ruddy horn -of the moon emerging. Ten minutes passed; he could see -dimly the outlines of the trees.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now!" he whispered, with an outward calm that gave no -clue to his intense emotion. The sixteen men heaved at the -ropes; the balks of timber fell; the weight of water falling on -the unsupported hatchway drove it inwards; and in ten -seconds more the torrent swept with a dull roar into the -cavern. Then, with a crash that seemed to shake the cliff to -its foundations, the enormous mass of loose rock hiding the -mouth of the cavern was driven over the edge. Even above -the roar and splash rose the cries of the hapless men beneath, -and then from each end of the camp came, as though in -mocking answer, the exultant shouts of the warriors hastening to -assail their foe. A few rifle shots rang out, but the rush of -the Bahima was irresistible. They were famished, they were -fighting for their lives and liberty, and, dashing down the -slopes to north and south, they fell without mercy or respite -upon their shaken foes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Demoralized, leaderless, unarmed, the Arabs and Manyema -below were rushing hither and thither like scared sheep, -unable to act, unable to think. The force in the plantations -above, catching the panic, scattered at the first onslaught of -the Bahima, who, with spears and knives and every kind of -weapon, were strewing the ground with dead. One little -group, holding close together under their leader, came rushing -across the path of the Bahima chief at the head of his men. -Barega lifted his spear to strike, but the Arab leader, at four -paces' distance, fired his pistol at him point-blank, and he fell. -The next instant the Arab was transfixed with a dozen spears, -but the gallant chief, shot through the breast, had fought his -last fight. His men rushed on, pursuing the enemy with -savage cries, and the chief, lifting himself painfully upon his -elbow, saw that he was alone. A few seconds later, Tom, his -task on the bluff finished, came hasting with Mbutu and his -sixteen men to assist in the fight. Many bodies lay scattered -prone on the ground, but among them he saw one man in -a half-sitting posture.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Kuboko! Kuboko, my brother!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom heard the faint cry, started, and turned aside. He -had but just time to grip the outstretched hand; then Barega -heaved a sigh and died. Tom stood looking down at his dead -friend, for, during the months they had been so strangely -thrown together, he had come to look upon the simple, heathen -African as a true friend. Thoughts of what he owed to the -negro passed through his mind; he felt deeply sorry that -Barega was never to enjoy the fruits of the victory for which -they had worked together. "Poor fellow!" he murmured; -then, gulping down the lump in his throat, he went on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The tide of battle, if battle it could be called, had -meanwhile rolled onwards. All unconscious of the death of their -chief, the Bahima sped down into the plain, hunting the -fugitives like wild beasts, tracking them in the moonlight like -sleuth-hounds to places where they attempted to hide. There -were no prisoners, none merely wounded; the Bahima did -their fell work thoroughly. Right into the outskirts of the -forest they kept up the chase till, tired of the work of -slaughter, they began to straggle back to the village. All -night long they continued to come in by twos and threes, -some small parties even not arriving until after dawn.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The scene when daylight broke was gruesome beyond belief. -The tent of the Arab chief lay half-buried beneath a mass of -broken rock in the centre of a shallow pond. Many of the -Arabs and Manyeina had perished by the avalanche of earth -and water, and scores had fallen to the spears of the Bahima. -The camp was half under water, and all kinds of articles were -floating about or showing above the surface, among them -several barrels which Tom guessed to be filled with -gunpowder. Rifles, pistols, spears, a medley of weapons and -implements, were scattered all around, and outside the immediate -circle of devastation many boxes and bags of provisions lay -uninjured.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Walking down to the scene, sick at heart, and yet convinced -that he had only done his duty, Tom came, within about five -hundred yards of the chief's tent, upon an enclosure in which -some four hundred slaves were herded. It seemed that only -by the merest chance could they have escaped the massacre. -They had in reality been saved by their position. Their -enclosure had been placed where it was so that the free -movements of their masters round the village should not be -impeded. Thus, while exposed to the wind and weather, they -had been out of the direct line of the Bahima's onslaught. -Being chained and fenced in, they had been unable to escape, -and, indeed, their Manyema guards had stuck to their posts -till the last, and only fled when dawn showed them the fate of -their friends. Tom at once gave orders that the fetters on -these men and women should be knocked off, and that they -should be taken under a guard into the village. They could -there be fed, and it might be decided subsequently what -was to be done with them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom then set a party of Bairo to recover from the water as -many of the Arabs' effects as possible, and another to search -the surrounding country for any traces of Hima cattle which -had escaped the Arabs. He was about to order another gang -to bury the dead, but remembered that the people who had -died in the village before the arrival of the Arabs had not -been buried, but taken out into the open to be eaten by the -beasts of the field. Only the chief's body was usually buried, -and all that was left of Barega had already been carried into -the village to await solemn interment in the ground below his -hut. Ordering the villagers to remove the dead to a distance, -and to leave them exposed on the plain, Tom returned -dead-beat to his hut, and threw himself down upon his couch.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="arms-and-the-man"><span class="large">CHAPTER XV</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">Arms and the Man</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">A Deputation--An Unexpected Honour--Msala Improves -the Occasion--The Political Situation--First Steps--A -Problem--Prospecting for Sulphur--Herr Schwab on His -Travels--Made in Germany</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The chief was buried at nightfall. A long framework of -banana-stalks was constructed, on which his body was placed. -It was then covered with several layers of bark-cloth -provided by his wives, who had smeared their faces with -kaolin, and taken off their necklaces, armlets, and other -articles of adornment, exhibiting, besides these outward signs -of mourning, a very real grief. Tom had a vague idea that -at a chief's death his wives were slain and buried with him, -and was greatly relieved to find that this was not the custom -among the Bahima. A deep hole was dug beneath the hut, -and there, after the recital of a sort of liturgy by the -medicine-man, who had emerged from his retirement into a position of -some importance again, Barega was consigned to his last home -amid wailing and lamentation.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Returning sadly to his hut, Tom lay awake thinking of many -things. His task, he supposed, was now done. The villagers -would elect another chief, and things would go on as before. -He himself would be free to return to his own kind and kin, -whose interests he resolved to enlist on behalf of the people.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And surely the Free State officials ought to look after -them," he thought. "I suppose they are too remote to have -done anything hitherto. I wonder whether Uncle Jack could -get me some work under their government, so that I could do -something systematically towards the freeing of the slaves? -Englishmen have been thus employed, I know. There was -Captain Hinde, and Captain Burrows; I am sure I have read -something about their work. I'd rather be in the service of -our own Government, of course, but I suppose there's no -chance of that whatever. Well, it isn't much use speculating -after all. I don't want to go back to Glasgow if I can help it, -though, if I am to be an engineer, I suppose I couldn't learn -my trade better anywhere else. I wonder who their new chief -will be, by the by? Murasi is, of course, out of the question, -and Mwonga, the other brother, is at present too young, -though he's a fine, handsome, intelligent lad, and will turn -out well some day. The katikiro--really I am quite fond of -that amusing old boy--is all very well in a fight, but he hasn't -a particle of moral courage, and I'm afraid, if it came to a -tussle between him and the medicine-man, he'd be nowhere. -Well, they must fight it out among themselves."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next morning, before he was up, Mbutu came to him in -a state of considerable excitement.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sah," he said, "katikiro outside; kasegara outside; all -big men outside; want see sah, bad want."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do they, indeed? Well, Mbutu, tell them I'll be out in a -minute or two. I suppose they'll proceed to elect a new chief -to-day," he resumed, when Mbutu returned.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sah, no chief yet; wait one moon; great big cry fust."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Dear me! I shouldn't have thought there'd be official -mourning in savage Africa! So they keep it up for a month, eh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sah. Brudders, sons, cousins, all people come drink -museru, sah; knock big drum, little drum; sing, dance all -night, sah; den make new chief."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I should like to see that; but we can't wait a month; -we must be off back to the Nyanza in a day or two."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All this time Tom had been taking his morning tub and -donning his clothes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't believe Uncle Jack would know me from a chimpanzee," -he said with a laugh. "What with this wretched down -upon my cheeks, and my long mane, and my patched old toggery, -I'm more like one of those begging fakirs in India he has -told me about than anything else I ever heard of. Well, now -to see what my friend Msala wants."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He went out of the hut. The katikiro, the kasegara, and -all the other leading men of the village were grouped with -Mwonga, the chief's younger brother, in their midst, shifting -from one foot to the other in a sort of nervous excitement. -The instant they saw Tom they threw themselves flat on their -faces in a line, and began to crawl towards him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What on earth's the meaning of this?" ejaculated Tom, -aghast. "And what are you grinning at?" he added, turning -to Mbutu, whose face was beaming with delight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Neyanzi-gé! Neyanzi-gé!" cried Mbutu, clapping his hands. -"I praise too much, sah. I fank too much."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"For goodness sake tell them to get up and behave as -reasonable creatures. That's the sort of thing they do to -their fetishes; I'm not a fetish. 'Pon my word, it's too -silly even to laugh at. Up, Msala; don't grovel there. -Confound you, leave my knees alone," he added, under his -breath, for the katikiro had crawled up to him and clasped -his knees.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu made the crawlers understand that Kuboko would be -seriously annoyed if they did not stand on their feet, and they -got up, one by one, with manifest reluctance.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now," said Tom, "just explain in a sensible way what all -this performance means."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The katikiro looked at his companions as though asking -their permission to speak; then, leading Mwonga by the hand, -he stepped forward.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"O Kuboko," he said, "Barega is dead, a chief brave as a -lion, mighty in war, a great hunter, a fearless slayer of -elephants. Now we, his people, have no chief; we have lost our -father and mother; we have none to lead us in fight or -guide us in peace, none to judge us or to do us right. -Murasi is unstable as water; he is at this moment mingling -his tears with museru. Mwonga here is but a boy; brave--let -no man say he is not brave,--but many moons must pass before -he can slay elephants and rule men like his brother Barega. -Know, O Kuboko, that by the custom of the Bahima we -should wait a long moon before we choose our chief; the days -of mourning are not yet over; the fresh museru is not brewed. -But we dare not wait. The Arabs are gone, those that were -left of them; thou, O Kuboko, knowest why and how they -went; but they will come again; they will bring their friends -in number as the seed of millet, and will fight against us, and -what can we do against them without a chief? Why will -they come? They will come because they must. If they -submit like dogs to a whipping, will they not be dogs for -ever-more? What black man will fear them? They will be mocked -at, flouted, kicked and spurned; the black man will hunt -them. They must come back to prove that they are lions and -no dogs. And when they come, what are we, O Kuboko? -We have no fire-sticks; we have no strong magic; our medicine-man -is but hollow, a tinkler like his own bell. What are we -without thee, O Kuboko? Who was it dug the ditch around -our village? Who was it made the fireballs? Who built the -wonderful thrower that flung stones a thousand miles? Who -made the water run like a water-spout from the sky, and saved -us and ours from death and chains? Thou it was, O Kuboko; -thou didst these things, and more. Barega, yes, Barega was a -great chief, and thou, O Kuboko, thou didst save even Barega. -Thou art mightier than Barega and ten thousand other chiefs; -thou alone canst defend us against the mighty host soon to -come upon us; thou hast the magic of the white men, the -strong arm of all the children of the Great White King. -Thou, O Kuboko, art our chief. We all say it. We have -talked; we have spoken to the spirits of our fathers and -our fathers' fathers, and they all say Kuboko is our chief."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's very kind of you, Msala, and you've said uncommonly -nice things about me, but it can't be, my friend. I am really -deeply touched by your confidence, but I feel that I ought to -lose no time now in rejoining my own people. You are mourning -your dead chief, and my friends, you must remember, are -mourning me, no doubt, as dead."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Kuboko need not think of that, said the katikiro eagerly; -messengers should be despatched at once to the ends of the -earth to explain. If he would not be their chief, would he -not at least stay with them for a short time? Surely he would -not desert them in their need--before he had taught them the -way to fight the Arabs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Do you really think the Arabs will come back?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Yes, there was no doubt of it; and in their fastnesses, far -beyond the forest, they numbered thousands upon thousands -of men. The Bahima were grateful for what Kuboko had -already done for them, but what good was it all if they were -left to be the prey of a still more numerous host, thirsting for -revenge?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom mused. It was a case for serious thought. Could he -leave them to face the Arabs without his help? It seemed a -breach of faith, a desertion. For he felt in his heart that they -were right, that the Arabs would certainly return to exact a -terrible vengeance, and that without the stimulus of his -leadership the Bahima would infallibly be crushed. Tom was the -last person to overestimate his value, but he saw clearly that -although there was plenty of courage among the Bahima, and a -great fund of the qualities that make for self-sacrifice, there was -little military aptitude of the higher sort. They would have -little or no chance against such practised campaigners as the -Arabs and their allies. Yet who was he to match himself -against the Arabs? He had had little military training; he was -intended for a civilian career; would it not be presumptuous -in him to suppose that, if the Arabs returned in their might, -he could, with such rough material as he had alone at his -disposal, attempt to cope with them? Then he remembered that -for generations past he had soldiers among his ancestors; was -it some hereditary bent that accounted for his success in the -village hitherto? He had been successful. Why should he -not be successful again? Why should he not use the powers -he had in a service with which his countrymen had so long -been identified? In any case--and this clinched his -resolve--the Bahima with him would more nearly match the Arabs -than without him. Was it not then his duty to remain?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He stood for some moments longer looking across the -village at the distant horizon, tapping his foot on the -ground, wondering, thinking. The silent negroes watched -him anxiously; Mbutu's eager eyes were riveted to his -master's face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Msala," he said at length, "I will stay. Wait," he added, -hushing them with his hand as they began to shout in the -fulness of their delight, "I will stay on two conditions. The first -is: That I simply hold office in the name of Mwonga here, who -will be your chief when I am gone." ("Ntugamba! We say it," -cried the men.) "The second is: That when I consider your -village safe from attack I must be free to give up my power, -and return to my own people." ("Ntugamba! ntugamba!") "On -those conditions I will stay with you, and, with God's -help, we will strike such a blow at your enemies as shall -destroy their power once and for ever."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The gravity of Tom's tone impressed the Bahima; even -the voluble katikiro's voice was silenced. Tom went on:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"In Mwonga's name, then, I ask you to retain your offices. -Mwonga, my friend, I will be your brother as I was Barega's, -and I will do my best to uphold your dignity as chief. But I -must have a free hand. I am older than you; I have seen -more than you. You know what I have been able to do for -your people, and you must make them understand that all -that I do is done in your name, and for their good. Is it -well?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is well," cried the negroes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then you will see, Msala, that things are done in due -form. You know all about that; I leave it with you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The shouts of the officials had drawn a great crowd of -villagers around, who stood at a respectful distance, looking -with intense curiosity and interest at the scene. When the -interview had closed with the usual ceremonial grunts, the -katikiro, swelling with a new importance, turned and made an -oration to the crowd. Hearing that Kuboko was to remain -as regent, they skipped and pranced about like mad things, -striking up a chorus, "Okubokokuru omwami! Okubokokuru -omwami!" (Strong i' th' arm is chief), which they -repeated, men, women, and children, a thousand times over, -with an enthusiasm at which Tom could not help being -touched.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That was a field-day for the katikiro! He went about his -work with a zest that showed how thoroughly he enjoyed -himself. Funeral rites and the inauguration of a new chief -on the same day made a novel experience for him, and he -meant to drink the fullest possible delight. The funeral -proceedings were despatched first. The whole population -assembled in a triple ring, and large pots of museru were -passed round. All the drums in the village were carried into -the centre and grouped about the great king-drum--a huge -thing of tapering wood, nearly as high as a man, decorated with -fetish-grass and intricate designs, the drum-head secured by -stout thongs of ox-hide. A dancing party of warriors, with -shields, spears, and full war-paint, marched into the ring, and, -the katikiro giving the word, the chief drummer banged his -drum and began a solo:</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<!-- --> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>"Ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah!</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Kanwete nga imamba bweyaweta"</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>(Let me plunge like a lung-fish when it plunges)</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>"Ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah!"</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>At the same time the warriors began a slow dance, going round -in a circle, and then the lugubrious strain was taken up and -repeated in chorus by the whole assembly:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah!</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Kanwete nga imamba bweyaweta</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah!"</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>All the drums joined in the fray, the dance quickened, the -warriors sprang up several feet in the air, and all the time the -pots of museru went round. Tom was sorry to see that -his leading officials were becoming intoxicated, and perceived -that one of his tasks would be to inculcate habits of sobriety; -at present he felt that he could hardly interfere with a good -grace. After this had gone on for some time, the katikiro, -more sober than the rest of the magnates, put a stop to the -funeral dance, and announced the ceremonial election of a -chief. No time was lost in this, the programme being cut and -dried. Mwonga was hailed by acclamation, and took his place -on a mat of bark-cloth, where he received the obeisance of all -the principal men in turn. Tom thought it well to set a good -example, and greeted the chief with specially-marked respect. -Then he had to take his place beside Mwonga, and as the -people came up in a long line the katikiro introduced him: -"This is your brother; this is your friend; this is Okubokokuru; -this is the man of big medicine," and so on, reciting a -tremendous list of the new regent's virtues.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he had ended, rather for want of breath than lack of -matter, the whole company sat down to smoke the ceremonial -pipe. A long banana-stalk, with large ivory bowl filled with -native tobacco, was handed to the new chief. Tom wondered -if every individual was to smoke the pipe through, in -which case the ceremony would have lasted a month. But -he soon saw that that would have been too laborious and -painful an operation. Mwonga lit the tobacco at a glowing brazier, -took a few puffs, and passed it to Tom, who, after copying -him, handed it to the katikiro. Tom found it hard to retain -his gravity as he watched the spectacle. Every man was -evidently on his mettle; when his turn came he expanded his -lungs with surprising vigour to their greatest extent, and filled -mouth, nose, and eyes with the powerful fumes till he coughed -violently and the tears ran down his cheeks. His neighbour -eagerly held out both hands to receive the pipe, anxious to -lose none of his share, and followed the example. The solemn -look on their impassive faces, as though they were performing -some awful and mysterious rite, quite overcame Tom, who -joined in the chorus of coughing in order to smother his -laughter. When the smoking was finished, torches were lit, a -new dance was begun; flutes piped, lyres jangled, drums were -thumped, and the revelry was kept up far into the night.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Everyone wore a more or less dejected look next morning, -and Tom took the opportunity to walk about the neighbourhood, -attended by Mbutu, for the sake of having what he -called a "good solid think". Now that he had definitely -cast in his lot for a time with the Bahima, he was not inclined -to let the grass grow under his feet. First of all he reviewed -the situation. He saw no reason to doubt the people's -conviction that the Arabs would return in great strength. He -had but a small force of fighting-men under his control, quite -inadequate to cope with even such a force as had met his -uncle. From all accounts he might expect to have to deal -with a host of some eight hundred Arabs, armed with rifles--not -the surest of marksmen, perhaps, but formidable by reason -of the moral effect of firearms, at any rate. In addition, there -were probably thousands of irregulars with them, man for -man, no doubt, equal in quality to his own troops. Against -this huge number what availed his five or six hundred?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He thought of making an appeal to the Free State authorities, -whose interest it must surely be to stamp out the Arab -pests. But Boma, their capital, and, indeed, all of their -regular stations, were so far away that months must pass -before a properly-equipped force could reach him, even if the -authorities cared to undertake the campaign. When he left -England the papers were full of references to the financial -difficulties of the Congo Free State, which, if all that rumour -said was true, did not possess the means to cope with the -small risings that constantly recurred in different parts of the -country.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Arabs, for their part, as Tom learnt afterwards, were -careful not to fall foul of the Free State authorities unless -they were directly attacked, as in the case of the ill-fated -column cut up by Tom's captors months before. They had -already suffered severely, and knew that they existed in a -measure on sufferance; for which reason they now confined -their depredations to remote districts in which the supremacy -of the Free State was merely nominal, and where they were -comparatively safe from molestation. News of their nefarious -raids did indeed filter through to Europe, but merely as -intertribal fights. The Free State officials were probably in no -uncertainty as to the real nature of these events, but inasmuch -as the Arabs were the means of forwarding a considerable -quantity of ivory and rubber to the trading centres, their -methods were not too deeply investigated, if they were not -actually winked at.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All this Tom only learnt in course of time; but he knew -and suspected enough already to be convinced that the only -hope of dealing a successful blow at the raiders lay in using -the material ready to hand. Mwonga's people were too few -in number to cope with the Arabs unaided; but there must be -many villages in the surrounding country whose interests lay -in making common cause against the common enemy. Here -another difficulty faced him at once. As had been shown by -the reply given to one of the messengers sent out during the -siege, a combination of African chiefs was no easy thing to -effect. They were all jealous of one another; suspicious of -being led into a trap; unwilling to put themselves at the -orders of any one chief in supreme command. Yet no other -course would meet the case, and Tom resolved to make the -attempt, hoping that a European, who had already won their -respect, might succeed where an African would almost -certainly fail. The news of Barega's great victory, and the -fame of his own share in it, would spread, within a few days, -far and wide through the country; indeed, the contingents -which had come into the village for protection were already -beginning to scatter to their several homes. "A few days for -the leaven to work," thought Tom, "and then I'll send out -messengers to several of the chiefs within thirty miles, asking -them to attend a grand palaver with me. And as I suppose -they'll be madly jealous if I ask them outright to come into -this village, we shall have to fix on neutral ground for the -meeting. I'll go and consult my friend the katikiro."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Msala cordially agreed with the plan proposed, and -messengers were at once selected for the mission. Four of the -neighbouring chiefs were invited to repair, on the eighth day, to -a hill some five miles distant from Mwonga's village, each -bringing seven of his principal men, there to meet Kuboko, as -representing Mwonga, with an equal number. At the same time -two runners, in accordance with Msala's promise, were sent -eastwards, to make the best of their way towards the Nyanza, -and to inform any white men they might meet of the presence -of Kuboko in their village. Tom found it quite impossible to -get them to pronounce his name, and there was not a scrap of -paper in the place; but he worked his surname on a piece of -linen, with the aid of clumsy wooden needles borrowed from -one of Barega's widows, and gave that to one of the couriers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Having a week to spend before the grand palaver, Tom, -with his usual energy, adopted measures to improve the -military efficiency of the force. This he knew would be a -matter of time and patience, and it was important to begin at -once. His first care, naturally, was to strengthen their </span><em class="italics">moral</em><span>. -He singled out the men who had distinguished themselves in -the recent fighting, and had also shown general evidence of -intelligence and aptitude, and these he placed in command of -companies of a hundred men each. He selected a hundred to -act as a body-guard to himself and the chief, and six of them, -in addition to the katikiro, formed a sort of staff. There was -great eagerness among the warriors to be enrolled among this -special corps, and Tom decided to make enrolment in it a -reward for good service. He drilled the men with particular -care, and was gratified by the readiness with which they -obeyed him, the exact attention they paid to all his instructions, -and the quickness they showed in carrying them out.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the second day after the defeat of the Arabs, Tom -ordered the rescued slaves to be paraded before him, and -offered them the alternatives of immediate freedom, in which -case they would have to shift for themselves, and enrolment -in the military force. They were delighted at the chance of -fighting their late masters, and nine-tenths of them joyfully -accepted the offer of service. A man who has been a slave, -indeed, is usually very loth to accept absolute freedom, for he -has become so accustomed to dependence as to lose all will-power, -and the loss of a master means the loss of the means of -living. The slaves were a very mixed lot, almost every tribe -for a hundred miles round being represented among them--tall -men and short men, cannibals and vegetarians; but Tom -hoped that a little regular training and the memory of their -past sufferings would induce a kind of </span><em class="italics">esprit de corps</em><span>, and that -in course of time they would prove a useful addition to the -force. He had to contend with symptoms of jealousy and -dislike among his own people, but by combined tact and -firmness he succeeded in preventing any serious squabbles.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In Barega's time private quarrels among the people had -been settled with the knife, and public offences purged by -means of various ordeals invented by the medicine-man. To -put a stop to such rough-and-ready methods, Tom appointed -a court, consisting of the chief officials and himself, to hear -complaints and try cases, meeting three times a week in the -compound of his hut. The African is very ready to experiment, -and is especially delighted with anything in the way of -ceremonial where he has a chance to exhibit his oratorical -power. He is also quick to appreciate true justice, so that Tom -found his court a success, if somewhat trying to his patience -because of its long-windedness. Mabruki, however, deeply -resented his deposition from the office of lord chief-justice, -and added this to the heavy grudge he already bore Kuboko.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With five hundred and fifty warriors and about two hundred -and fifty freed slaves, Tom found himself in command of an -effective force of eight hundred men, excluding boys under -sixteen, who were drafted into a cadet corps, the nucleus of -which already existed in the late chief's mutuma or "boys' -brigade". Four hours every day were devoted to teaching -the troops the elements of drill--just sufficient to give them -cohesion and enable them to perform the simpler evolutions. -Two hours were given to special drill--the throwing up of -breastworks, for instance, for protection from rifle fire. It -was, he thought, his special good fortune that the sergeant-major -who instructed the cadet corps at school had taken the -keenest interest in his profession, and had given the cadets -under his charge a real liking for their work. Tom saw that -only by superior discipline could he hope to counterbalance -the superior armament and greater numbers of the Arabs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From the outset he had to face a difficulty in the want of -firearms and ammunition. As a result of their recent victory -the Bahima had become possessors of some two hundred rifles -and muskets; but even with these they would make but a -poor show against the hundreds of well-armed Arabs whom -they might have to encounter. Besides, the ammunition -recovered from the water was insignificant. There were a -few unspoilt kegs of powder, and a few cases of cartridges for -the rifles, but they were barely sufficient to provide eighty -rounds a man. Further, as only a few of his troops had ever -handled a gun of any kind, there would scarcely be more than -enough ammunition to give the learners sufficient musketry -practice. Tom was appalled, when he began to instruct them, -at the waste due to their timidity, and to their tendency to -use their weapons as playthings. Yet, with two hundred -serviceable weapons, it seemed a pity that they should be -useless, and he wondered whether by some means or other a -further supply of at least powder might not be obtained.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the third day after the despatch of the messengers, it -occurred to him that it might be possible to manufacture some -powder. From his earliest years he had been fond of "messing", -as unappreciative seniors put it, from the making of -toffee to the more or less successful manufacture of fireworks. -He had picked up at odd times also, owing to this scientific -curiosity, a certain working acquaintance with various industrial -processes not directly connected with marine engineering, -and knew that the constituents of gunpowder may be easily -prepared from the raw material. But there was the rub; the -absence of any one of the constituents would render the -others useless. In the Congo Forest, with its hundreds of -thousands of square miles of dense woodland, extending over -a space as large as France and Spain together, there would be -no lack of wood for charcoal; saltpetre he had found in -considerable quantities within a mile from the village; but in -addition to these a supply of sulphur was needed, and where -was he to look for that?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>While thinking over the problem he remembered that during -his illness he had been entertained by the katikiro with a -long story of a malignant spirit inhabiting a certain mountain -some six hours' march to the south-east of the village. As a -boy the katikiro could remember this terrible being bursting -forth in a large sheet of flame from the bowels of the mountain, -with a horrible rumbling sound that shook the solid earth -for miles around, casting immense rocks miles up into the air, -engulfing the surrounding country in a cloud of smoke and fire, -and turning the streams into rivers of boiling mud. Many -villages with all their inhabitants had been utterly destroyed; -even in Barega's the shower of cinders from the sky set fire to -several of the huts. For years afterwards the mountain gave -off dense clouds of smoke; but these gradually ceased, and the -evil spirit had since then been quiet. Nevertheless nobody -from Barega's or any of the neighbouring villages had ventured -to approach the mountain since these fearful happenings.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Remembering this, Tom guessed that the scene of this -eruption, which was apparently an isolated peak, was connected -with the great Central African volcanic system extending from -Lake Kivu to the Semliki. On his march from Lake Mazingo -on the track of his uncle's expedition he had passed over -ground that was evidently of volcanic origin; and he surmised -that this part of Central Africa had at some time or other -been the scene of enormous volcanic activities. The important -fact now, however, was that a volcano known to have been -active was in his immediate neighbourhood. He knew that -sulphurous fumes were thrown off from volcanoes; was there -any chance of finding sulphur itself in any workable form on -the slope of this adjacent mountain? It was worth trying, -and he resolved to make a careful examination of the ground.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next day, then, accompanied by Mbutu, half a dozen -hunters to procure game, and twenty steady Bairo armed -with picks and shovels, he set out with this object. He had -some difficulty at first in overcoming the superstitious fears -of his followers. Mbutu interpreted their objections, which, -recited by their spokesman in fear and trembling and much -grovelling on the earth, were quite unintelligible to Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This man say him berrah poor; him no can buy charms. -Evil spirit plenty too much strong, him burn up black man in -big fire; hot mud drown black man; smoke choke black man. -Sah no afraid, no, no; him white man, big medicine; black -man him no medicine, afraid too much too much."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Remembering the proverbial pill to cure the earthquake, -Tom solemnly handed to each of his followers an empty -cartridge-case, which he explained was the strongest magic he -possessed against the spirit of the mountain. The device gave -him some qualms; but he remembered that Dr. Arbuthnot -himself, the great eighteenth-century physician, had practised -similar innocent deceptions on noble lords, and he felt that in -this case the end justified the means.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The road for nearly half the distance was fairly easy, but it -then became very rugged, and progress was slow and -laborious. Tom found many traces of game, and in one place, -approaching down wind, the party disturbed a large herd of -elephants. Tom resisted the impulse to pursue them, -although it cost him an effort, and pressed forward towards the -peak, which was visible as a truncated cone of no great height, -for the most part bare, but showing here and there patches of -scrub and belts of forest growth. The party had started early -in the day, but it was nearing sunset when they arrived within -climbing distance of the peak, and Tom decided to camp for -the night and begin prospecting next morning. Making an -early start, he was on the slopes of the mountain not long -after dawn, and then began a toilsome search for traces of -sulphur in workable form. He felt sure that thousands of -tons of the desired substance lay around him, but unless he -could find it in the free state, or at least mechanically mixed -with earth, with the rough-and-ready appliances he could -devise on the spot it would be quite beyond his reach.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His first step was to build a fire on the slopes of the -mountain, and place two men in charge of it, with instructions to -pile on a plentiful supply of fuel. Then, dividing his men -into squads of four, he made a series of excavations in various -spots simultaneously, going from one to another to examine -the earth that was dug up. Several times he thought he had -discovered the object of his quest, and a number of basketfuls -of earth were carried to the improvised furnace. There the -ore was heaped into a pile and ignited from the top, in the -hope that the heat above would melt any sulphur that might -be contained in the lower part of the mass, and cause it to run -down into the specially-prepared cavity at the bottom. This -process was a wasteful one, but it had the merit of simplicity, -and Tom knew that if only a sufficient quantity of sulphur-bearing -earth could be obtained it would serve his purpose.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>After several disappointments he at last came upon -undoubted traces of sulphur from the combustion of a quantity -of earth obtained very close to the crater. He wished to -make another trial, but it was growing late, and his men -implored him not to remain on the mountain after nightfall. -His magic might suffice for the day, but nothing could -preserve them from the wrath of Irungo if he found them within -his gates during the hours of darkness. Their terror was so -extreme that Tom reluctantly withdrew to the site of the -previous night's camp; but at the first streak of daylight he -roused his men, who were feeling the effects of their -unaccustomed labours, and after breakfast led them back to -the spot at which the only promising find of the previous -day had been made. Removing nearly half a ton of earth, -he made the experiment this time on a larger scale, and -when the mass had burned for some two hours he was -delighted to find a considerable quantity of crude sulphur in -the little cavity beneath the pile. He had used up a large -amount of wood in the process, for there was not sufficient -sulphur in the ore materially to assist the process of -combustion, but there was fortunately no lack of fuel within a -few hundred yards of the place from which the ore was taken, -and by nightfall Tom was in possession of some lumps of a -dirty-brown substance which, when refined, might yield half -their weight of pure sulphur. When darkness fell he piled -up an unusually large heap of the ore, left a fire smouldering -above it, and was rewarded in the morning with a correspondingly -large quantity of crude sulphur in the receiver.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"This is glorious!" he said to Mbutu. "We have a good -many pounds of stuff now; the next thing is to see if -sufficiently pure sulphur can be refined from it to make powder. -We can't do that here, at any rate; and besides, to-morrow -is the day fixed for our grand palaver, so I think we must -be content for the present with what we have, and come -again if we find it successful. One thing is certain," his -unspoken thought continued, "there's enough sulphur on -this mountain to make powder for all the army corps in -the world, and if only there were means of transit it might -pay someone to lease it from the Congo Government. For -all I know, in fact, I may be trespassing; but I fancy the -authorities won't mind much if they hear about it and know -what I am doing it for.--Well, my men, now for home. We -have got what I wanted, and, as you see, haven't been molested -by Irungo. You won't mind coming again, eh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They returned to the village with their load. A mile -before they reached it, Mbutu all at once drew his master's -attention to a fresh trail crossing their path from the east. -There were the clear marks of men's feet, and also of small -hoofs, which Mbutu declared were the hoof-marks of donkeys.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It looks as though a caravan of some sort were making -for our village," said Tom. "Surely it cannot be Arabs?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sah; white man, sah. Donkeys; must be white man. -Oh yes!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You don't mean to imply any close relationship between -white men and donkeys? You don't understand? Well, -never mind. But I do hope that our affairs are not to be -complicated by entirely unnecessary Europeans."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he approached, he discerned unmistakeable signs of -excitement in the village. Those of the people who were -not engaged in their regular occupations were crowding -towards the centre; and, looking over their heads from his -higher position, Tom saw a smaller group, composed of the -katikiro and some other of the principal men, gathered -about a tall broad figure in white clothes and white topee, -whose back at the moment was towards the gate by which -Tom had entered. With him were several tall natives whose -dress distinguished them as strangers, and at one point four -well-laden donkeys were tethered, the object of great interest -to all the urchins of the place.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hullo!" said Tom to himself, "this is very curious. -There's decidedly a commercial look about that fellow, and I -seem to know his back, too. Who in the world can it be? -Some trader, perhaps, I caught sight of casually at Mombasa -or Kisumu, though I wonder what brings him to these -remote parts. He's well armed; those rifles look uncommonly -like Mausers. And there's a revolver in his belt. This is -interesting."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Ordering his party to dispose of their loads and place the -sulphur in the courtyard of his hut, he approached quietly, -and entered the chattering crowd by a gap opened for him. -In the centre of the crowd the stranger stood in a clear space, -two leather cases open on the ground in front of him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"By Jove!" Tom said to himself, as he came within a yard -of the stranger, who had not as yet perceived him, "I'm -hanged if it isn't Schwab, gold spectacles and all! He's -diligent in business, if ever a man was. Fancy trapesing -out here with a caravan! Wonder what he's trying to -gammon the katikiro into buying! I declare he's whipped -out his note-book and is actually entering orders. I must -look into this!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Now at this time Kuboko presented a wholly different -appearance from the Tom Burnaby of a few months before. -His face and neck were scorched to a deep brick-red, save -where they were covered with nearly five months' growth of -hair. His form had filled out somewhat after he recovered -from his illness. His clothes were indescribable. On his -head, to keep off the sun's rays, he wore a calico head-dress -of his own invention. He might have passed for a particularly -fine and rather less than usually solemn Arab, and -altogether he was not far wrong in his belief that not one -of his friends would at first sight have recognized him. -Consequently, when the respectful greetings of the katikiro -and his friends at length apprised Herr Schwab that -someone of importance had arrived, he turned and saw what he -supposed to be a handsome young Arab, whose presence in a -Bahima village was sufficiently surprising.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom could not resist the temptation to have a little fun. -Having addressed a few authoritative words in their own -tongue to the Bahima, he salaamed to the German, and -stood as though awaiting an explanation. Schwab -meanwhile had been taking stock of the supposed Arab, and -having been unable to come to any conclusion about him, -he turned to the native follower who was acting as -interpreter, and through him asked whom he had the honour -of addressing. Tom signed to Mbutu, who at once explained -that it was, indeed, a great honour, since Kuboko was the -acting chief of the village, which contained some two -thousand five hundred souls, the biggest village between -Tanganyika and the Nile. The German at once expressed his -high consideration for his friend Kuboko--he thought he -might call him his friend?--and he would be most happy if -he could do some business with him. Perhaps his friend -Kuboko knew a little English, for if he did, their intercourse -would, he thought, be much facilitated.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," said Tom slowly, "I do know English a little; it -will be good to speak English; business are business."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Fery goot, my friend," said the German. "I am fery -glad. Now, I represent, vat you call stand for, ze great -export house of Schlagintwert in Düsseldorf, and I can sell you -anyzink--yes, anyzink at all, from Sheffield cutlery to Scotch -visky. Yes, ve make in Düsseldorf a particularly goot brant -of real old Scotch visky. Ve make also Birmingham screws, -and Paisley sread; ve make Cumberland lead pencils and, vat -you vill like ze best of all, Manchester soft goots--all made in -Germany, my friend, and our terms are fipercentforcash. I -say cash, but I mean to say, of course, ivory, or rubber, or -anyzink else of vorth. Now, not often hafe I ze pleasure to -meet a zhentleman vat speak English in zese parts, and I am -fery glad, fery glad indeed. I hafe just booked ze goot black -man for vun gross of pin-packetts, and I shall trust to take -your essteemed orders for anyzink--anyzink vatefer, -fipercentforcash, zanking you in an-ti-ci-pa-tion."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom could stand it no longer. Smothering a laugh, he -clapped a hand on the astonished German's shoulder, and said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Pig-iron? What about pig-iron, Herr Schwab?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ach! meine Güte!" exclaimed Schwab, his broad face one -startled note of interrogation, "who ze----who zen are you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He mopped his face with a red handkerchief, still holding -his pocket-book open in the other hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't you remember Tom Burnaby, on board the </span><em class="italics">Peninsular</em><span>, -and your kind offer of any number of tons of pig-iron?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Goot heafens!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And I saw you at Kisumu, don't you know."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, I do know! yes; I do know indeed; and you vent -after your oncle--vat you call vild-goose hunt. But, -but--pardon me, Mr. Burnaby, you hafe taken my breass avay -quite. You are like a--vat you call gorilla, Mr. Burnaby."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just what I thought myself," rejoined Tom with a laugh. -"I'm getting acclimatized! But I haven't quite forgotten -civilized ways, and I'm uncommonly glad to see you. It's -I don't know how long since I spoke to a European, and if -you'll come along to my hut I'll give you some Bass's ale or -Devonshire cider (brewed in Mwonga, as we call this village), -and anything else you like to order--prime Scotch beef, you -know, and Southdown mutton; or Frankfort </span><em class="italics">Bratwurst</em><span>, -eh? and we can have a comfortable talk and clear up a few -inexplicables. But, first of all, my dear Herr Schwab, I must -ask you to cancel that order for pins. The katikiro has never -seen a pin in his life, I fancy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, but indeed he has! I hafe showed him a packett. He -vas fery delighted. He gafe me order for vun gross, -spot-price: fipercentforcash."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And how many pins in a packet, may I ask?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Hundert, or, because my packetts are particularly fine, -perhaps hundert ten."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! and a gross is twelve dozen, I believe, according to -Cocker. Well now, that will make--let me see--fifteen -thousand eight hundred and forty pins. Is that right?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No doubt at all; I could not do it so quick; but my house -vill not be particular about vun score or two. Say sixteen -tousand pins, Mr. Burnaby, and all zat big lot for vun tusk -of ivory!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And what do you think my katikiro will do with sixteen -thousand pins? You really are too funny, Herr Schwab. -Look at the extent of his waist-cloth! No, I am very sorry, -but I really must forbid the transaction. Between ourselves, -Msala is a bit of a wag, and as likely as not he would make -pin-cushions of all his dearest friends and get me into no -end of hot water. No; cancel that order, and we'll see if we -can do business in some other of your innumerable articles."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Fery vell, Mr. Burnaby; now zat is a promise--vat you -call vun deal, is it not? Fery vell. But I am amazed. I -am indeed ass-tounded, to find my young friend chief of a -natife village. It is vonderful, it is incr-redible! I hafe not -yet recofered from ze stroke. I vould indeed like some lager -beer, lager beer from München; it vould help me con-sid-er-ably -to vat you call digest ze vonderful information."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I can't promise you real lager from München, or real Bass -from Stuttgart," said Tom, laughing; "but you'll find our -marwa very like cider, and we can supply plenty of that--say -two and a half per cent for cash."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! Now you laugh at me! You are vat you call sly -dog, eh? Hoch, zen! Vun glass of marwa, and zen egsplain -ze position. Vonderful! Vonderful!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-making-of-an-army"><span class="large">CHAPTER XVI</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">The Making of an Army</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">An Embargo--Federation--Gunpowder--An Object-Lesson--The -Great Palaver--After Many Years--Pikes--The Call to Arms</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>In the exchange of confidences Herr Schwab informed Tom -that he had been for several months wandering about with -his donkeys and his samples, booking orders for his firm. -He had for the most part confined himself to the villages in -the vicinity of the Victoria Nyanza; but having heard rumours -of a large body of Arabs who were in possession of plentiful -stores of ivory, he had recently left German East Africa and -come rapidly northwards. He had heard nothing whatever of -the fate of Major Burnaby's expedition, and could not answer -Tom's eager enquiries for his friends; indeed, he had met no -Europeans except his own compatriots since he left Kisumu. -He heard Tom's story, modestly told as it was, with mingled -amazement and incredulity. But there was no gainsaying the -fact that the young Englishman was virtually chief of a large -Bahima village, and Schwab was not the man to lose any -opportunity for trade. Learning that an Arab attack was -expected, and that Tom's pressing necessity was arms and -ammunition, he offered to smuggle in some Mausers from -German East Africa, as of course he could not import arms openly -into the territory of the Congo Free State.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Can't think of it," said Tom decisively. "If it's against -the rules that's enough for me. We must play the game, you -know. Besides, I'm going to try to make some gunpowder -myself."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ach!" exclaimed the German with a shrug, "certainly -you vill burn your fingers, my young friend. But now, vat -can I do for you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Fetch in your packages and let me see what you have."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the bags were opened Tom at once marked a Colt revolver.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's mine," he said; "a pretty thing, by Jove! And -you've cartridges for it! And I'll take that Waterbury I see -there; made in Germany, of course. And three of those -pocket-books, with a dozen lead-pencils; and that comb; and -a tooth-brush. Have you a tooth-brush? That's the very -thing. You've a razor too; I'd take that if you had a looking-glass. -I'd like to get rid of this fur on my cheeks, but I'm -afraid I should gash myself horribly without a glass. -What--you have one? Capital; and a shaving-brush too, I see, -and soap. Why, Schwab, what a universal provider you are! -There's one thing I'd give a great deal for, and that's a pound -of tea, Mazawattee or anything else. Haven't any? Then -I must do without. You have some quinine, I see; that'll -always come in handy. I think that's about all. Now, how -much does that come to?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ten pound," said the German instantly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What! Ten pounds for those few things! Why, it's -ruinous! How do you make out the bill?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I gif no bill. I hafe vat you call mon-o-po-ly, my young -friend. It is take it or leafe it, I do not mind."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Business are business, indeed! Well, I want the things. -I can do without the watch and the pocket-books, perhaps. -How much then?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ten pound; I hafe only vun price."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You old Shylock! Well, I haven't the cash, so I can't -expect the five per cent, but I'll give you an order on my -uncle. I suppose that'll satisfy you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh yes! ze British officer vat you call pay opp. I vill -feel quite safe."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well. Heavens! how funny it is to hold a pencil -again! There you are: 'Pay Herr Schwab on sight ten -pounds (£10). Tom Burnaby'. That'll do, eh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"All correct, my young friend. And now, vat more can -I do for you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I hardly like to ask you, but would you mind--pray don't -hesitate to say so--would you mind cutting my hair?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You hafe done me vell, Mr. Burnaby; I do not mind. -I vill cut your hair, and sell you ze scissors."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Fire away, then, and don't dig into my skin, will you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Schwab turned up his sleeves, tucked a long yellow scarf -from his variety bundle round Tom's neck, and cropped him -close, with no more than the usual stabs and pricks. Then -Tom escorted him round his little domain, and gratified him -with an order for various tools and implements. He remained -overnight as Tom's guest, and started early in the morning -northwards to visit the Arabs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Before he left, Tom warned him that he might find the -Arabs rather unpleasant customers. But Schwab puffed -himself out and waved the warning away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Vat!" he said, "the Arabs vill not dare do anyzink to -me, a Gairman! Our Kaiser, who is in Berlin--he vould know -ze reason vy if vun hair of my head vas touched."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You Germans are lucky," laughed Tom. "The King isn't -so particular about my hair! Besides, it's not much good -knowing after the event. You're out of reach of an army -corps, you know, or even a telegram."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am not vun small bit afraid. I hafe my Mausers. I -hafe my revolver; besides, I go to sell ammunition, and zat -ze Arabs vill alvays be most glad to get."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I must put my veto on that. I fear, Mr. Schwab, you -don't quite realize the situation. I have every sympathy -with legitimate trade--we British are a trading nation; but -as matters stand I must regard rifles as contraband of war. -Sell the Arabs pins and milking-pails and anything else you -like, but no arms or ammunition. In fact, I shall have to -ask you to leave your cases of ammunition here, taking with -you only enough to serve your immediate needs. I can't have -arms put into my enemy's hands. And you're smuggling, -you know; you'd get into hot water if the Free State people -knew. I'll keep your ammunition safe until you return. -And another thing, Herr Schwab. You'll be good enough to -give the Arabs no information about me or the village. I'm -not sure that as a precaution I oughtn't to prevent your -getting to them at all, but I don't want to be unfriendly. It's -understood, then, that you keep to yourself all that you have -seen here?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The German tried for half an hour to wriggle out of the -dilemma, but Tom told him flatly at last that on no other -conditions would he be allowed to proceed; and he at last -submitted with a shrug.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Half an hour after Schwab had gone Tom started with -Mbutu, the katikiro, the kasegara, the principal drummer, -and three other officials, for the hill to which the chiefs had -been summoned for palaver. They all arrived at the rendezvous, -and for five long hours Tom patiently explained and -argued and explained again, striving with infinite tact to -dispel their suspicions and to persuade them of the ultimate -advantage they would all derive from co-operation. Coached -beforehand in definite details by the katikiro, he reminded -them of the ravages from which they had already suffered; -of the villages burnt to the ground, the crops destroyed, -the ruthless massacres, the brutal mutilations, the hundreds -captured as slaves. He touched a tender spot when he spoke -of the immense treasures of ivory of which the Arabs had -despoiled them--ivory which their own skill as hunters had -obtained, and which they might have sold profitably to the -Free State Government or to merchants. Lastly, finding it -necessary to take a leaf out of the African's own book, he spoke -of himself, of the Great White King, of his own deeds against -the Arabs, and said that only if they fell in with his proposal -could they hope to deal a final crushing blow at the Arab -power. The chiefs were more and more impressed, and at -length one of them said that only one thing was still needed -to bring him under Kuboko's banner. He had heard great -stories of Kuboko's big medicine; if Kuboko would exhibit -his magic and convince him by the evidence of his own eyes, -he would willingly call Kuboko brother and follow him as his -great chief.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom instantly agreed, and the katikiro fairly danced with -merriment. Nothing could be more effectual, Tom thought, -than his final performance with the medicine-man, so he -invited the chiefs in turn to knock him down if they could. -They showed at first some reluctance, but Msala assured them -that Kuboko would bear them no malice. Thus reassured they -advanced in turn, and in a very few minutes all three were -sitting on the ground, laughing uproariously at their own -mishaps, while the katikiro and his friends made the -countryside resound with their boisterous "Hoo! hoo! hoo!" No -further proof was required; the chiefs signified their adhesion -to the proposed confederation, and declared that they were -ready, on a day to be fixed, formally to become Kuboko's -blood-brothers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This being achieved, Tom spent another hour in explaining -the details of the federation. Each chief, as soon as the -approach of the Arabs was signalled, was to place himself -unreservedly at Tom's orders, and bring his contingent into -the field. They could each promise about two hundred men. -The signal would be given in the usual way by drums, and -to ensure early information Tom intimated that he would -arrange a series of posts about three miles apart, extending -for some thirty miles into the forest, in the direction from -which the Arabs might be expected. As soon as the enemy -was sighted, the fact would be announced by drums from -post to post; but in order to provide against the possibility of -mistake a message would also be conveyed by runners.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One of the conditions of the alliance was that each member -of the confederacy bound himself to assist in the rebuilding -of any village that might be destroyed, and Tom was -especially careful in explaining the reason.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You see, my brothers," he said, "you will not wish to -leave your villages feeling that during your absence, and -owing to your absence, they may be burnt, and your wives -and children thus rendered homeless. But by accepting my -plan, when the drum tells you that the Arabs are coming, -you may rush to join me with every confidence; for if your -villages are destroyed, you know that all your brothers, yes, -and I myself, will help to build them up again. And so you -will have new huts for old. Is it well, my brothers?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There were grunts of acquiescence.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There is one other thing," Tom continued. "The Arabs, -if they come in the large numbers that we expect, will range -the country far and wide for food. Then I recommend you, -if at this late season of the year you have still any of your -crops unreaped, or any of your food-roots in the ground, to -gather in all that you can, and dig deep pits in secret places, -and there store your harvest. It is not well that we should -feed the Arabs."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The chiefs again showed by their grunts that they found -Kuboko's recommendation good.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now I want you, when you return to your own villages, -to call up all the petty chiefs who look up to you, the chiefs -of tens and twenties and thirties, and explain to them what -we have talked about to-day. If they agree to come in with -us, you will bring them to a grand palaver on this same -hillside eight days from now. Every man will carry his arms, -and come equipped as for war."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom was thoroughly tired out when he got back to the -village. He had intended to write, in one of the note-books -he had obtained from Schwab, a brief jotting of recent events, -for future reference, but he put off that till next morning. -When morning came, however, he was too anxious to begin -his experiments in powder-making to spend any time in -penning records. He had a large quantity of crude sulphur -and saltpetre to refine, and he was by no means sure that -with the rough apparatus at hand he would be successful. -That could easily be tested, and he at once set about his -preparations for the task.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He got a number of large earthen pots of all shapes and -sizes, and broke up the rough dirty rolls of sulphur into -these. Then he heated them gently over slow fires, and -found, as he had hoped, that the earthy impurities gradually -settled at the bottom, leaving the pure sulphur, a liquid like -treacle, at the top. This he ladled off into clean vessels.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>So far so good. The next thing was the saltpetre which -had been collected by the women. This also he put into -vessels, and dissolved the crude solid in water. Raising the -mixture to the boiling-point, he allowed it to cool gradually, -and watched for the result. The pure saltpetre was deposited -in a solid crystalline mass at the bottom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Here then were two of the necessary constituents; the -third was easily obtained, for the katikiro had admirably -carried out his instructions, and had personally superintended -the cutting and carrying of an immense quantity of splendid -wood from the forest, which was easily converted into charcoal -by heating it in closed vessels.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Nothing now remained but to mix these ingredients.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We must take care it isn't bang! soosh! black man all -dead," said Tom to Mbutu, who, with all the other officials, -was taking the keenest interest in the experiments. "I think -we had better build a shed half a mile away, so that if there -is an explosion it will do no harm except to me and you and -my assistants."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sah no go," said Mbutu. "Me go; make bang stuff; -blow up; all same for one."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, my boy, that won't do. Why, the people here would -lose all faith in me if I was afraid to take my own big -medicine. No; we'll set about running up a shed at once, and -take care to avoid risks as much as possible. Two men with -you and me will be enough to do the mixing, at first, at -any rate, and you may choose them out of your own friends."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A wooden shed was soon fixed up on an open space far -from trees or bush, and Tom arranged to begin work before -dawn next day, so as to get some mixing done before the sun -was high. He was not at all sure about the proportions in -which the three constituents ought to be mixed, but hoped to -find that out by experiment. Just as the darkness began to -clear he went out to the shed with Mbutu alone to make a -first attempt in private. It was unsuccessful; the mixture -burnt readily enough, but without explosion. He guessed -from his failure that the quantity of saltpetre in his first -mixture had not been sufficient, and, carefully measuring out -his quantities in a small brass cup, he increased the amount -little by little, testing a portion of the mixture after each -addition, until at last he was rewarded with a decided -explosion which reverberated in a hundred echoes, and was -answered by the banging of the sentry's drum in the village. -Tom laughed with almost childish delight at the success of -his efforts, and, taking careful note of the proportions he had -finally arrived at, he returned to the village.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next morning he took out the two Bahima selected by -Mbutu, and found that not only were they quick to learn, -but, what is more important in a native of Africa, they -recognized the necessity for caution. They worked steadily till -ten o'clock, and at the end of the day Tom found himself in -possession of several pounds of serviceable powder. It was a -queer-looking mixture, and Tom said to himself, with a laugh, -that no doubt it would miserably fail to pass the Waltham -test; but he knew that it would serve his purpose, and that -was sufficient. Within a fortnight he had stored about half -a ton in the recesses of the cavern in the cliff, and had collected -in the village a large quantity of the several constituents, -which only awaited mixing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is a pity," he thought, "that with an almost unlimited -supply of powder, we can make so little use of it. At the -most we have muskets for only two hundred and fifty men, -and many of these are likely to be as dangerous to us as to the -enemy. With the powder we already have we could supply a -brigade for a month's campaign. But surely it can be used in -some other way?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In the event of another siege the store of powder would, he -knew, be invaluable for mining purposes; but he wished to -find some method by which it could be turned to account in -field operations. At last he hit upon an idea. Why not lay -in a supply of hand-grenades? He could not, of course, with -the limited supply of metal in the village, and the still more -limited smithy arrangements, manufacture bombs with a metal -case; but after some cogitation he found a means of surmounting -this difficulty. The grenades, he thought, might be made -of thick pottery, encased in a double or triple envelope of -elastic wicker-work, the latter intended to prevent the bomb, -when thrown, from bursting before the fuse had time to do its -work. In the manufacture of this outer envelope Tom relied -on the extreme ingenuity of the Bahima in all kinds of -basket-weaving; and his expectations in this respect were more than -realized. Experimenting first with a dummy shell, he found -that, protected by the wicker covering, it could be thrown to a -distance of forty or fifty yards without breaking the earthenware -container. This was quite sufficient for his purpose.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think," he said to the katikiro, who was watching his -experiments with mingled wonder and amusement, "that we -shall be able to give the Arabs more than one surprise if they -visit us again. I want you to get your potters and weavers to -make two dozen more jars after this pattern; Mbutu will take -them, together with a large basketful of granite chips, to the -shed where we made the powder. We shall see to-morrow -whether these little jars are going to be of use to us."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the following morning Tom went with Mbutu to the -powder-shed, which had always been made taboo to the -villagers. There he half-filled one of the jars with granite chips -(all the available iron scraps being required for the muskets), -and rammed in on the top a bursting-charge of gunpowder. -Into the neck of the jar he fitted a plug, through which a hole -was bored for the insertion of a time fuse. In the preparation -of the fuse Tom's school-boy experiments in pyrotechny stood -him in good stead. Some cotton fibre steeped in a solution -of saltpetre fully answered his purpose. His next step was -to erect a framework of match-boarding to serve as a target. -Stationing himself behind an earthen breastwork about forty -yards from the target, he set fire to the fuse of his trial bomb -and, hurling it at the target, dropped to the ground behind -the entrenchment. There he waited for some seconds until a -loud report showed that his grenades could at least be trusted -to explode; some small fragments dropped within a few feet -of his shelter. Stepping up to the target, he found it pitted in -a dozen places with dents due to the granite chips, some of -which were driven some distance into the wood. There was -no doubt that had a body of men been within a few feet of the -bomb when it exploded, not many would have survived.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom's next concern was to ensure, first, that the fuse should -be perfectly trustworthy, and secondly, that the bursting-charge -of powder should not be so great as to bring the -grenadiers themselves within the danger-zone. It required -two or three days of careful experiment before he was satisfied -on these points. Then he instructed the katikiro to select -twenty potters and twice as many weavers to manufacture a -large supply of bombs; and under his own and Mbutu's -supervision these were carefully charged in the shed, and stowed -away in the cavern on the cliff. The provision of a number of -plug-bayonets by the village smiths completed his experiments -in the preparation of warlike stores.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the day before the general palaver, the katikiro came to -Tom and informed him that the chief who had so insolently -dismissed Barega's messenger during the siege had come into -the village with a retinue, and had very humbly asked to see -Kuboko.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah!" said Tom; "he has come round, has he? Bring him up."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The chief and his men drew near very much as whipped -dogs would have done. Within ten yards of Tom's hut they -flung themselves on their faces, and wriggled their way with -ludicrous contortions towards him. He thought it a good -opportunity for teaching the whole village a salutary lesson, -so he summoned the people by beat of drum, and ordered -them to stand round. Then he severely asked the fawning -chief his name and business.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"O Kuboko, great master, my name is Uchunku," said the -man. "I am weaker than a dog, smaller than a flea. Nothing -that I have but is mine by the mercy of Kuboko. I have -heard of Kuboko's mighty power, and I fall on my face, for no -man can stand upright in the presence of the man of big -medicine. I have heard, O Kuboko, of the wonderful thrower that -casts mountains as high as the very stars of heaven; and of -the mighty flood that flowed from the hollow of Kuboko's -hand, and upon which the Arabs were swept away even as -leaves upon the torrent. All this have I heard, and more, and -I come to put my neck under Kuboko's foot, and beg him to -gird my village about with his mighty magic."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom let the man grovel there, and paused before he answered. -Then he upbraided him for his meanness and folly in refusing -help to his neighbour Barega when in dire extremity, and -declared that he deserved to be left to meet single-handed the -devastating Arabs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You are a coward, Uchunku," he said. "You stood aloof -from your neighbour in distress, and then, when you find that -all your other neighbours have seen the wisdom of joining my -people and accepting my leadership, you come and whine like -a puppy to be taken in. I will have mercy on you; I will -admit you to our confederacy; but you will have to prove -yourself worthy. You will be given no place of trust, your -men will not be allowed to bear arms, until you have shown -that you are loyal, and ready to carry out all my commands."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The miserable chief abjectly promised to do anything, even -the most menial work, to merit Kuboko's favour. Tom cut -him short, bade him get up, and ordered him to attend the -palaver next day with all his men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom would have been more than human if he had not felt -a thrill and glow of pride next day, when, at the appointed -mote-hill, he found a great concourse of natives awaiting him. -The three chiefs of the former palaver had most effectively -fulfilled his instructions. Each had brought a group of petty -chiefs, and each of these had come with several of his warriors, -so that the whole assembly numbered nearly three hundred -men, armed in their several ways. They were Bantu negroes -of various races, some of them tall, splendid specimens of -humanity, some short and thick-set, all muscular and in the -pink of physical condition. Until Tom came in sight with his -small escort, they had kept up a constant chatter, the sound -of which travelled across the country like the noise of a vast -army of rooks or gulls. But as Tom ascended the hill a -silence fell upon the throng. Hundreds of eyes looked -curiously at the man of whom they had heard so much. When -he reached the brow of the hill, moved as by one impulse the -crowd raised their spears aloft and cried aloud: "Kuboko! -Kuboko! Waize! Thou comest!" and it was then that Tom -thrilled with the thought that all these simple, untutored -negroes were looking to him as their leader, and relying on -him to save them from the awful fate they must inevitably -meet if their inhuman oppressors had their will. And thus, -when he had gathered them about him in a large ring, there -was a deep note of earnestness in his voice as he addressed -them. He thanked them first for coming so readily at his -wish, and briefly explained to them the arrangements he had -already made with the three superior chiefs, impressing on -them the seriousness of the effort soon to be made to rid them -for ever of their age-long foes, and the necessity for all to work -together without jealousy or self-seeking. Much of what he -said he knew must fall on deaf ears; he could not expect them -to forget the habits and ideas that were part of their blood; -but if he could only gain their confidence, he hoped that -his personal influence and example would succeed in effecting -something, however little.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When he had won their approval of his general scheme, he -ventured to put to them another proposal which he felt would -meet with opposition. It was that, when the great day came, -they should bring all their women and children, with their -valuable possessions, to Mwonga, until the fight was over. A -low murmur of disapproval ran round the ring, then the -negroes began to gesticulate and argue excitedly until loud -shouts of "Nga! Ngabuse!" their strongest negative, filled the -air. Waiting patiently through the uproar, Tom at length -held up his hand, and after some minutes succeeded in stilling -the storm. Then, in the same even quiet manner, he began -to reason with them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why do my brothers shout so loudly into the sky? Is -Kuboko deaf that he cannot hear? Is he stupid that he -cannot understand? I, Kuboko, have but two arms and two -hands. I cannot take all my brothers into my grip and drag -them whither it pleases me. No, but I speak plain words to -my brothers, and if they are not good words then my brothers -can go their own way. Listen, men of a hundred villages, -how can you hope to hold your huts against the attack of -a strong and cruel foe? See, I take this spear-shaft in my -hand, I lay it across my knees and snap it in two; you could -do the same. But now I take five spear-shafts together, and -though I strive and strain I cannot break so much as one of -them. What think you of that, my brothers?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The old illustration, so happily remembered, had an instant -effect on the keen natives, to whose minds the practical so -strongly appeals. Allowing a little time for the lesson to -strike home, Tom went on:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, what of Mwonga? Think how it is placed--on a -hill, a steep path at one end, a precipice at one side, an -ever-flowing stream, a well-kept stockade. Have we not already -driven the Arabs from it, not once nor twice? I have no -thought of doing favour to Mwonga. It is not my village: -my village is far away, over mountains and rivers, on the -other side of a big water stretching farther than any eye can -see. My village awaits me, and when my work is done I long -only to go back to it and see my fields and huts and the faces -of my own people again. But while I am here I want to help -you, and you, and you, my brothers, every one of you. Make, -then, a great camp at Mwonga until the Arabs are beaten and -hunted away. Only Mwonga has been able to defy them. -Does any chief know of a better place? If so, let him speak."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was a long pause. Each chief consulted with his own -men. Then one of the three principal chiefs called for silence, -and declared that Kuboko's words were good. A long and -excited discussion ensued, until at length they agreed to -Tom's proposal, provided the village could be sufficiently -enlarged to contain all their dependents in case of need. Tom -at once called for the services of a thousand men to extend -the stockade, widen the ditch, and build new huts for the -accommodation of the guests. This was also agreed to, and -then Tom endeavoured to get an idea of what his total force -of fighting-men would amount to. He took some time to -question each chief as to the strength of his own contingent, -and to make the necessary deductions due to their incurable -love of boasting; but the number actually arrived at, including -his own force of Bahima and Bairo, fell not far short of four -thousand. Then the assembly broke up.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One of the lesser chiefs, during the latter part of the -conference, had been looking with great interest at Mbutu, who -stood by his master's side. He was a tall Muhima, lithe and -strong, with an Egyptian cast of feature and the strange -melancholy expression so characteristic of his race. Looking -very puzzled, he edged gradually nearer to Mbutu, and, as -Tom turned to go down the hill, took the young Muhima by -both arms, and gazed searchingly into his face.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is it, Mbutu?" said Tom. "Come along."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mbutu!" ejaculated the chief; then smiled, and shook the -boy's arms up and down excitedly, talking very rapidly and -earnestly the while. Mbutu listened at first in fascinated -amazement, but by and by his expression changed, he clasped -the stranger's neck, and, turning to his master, said simply:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Him my brudder, sah! Him Mboda!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he explained. When his village had been raided and -burned some years before, he had believed that he alone of -the male population had escaped alive. He had seen his -father and two brothers killed, and knew that the women -would be carried into captivity. But it now appeared that -a few of the younger men had evaded the clutches of the -Arabs and got away into the forest, under the leadership of -Mboda, his third brother, and that, when the danger was -past, they had returned, built a village several miles west of -the one that was burned, and gradually gathered about them -a few men and women of their own stock. Of this small -village Mboda was now chief, and he had been among the -most eager to join the coalition against the enemy he had so -good reason for hating.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The delight of the brothers at their unexpected meeting -was so manifest that Tom invited Mboda to return to Mwonga -and stay for a few days. Mboda eagerly accepted the -invitation, and sent word to his village by one of his men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On Tom's return to Mwonga, the operations arranged were -immediately put in hand and pressed on in spite of the -constant rains. When the new stockade was completed, the -enclosure was more than half a mile square, and there was -room for the temporary accommodation of fifteen thousand -people. The hole in the wall of the reservoir was filled up, so -that the supply of water needed by so vast a host might be -kept as large as possible; and the defences were further -strengthened by a solid earthen embankment impenetrable to -bullets. Another measure of Tom's, at first the cause of much -grief and dismay among the Bairo, was the levelling of the -banana plantation on the south-east of the village. But when -the news was carried round among the allies it made a vast -impression. The chiefs recognized that not they alone were -required to make sacrifices, but that the people of Mwonga -themselves submitted even to the loss of a flourishing -plantation at the bidding of Kuboko.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But all this Tom felt was but child's play to the work of -training his men. He knew, from what he had read of operations -in which native troops had been engaged, in the Soudan -and Kumasi, for instance, how impulsive the negro is, how -prone to get out of hand, how apt to fight "off his own bat", -without the least idea of co-operation. It was hopeless to -attempt the training of the whole body of his allies; it would -take years of vigorous drill, and the constant attention of -British non-commissioned officers, to eradicate these defects -and implant new ideas and habits in the native. All that he -could hope to do was to bring his own men, and especially the -select body of two hundred and fifty, into something like -order. He worked unsparingly. He got the men to fall in in -double ranks, and arranged them according to their height, -making them number and form fours in the good old way -he remembered at school. When it came to "Left!" and -"Right!" he had some trouble at first, and the operation of -changing ranks was almost too much for the Bahima, not to -speak of Tom's patience. Marking time presented no -difficulty, and when the willing negroes had once learned the -difference between right and left it was not long before the -orders "Right form", "Left form", "Move to the right in -fours", and the other mystic cries of the barrack-yard, were -carried out with fair precision. All these military commands -Tom gave in English, and he often smiled to think of the -surprise which his uncle, or any other British officer, would -feel if he were dumped down suddenly one day at Mwonga's -village and heard the curt expressions of English drill bawled -within the stockade.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The four hours' drill was kept up every day, and the -monotony of it was compensated by the eagerness and aptness of -his pupils. Before, they were a mob; now, they were gradually -gaining the power to work together and becoming a -serviceable force. This was strikingly shown in their -volley-firing. After repeated efforts, Tom almost despaired of -breaking the men of firing haphazard, anticipating the word of -command, blazing with eyes shut in every possible direction. -But patience won the day, and at last he was able to advance -men against them in sham-fight to within twenty yards -without a trigger being pulled before the word was given.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The manufacture of gunpowder having proved successful, -it was a comparatively easy matter to make slugs for the -muskets. Every scrap of old iron, brass, copper, lead, in the -place was utilized for this purpose, and at last the musketeers -were provided with sufficient ammunition, Tom considered, to -last them through a month's brisk fighting.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Having brought them into something like order, he next set -about the equipment of an equal force of pikemen. He had -read something of the good service done by pikemen in the -wars of the seventeenth century, and he was indeed amazed to -find how details that had lain unnoticed in his mind now came -crowding to his recollection. He got his men to cut strong -staffs, sixteen feet long, from the forest trees, and to each -he fixed, by means of a thin plate of iron four feet long, a -lozenge-shaped pike-head, made by the Bairo smiths under his -direction. Thus the head could not be accidentally broken -off, or cut off by the Arabs' scimitars. The men so armed he -trained to act with the musketeers. In close fighting order -the musketeers were drawn up in two ranks, the front rank -kneeling, the rear rank standing, while the pikemen stood -behind, their pikes projecting in front of the musketeers. In -charging, the pikemen led the way, supported by the -musketeers with bayonets or clubbed muskets.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom was, of course, entirely in the dark as to where the -expected engagement was to be fought--whether in the forest, -in the open outside the village, or again behind the stockade; -but he was determined to be prepared for any contingency. -Ill-armed as his force was, he recognized that he might have -to fight a defensive campaign for a time, trusting to wear the -enemy out, and to seize a favourable opportunity for taking -the offensive. It was a risky policy with a negro force; he -could place full reliance only on the pikemen and musketeers; -the great body of the allies was little better than a rabble, -and man for man less dependable, because less used to regular -fighting, than the Arab auxiliaries. But he hoped that his -special troops would be sufficiently well drilled to give a -good account of themselves if fighting took place in the open, -while in the forest the others could certainly harass the enemy, -probably cut off his supplies, ambush him, and attack him at a -disadvantage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All this time Tom had been gleaning various items of -information as to the routes by which the enemy might be expected -to come. There was, of course, the path through the forest, -along which he himself had been carried to the village, but he -learnt that there were two other possible ways, to the west -and east of the direct route. These, however, would involve -the crossing of at least two broad rivers, and the rainy season -being barely over, the streams would be so swollen as to render -fording impossible.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He would gladly have fortified the approaches to the village -had this been possible, but after carefully weighing the pros -and cons he reluctantly decided that he must be content to -extemporize stockades when the approach of the Arabs was -announced. Until the peril was imminent he could not count -upon sufficient assistance from his allies to enable him to -construct defensive works on all the paths by which the expected -invasion might be made, and his own troops were clearly -insufficient for the purpose.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The long-awaited signal came at length. On the night of -November 28, a date which Tom carefully marked in the -pocket-diary he had obtained from Herr Schwab, the faint taps -of a drum were heard far away to the north. A few minutes -later a distinct roll came from the nearest post. At distances -of six and three miles the signal drummers had passed on the -message received by them from posts farther afield. Reading -the message by the prearranged code, Tom made out that a -small force had been sighted sixty miles from the village. -Surmising that this was merely the advance-guard, he calculated -that the main body would take at least five or six days -to arrive, and he resolved to wait until the morning before -calling up his levies.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Soon after daybreak a courier came panting into the village, -and announced that the line of runners had transmitted to -him the news that a huge force of Arabs was advancing -along the forest-path a mile or two in the rear of the -advance-guard.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The village drummers were at once called on to signal the -news to the allied chiefs, and runners were despatched to them -all confirming the intelligence. The chiefs were each to send -their women and children into Mwonga under a small escort, -with not less than six weeks' supply of food. The warriors -who were used to forest fighting were to muster at the edge -of the forest, and await orders from Kuboko. The remainder, -men of the plain, with no special skill in woodcraft, and -dreading the forest as an unknown region of unimaginable terrors, -were to concentrate to the north-east of the village, and hold -themselves in readiness to move in any direction at a moment's -notice. By making forced marches, all the fighting-men of the -allies had arrived at their appointed places by the morning of -the next day. It was a glorious morning, and, looking round -from the village on the eager host, their spear-heads glittering -in the sunlight, Tom drew good augury, and felt his heart -leap within him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His force numbered four thousand one hundred all told, and -as yet he was wholly without definite information of the size -of the Arab army. It was important that every possible means -should be taken of worrying and reducing the enemy while -marching through the forest, encumbered, as no doubt they -were, with carriers and baggage. They included, Tom felt -sure, a very large number of men armed with rifles and -muskets, but their superiority in this respect would be to -a great extent neutralized among the trees. His first care, -therefore, was to despatch five hundred of his best forest-fighters, -divided into twenty bands of twenty-five each, into -the forest, to dig pits, plant stakes, and employ every device -known to them to delay and harass the advance. They were -not to penetrate into the forest for more than thirty miles -from their base, in order that they might be easily supplied -with food, and readily recalled if need arose.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom's next step was to arrange with the katikiro for the -defence of the village against a possible flanking attack. He -could not be sure that the line of the advance now signalled -would be the line of the real attack; for all he knew, the -Arabs might divide their force, advance in two directions, -and, while making a feint in their immediate front, throw all -their strength upon the village, hoping to take it unawares. -The katikiro during the last few weeks had proved himself -one of the most intelligent and persevering of all Tom's -lieutenants, and Tom had complete confidence that his courage -and determination would not fail at the critical moment. To -him, therefore, he entrusted the defence of the village. He -gave him a thousand of the plainsmen, of whom sixty were -armed with muskets, and also the whole of the cadet corps, -who, being young and hot-headed, he thought would be all the -better for the restraint of the stockade. The force was, he -knew, quite inadequate to hold the extensive line of fortifications -if the place was seriously assaulted; but it could, he -hoped, hold its own behind the stockade for a day or two, -allowing time for Tom himself to return to its assistance.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Before leaving the village, Tom took the katikiro aside to -give him final instructions. Msala was talking to the medicine-man -at the time, and the latter scarcely attempted to conceal -a malignant scowl as Tom approached. He moved reluctantly -away, evidently curious to learn what Tom's business with the -katikiro was.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Msala," said Tom, as soon as he judged Mabruki to be out -of ear-shot, "I have given you an important post, because I -know that you are fearless, and because I trust you. The -village, and the lives of the thousands of people in it, are in -your hands. You must on no account leave your post unless -you receive a direct order from me. If I want you to leave -it, I shall send a messenger to you, and he will bring with -him, as a proof that his message is genuine, a leaf out of my -pocket-book with this mark upon it." He drew a circle, with -two diameters intersecting at right-angles. "You see that? -Whatever messenger comes to you from me will have a leaf -like that, and I will leave this with you, so that no possible -mistake can be made. Do you understand?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes," said Msala, his face aglow with the importance of -his duties; "I will obey the words of Kuboko, and he shall -find that I am as bold as a lion and as wise as an elephant."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well then. Now I myself am going into the forest -with my picked men. You may not see me for many days; -but do not get down-hearted. Let us hope that when you and -I meet again we shall have made our account with the enemy."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="treachery"><span class="large">CHAPTER XVII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">Treachery</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">Fording a Stream--Preparing a Trap--Ensnared--A -Panic--Mystery--Prompt Measures--Scouting--The Arab -Camp--A Burly Pikeman--Preparing to Spring--De -Castro Escapes</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>The force made a brave show as it marched out next -morning amid the cheers of the thousands of men, women, and -children left behind. The katikiro stood at the north gate, -proud of his office, and yet envious of the men who were -advancing to meet the enemy. At one side of him stood -Mwonga, at the other Mabruki the medicine-man, who had -recovered something of his old authority with the influx into -the village of a vast horde who had not witnessed his -discomfiture by Kuboko. Some, indeed, of the Bahima had pleaded -that Mabruki might be allowed to accompany them, so that -they might benefit by what magical power was still left to -him; but Tom had resolutely refused their request, asking them -bluntly whether they had not more confidence in his strong -arm than in Mabruki's basket and bell. And therefore the -only face that scowled on the departing army was Mabruki's.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The van was led by the two hundred and fifty pikemen, -their pike-heads polished to a silvery brilliance and flashing -in the sunlight. They were followed by the musketeers, with -Tom and Mbutu at their head. Then came a select band of -fifty, who were to be entrusted with the throwing of the -hand-grenades, and with them were a number of Bairo, laden with -ammunition. Behind these came the remainder of the -force--spearmen and archers, all eager, confident, burning to meet -the foe; and carriers with food and cooking-utensils.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A vast rumour filled the air as the force passed on, the men -chattering and laughing, some of them chanting the war-songs -of their tribes, others inventing songs on the spur of the -moment and repeating the words to the thousandth time to -the same weird music. These songs for the most part sounded -the praises of Kuboko. "Kuboko is stronger than many lions," -sang the men of the plains, who knew what the strength of -lions was. "Kuboko is mightier than the horn of a bull," sang -the Bahima, prizing their cattle above all things. "Kuboko, -the maker of fire, who poureth out the water-spout!" sang -the Bairo, whose imagination had been seized by Tom's deeds -during the siege. Tom was not puffed up by their ingenuous -laudation. He was, rather, touched by their simple confidence, -and more than ever resolute to use what power he had, -whatever opportunity Providence threw in his way, for their -ultimate advantage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Between the village and the edge of the forest lay a stretch -of about fifteen miles of fairly open country, dotted here and -there with clumps of bush and with shade trees.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the way the force overtook a party of pioneers, sent out -by Tom in advance, armed with spades, mattocks, knives, and -similar implements for cutting away the brushwood, erecting -stockades, and performing the other operations necessary in -the forest. At every third mile Tom ordered his men to erect -a rough redoubt or block-house of earth and wood, by means -of which communication might be maintained with the village -if it should be invested. At each of these he left a small -garrison with arms and provisions. The last redoubt before -entering the forest was of larger size than the rest, and in -it he left a larger garrison and a more plentiful store of food -and ammunition. There was, he judged, ample time for this -work of construction, for the African native is extremely -quick; and, besides, the Arabs could scarcely reach the -outskirts of the forest within four days at their best speed, and -that period might be almost indefinitely extended if the -warriors already despatched to harass them carried out their -instructions thoroughly. Tom saw that, having to deal with -an army no doubt immensely superior in point of numbers as -well as of armament to his own, he could only impede their -march; he could not hope to stop it. A general engagement -could hardly be risked. It might easily result in the total -destruction of his force and the subsequent storming of the -village. It was his object, therefore, to fight a series of small -engagements while the enemy were still in the forest, and he -hoped, by carefully choosing the moment, to win such success -as should give his men new confidence in themselves, each -other, and him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Entering the forest at length, he was soon met by messengers -sent back by the leaders of his skirmishers, with the -information that the Arabs were advancing in great force behind a -screen of native levies, who were thoroughly skilled in -forest-fighting. All that the chiefs had been able to do was to -maintain a running fight, laying simple ambushes, darting in spears -and arrows whenever they saw an opportunity, and retiring -as soon as the head of the main force appeared.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From the description given by the native couriers, who -reached him almost every hour from the front, Tom, making -due allowance for exaggeration, concluded that the hostile -force numbered in all some five thousand men, with an almost -equal number of carriers. They were marching in a column -nearly five miles in length, the narrowness of the forest track -rendering it almost impossible to proceed except in single file.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the second day, Tom, marching now at the head of -his troops, came to a broad stream, which, as he had learnt -already from his scouts, was in full flood from the recent rains. -He was hardly prepared to find it so broad and deep as it -was, and though it could easily be swum, it was necessary to -find a ford if the food and ammunition were to be got across -in safety. The bank was steep, and covered with rank bush -growing as high as a man. "Better try myself; it will be -quickest in the long run," he said to himself, and, sliding down -the slippery bank, he waded into the water. It was icy cold, -and as he walked towards the middle of the stream, and the -water rose as high as his chest, he gasped for breath. The -current was fairly strong; he could scarcely keep his feet; and -at last he found it impossible to do so. But only a few yards -to the right he noticed that the water was swirling and foaming, -and, swimming to that point, his feet, as he expected, touched -bottom on some rocks. There he waded across, clambered up -the bank, and ordered his men on the other side to cut a new -path down the shelving bank opposite the ford he had so -opportunely discovered. There the whole force crossed, the -water reaching a little above their knees, and Tom, having -seen the passage safely completed, and now shivering with -cold, was glad to swallow a dose of the quinine included with -a few indispensables in Mbutu's bundle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom had a certain advantage in the mobility of his force. -Never more than a day's march from a food-supply, he was -able to dispense with the greater part of his carriers; for -his troops were able to take with them sufficient for their -immediate needs. Retaining only one thousand carriers to -bring up supplies from the large redoubt, he employed the -rest in assisting the troops to fell trees and build abattis at -various defensible points along the route.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He found, however, that after deducting the troops left -behind in the village, and the garrisons of the redoubts, he -had scarcely more than two thousand five hundred men to -meet the Arab advance. The question was, how to dispose of -this force to the best advantage. Learning from the couriers -at the end of the third day's march that he had come within -ten miles of the head of the Arab army, he halted at a -particularly dense part of the forest, and proceeded, at a distance -of some fifty yards from the track, to cut a path a mile and -a half long parallel to it. Darkness was falling, the Arabs -would certainly halt for the night, and by employing all his -men he hoped to complete the clearing of the new road by -the morning. At the same time he built a stockade of trees -masked with shrubs at the southern end of the main track. -His plan was to arrest the enemy by the stockade, which was -so artfully located at a slight bend in the path that it could -not be seen until they were within a yard of it, and then to -attack them in flank from the bush. By cutting the parallel -road he had made it possible for his men to move up and -down at will over a length of a mile and a half, and to choose -the best positions for pouring in their fire upon the surprised -and congested enemy. The task was completed long before -dawn, and there was time for the whole force to snatch a little -much-needed sleep before the hard work that might be -expected on the following day.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A year before, Tom would have found it difficult, almost -impossible, to realize what forest fighting meant. Here he -was in an immense forest, stocked with trees from one hundred -to two hundred feet high, their dense foliage interlocked -overhead, the gaps between them filled with an undergrowth of -matted bush, rubber shrubs, creepers, and dwarf-palms, so -thick that the eye could never penetrate more than twenty -yards at the farthest. The path was a mere foot-track, -along which it was only possible to march in single file. At -some points, where the soil was soft, the path had in the -course of generations been worn down to a lower level, and -seemed like a railway cutting between high banks of dead -leaves and debris. At other points it wound round a fallen -tree, no one having taken the trouble to remove the obstruction. -Here and there, too, great festoons of monkey-ropes, -mingled with orchid blossoms, hung from tree to tree across -the track, so thick that progress was impossible until they -had been lopped down with knives and axes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom, as he lay on the bank to rest, felt the oppression of -the confined space even more than he had felt it during his -previous wandering through the forest. The recent rains -had caused a rank smell to rise from the decaying vegetable -matter all around him, and he would not allow himself to -think of the ever-present dangers of malaria. The night was -cold. Not wishing the enemy to discover his position or the -positions of his men, he had given orders that no fires were -to be lighted, and, but for the cloth which Mbutu had brought -by his instructions, he would have shivered all night long, -and in all probability been prostrated with racking pains in -the limbs. As it was, he rose from his brief sleep cold and -hungry, but feeling ready for anything, and indeed anxious -to meet the long-looked-for enemy at last. After a breakfast -of bananas and potato-bread, he sent messengers forward to -instruct the skirmishers and scouts to fall back. He thought -that if the harassing attacks ceased for a whole day, the Arabs -might conclude that their enemy had become disheartened, -and might thereby be tempted to relax their vigilance.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At the farther end of the newly-made parallel track there -was a large tree, which, dominating the intervening space -and overlooking the main path, provided a convenient refuge -from which it was possible to obtain a good idea of the -strength and composition of the enemy's force as it came -in sight. Tom found that he could easily climb the tree -to such a height that, while secure from observation himself, -he could act as his own intelligence officer and not have to -trust to the magnifying eyes of his men. If the Arabs were -ten miles away the day before, he concluded that it would -probably take them the whole day to reach this point, the -forest being dense, and the path obstructed in many places -by the encroaching bush. He knew that his men would not -be very willing to fight during the night, and there seemed -every likelihood that the action would not begin until the -next day. It turned out according to his expectation. The -Arabs, after the harassing movements of their enemy on the -previous days, had evidently resolved to take advantage of -the lull to enjoy a thorough rest, for the whole day went -by without a sign of them. Tom again camped with his men -for the night, placing sentries for several hundred yards along -the path to prevent anything in the nature of a surprise.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was up with the dawn again, and sent forward a few -scouts to reconnoitre. These returned by and by, and reported -that the enemy had marched forward only three miles the -previous day, and were now about seven miles away. Being -anxious that they should be surprised as completely as possible, -Tom refrained from sending forward many scouts, lest some -incautious action should give the Arabs warning. In the -afternoon, judging that the force must be drawing near, he placed -some seventeen hundred men along the parallel road, and -eight hundred behind the stockade, ordering the musketeers -among the latter not to fire until they were actually attacked, -or until they heard firing in their front.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>About three o'clock he sent forward two Bairo to ascertain -the distance of the enemy, and climbed into his crow's-nest -in the tree. Suddenly, in the silence of the forest, a shot -rang out. "One of my scouts hit, I'm afraid," said Tom to -himself. The waiting warriors stood in an attitude of tense -expectancy, every man gripping his weapon, and leaning -forward in readiness to move in whatever direction he was ordered. -Half an hour passed, and then one of the scouts came swiftly -down the path, emerging as it were from a curtain of green. -Tom, looking at him, saw fear in his face. His eyes were -standing out of his head, his features twitching as though -pulled by some unseen string; he was shaking like an aspen. -"This won't do," thought Tom; "that fellow will scare the -rest." He slipped down the tree, and met the man before -he had been seen by any of his comrades. Laying a firm -hand on his shoulder, he bade him tell his news. The man -collapsed in a limp knot on the ground, and with many a -spluttering stumble explained that as he and his mate were -creeping along in the bush beside the path, a shot had come -from who knows where, and his companion had fallen dead -beside him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How far ahead was this?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Master, how should I know when fear came rustling -behind me? I ran, master; my feet carried me as on the -wind."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where are the enemy?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"In the bush, master, tens upon tens of them. But I -saw none of them; no, I saw nothing but the smoke of the -fire-stick in the forest. I am very sick, master, and my old -father lies sick at home. Will the master let me go and nurse -him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom sternly bade the man climb the tree before him and -hide in the foliage. "Good heavens!" he thought, "if they -all turn out like this coward!" But he refused to harbour -such a thought, remembering their conduct during the siege. -He climbed the tree after the man, waited some twenty minutes, -and then saw, fifty yards away among the trees, the head of -the Arab column coming slowly along the path. The way -was led by half a dozen stalwart Arabs armed with rifles, -walking warily, looking right and left for signs of the enemy. -They passed, and were followed by fifty Manyema armed -with rifles and axes; beyond these he could not see. They -came cautiously along; they passed down the main path, -silently, watchfully, but without throwing out skirmishers. -There was a gap of two hundred yards, and then came -the main column of Manyema, armed for the most part -with spears. They were marching close behind one another, -and Tom's plan was to allow them to occupy the mile and -a half on the main track between his tree and the stockade, -and then to fall upon them while crowded into this narrow -tunnel through the forest. He counted fourteen hundred of -the Manyema; there was another gap; then, just as the head -of the force of turbaned Arabs was emerging into view, armed -with rifles and pistols of various make, a shot from the -direction of the stockade announced that the obstacle had been -discovered. Dropping from his perch, Tom gave the -long-awaited signal to his men waiting in ambush, and an irregular -fire broke out down the line of men scattered under cover -along the parallel track. The musketeers numbered only -about two hundred in all, but Tom reckoned on the surprise -counting for a good deal, and the puffs of smoke leaping out -from the brushwood at various points, with the clash of -explosions, and the demoralizing effect of the hand-grenades, -impressed the startled Arabs with the idea that a much larger -force than their own was opposed to them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The surprise was complete. Met by a musket-fire and a -discharge of spears and arrows from behind the stockade, the -Manyema could not advance; on their left flank there was -evidently a well-armed force in ambush; on their right was thick -forest, in which they could only find shelter by cutting a way. -They halted irresolutely, seeking cover wherever they could. -Slugs whizzed through the air and slapped against the trees; -the firing of bullets was heard as the rifle-armed Manyema -fired erratically at their invisible enemy. But after the first -shock they pulled themselves together, and soon realized that -they possessed better weapons than their adversaries. They -began to move forward again towards the stockade, and Tom, -passing down the line, saw that it was time to strike home. -Ordering his men on the path to stand firm, he hurried to -the stockade, upon which the Manyema had not as yet -ventured to make a serious attack. He instructed a party of the -musketeers to keep up a steady fire so long as there was no -danger of hitting their friends; then, placing himself at the -head of the remainder, he led them round the left of the -position, and, forcing his way through the thinnest part of -the scrub, with a cheer charged down upon the Arab column. -The Bahima followed him, raising their sonorous battle-cry. -This was too much for the already demoralized enemy. -Finding themselves attacked both in their front and on their -flanks, the Manyema lost heart, and, turning their backs, -began to push along the path in full retreat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This was a signal to the force on the parallel path to -re-double their fire; slugs, grenades, spears, and arrows, fell -thick and fast; the Manyema quickened their pace, and, with -no thought now of attempting to defend themselves, crowded -and jostled one another in their eagerness to flee. Back they -ran, higgledy-piggledy, into the Arabs, who were hastening in -the other direction to join in the fray, ignorant of what had -been going on. The two columns thus meeting brought each -other to a halt; but the Manyema behind, goaded now to -frenzy, pushed on regardless of their comrades, until soon -there was a struggling heap obstructing the narrow path. -The panic was communicated to the Arabs, who, after firing -a few wild shots, some of which found billets in their own -men, turned about and led the flight. Now the Bahima, with -savage yells, came pouring out of the forest on to the main -path. Every yell had a note of triumph, a tone almost of -reckless gaiety, as the men pierced and hacked among the -panic-stricken foe. The enemy had by this time fairly taken -to their heels, bolting along the narrow track like scared -rabbits, impeding each other's movements, trampling dead and -wounded ruthlessly underfoot. On and on pressed the -Bahima, springing across fallen bodies, heedless of their own -wounds, carrying the pursuit for miles, until they found -themselves checked by a reserve of Arabs strongly posted in a -clearing which had been chosen as the camping-place for their -baggage and carriers. Tom, who was foremost among his -men, now ordered the recall. Some of his more headstrong -warriors did not hear or neglected to obey the signal, and fell -victims to their own recklessness.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Hurrying back to the stockade, Tom left five hundred men -there to dispute the Arab advance, with orders to hold the -position as long as possible, but to retire if they were hard -pressed. It was now dusk. No further attack was likely -until the dawn, and Tom decided to retire five miles along the -path to a position he had previously noted as offering great -advantages for defence. It was the river he had crossed -during his second day's march. Apparently this was fordable -only at the one spot, and the steep shelving bank, itself -strongly in favour of defenders posted at the top, could be -made doubly formidable by means of a stockade. After -fording the river on the rocks, the enemy would have to clamber -diagonally up the bank by the path Tom's men had cut, as -the undergrowth was too thick to allow of an easier path -being made under a determined fire. The bank, muddy and -slippery at any time of flood, had been rendered doubly difficult -by the recent passage of so many men. A few feet beyond its -top, therefore, on the level ground, Tom set his men to build -a strong stockade across the path, with a total length of some -thirty feet, and curved inwards at each end in order to permit -of a flanking fire. The large number of active men employed -soon felled enough trees for the purpose; they were split into -lengths of about six feet, and planted in the ground close to -one another, with transverse logs lashed to them with rough -rope, and every interstice filled up with earth and rubbish. -It was so placed that a defending force could dominate the -whole width of the river, and Tom felt pretty sure that one -man within the stockade was fully equal to half a dozen -without. The advantage of the position was still further -increased by the fact that it was out of sight from the opposite -bank, for Tom was careful to leave the intervening scrub -untouched, so that it formed an opaque screen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The stockade having been completed in a thoroughly -workmanlike manner by the afternoon of the next day, Tom sent -orders to the men he had left farther in the forest to retire as -rapidly as possible upon this new defensive position, where -he intended to make a serious stand. There was always the -chance that the Arabs, finding the direct road blocked, would -attempt to get through by cutting another path, but Tom -hoped that any such move would not escape observation, -and that the time consumed in cutting the new path would -enable him to fall back and prepare for meeting the attack -elsewhere.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His calculations were rudely disturbed. A few hours after -his messengers left he received astonishing news from his base. -He was sitting by the stockade, enjoying a well-earned rest -and a meal, when a Muhima came panting up from the -direction of the village, and threw himself on the ground with -respectful greeting. Rising at Tom's order, he reported that -he had a message from the katikiro; that he had run until his -heart was jumping in his throat and his legs were like running -water. What was the message? Oh! it was that the katikiro -was sending eight hundred men to the burning mountain, as -Kuboko had ordered, to remain there until Kuboko came to -them. He would do anything that Kuboko bade him, -especially as he had Kuboko's mark; but he entreated Kuboko -to remember that his force, bereft of eight hundred men, was -now so weak that he could not keep an enemy out of the -village. The eight hundred would start in three cookings -after the messenger left, and the katikiro hoped that Kuboko -would be pleased with him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom was thunderstruck. Eight hundred men to the burning -mountain, to start in three hours! What could it mean? -There was a terrible mistake somewhere, but how could Msala -have made such a mistake after the clear instructions given -him? He was not to move a man from the village unless he -received a direct order, accompanied by a leaf from the notebook, -with a pencilled diagram that was to be the indispensable -guarantee of the genuineness of the message. No such -order had been sent. Tom cudgelled his brains vainly for an -explanation. The message could not have originated with his -own force, for if any of his lieutenants had taken fright he -would have asked for reinforcements and not sent the eight -hundred to the volcano, twenty miles on the other side of the -village. Could an enemy be approaching in that direction? -But the katikiro's messenger had distinctly said that the -order had been received from Kuboko. Tom puzzled and -puzzled, canvassing every possible solution of the mystery. -The thought suddenly flashed into his mind: Could there be -foul play somewhere? Was it no mistake of the katikiro's, -but a deliberate plot to denude the village of its garrison, and -hand it over to the enemy? Surely a flanking movement -could not already have been effected without his knowing it? -Good heavens! was the smiling Msala a villain? It was -difficult to think so, for he had been Tom's strongest and most -faithful helper. The suspicion was dismissed at once. Then -he must be the victim of a ruse. That was just as difficult to -understand. The man had spoken of Kuboko's mark. The -katikiro must, then, have received a paper with the diagram -drawn upon it. No one else, so far as Tom knew, had seen -the mark. Had Msala lost the paper given him? Had -someone discovered the meaning of it and used it for a -treacherous end? There could hardly be a second leaf, for -the only paper among them all was contained in Tom's -pocket-book. Stay! He took out his pocket-book and turned over -the leaves. It struck him that someone might have tampered -with it. It was to all appearance intact. He ran over the -leaves rapidly in the opposite direction. There should be -a loose leaf corresponding to that which had been torn out -to give Msala. Where was that? He searched for it with -growing uneasiness; held the book by its back and shook it -violently. No loose leaf fell; it was gone! The book shut -with a clasp, so that it was impossible that the odd leaf had -fallen out of itself. It must have been abstracted. Someone -had played him false!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With Tom thought and action went together.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Who brought the message to the katikiro before you -started?" he asked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mkinga," said the man. "Mkinga came first. He came -to the village and spoke to the katikiro; he talked a long -time, and gave the katikiro a piece of white rag. I was by, -for I am the katikiro's servant, and I saw, and I know that -I speak the truth. Yes, he talked to the katikiro, and the -katikiro held out the white rag and frowned, and asked -Mkinga where Kuboko was, and all that had happened, and -Mkinga told him, and the katikiro said: 'It is well,' and bade -Mkinga go back to Kuboko and say that his servant the -katikiro would obey his lord's bidding, and knew his lord's mark -on the white rag."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mkinga!" exclaimed Tom. "Was there a man named -Mkinga among our troops, Mbutu?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sah. Mkinga lazy man, sah; no work, no do nuffin; -grumble, grumble all time, sah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where is he now then?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Said him sick, sah; him no fight; no, no; him go home -and nurse pickin."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! And what was he in the village? I don't remember -the man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Him fink him medicine-man, sah; go pick grass for -Mabruki; make Mabruki him medicine; oh yes! I know dat."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Was the medicine-man near when Mkinga arrived in the -village?" asked Tom of the messenger.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh yes! The katikiro talked to the medicine-man, and -showed him another bit of white rag like the bit Mkinga -brought, and after they talked Mkinga was sent back."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You say the man disappeared, Mbutu. Has he been seen -since?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! That will do, my man; go and get food. Mabruki -is at some mischief, Mbutu," he added. "There's a plot to -betray the village. Get together a hundred and fifty of the -best pikemen and a hundred and fifty musketeers, also two -hundred spearmen; all strong active men, men who have had -a good meal and can be trusted. Tell them that in the time -it takes to cook a pot they will start for the village with me. -You understand?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, sah;" and Mbutu went away to fulfil his errand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom's mind had been made up instantly. The village was -evidently to be betrayed from within, and in all probability -there was an enemy now outside the gates. The only chance -of saving it was to return himself with all speed, and take -the enemy unawares. He could not stop to consider who he -could be, or how he could have so strangely outflanked him; -the only question was whether in any case it was possible to -reach the village in time. It was thirty miles away, and -fifteen of these were in the forest, where marching must -necessarily be slow. But the attempt must be made; he must reach -the village at all costs as early next day as possible, and could -only hope that the enemy would not have actually entered the -place, or that the katikiro, discovering the treachery, would -be able, in spite of his diminished force, to hold his own until -reinforcements arrived.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Within an hour Mbutu had the force of five hundred picked -men in readiness to set out. Their success against the Arabs -had so inspirited them that they were exulting in the prospect -of another victory under the leadership of the great Kuboko. -Mbutu, using his own judgment, had told them nothing of the -long night's march before them, so that they might start in -the same spirit of confidence and enthusiasm. It was dark, -but the moon was rising, and by its light filtering through the -tree-tops Tom quickly scanned the force, and was pleased to -see how eager and how fit they were. Then he sent for the -principal chief among the men who were to be left behind.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My brother," he said, "I am going to leave you for a -time. There is nothing to fear; a small force of Arabs is -showing itself insolently outside the gates of Mwonga, and I -go to scatter it to the winds. Now I leave you here in -command. I trust you. You are to hold this stockade. If the -enemy appear, you know what to do. Let them get to the -very edge of the river, yes, even into the river itself, and then -fire at them, launch your spears at them, and prevent them -from reaching this bank. Keep well behind the stockade and -they will not see you, so that you will be able to do much -damage among them, while they are powerless to hurt you. -The post is a strong one; you must hold it at all costs. You -must have confidence in me, as I have in you. You have seen -what we have been able to do already; though I am not here, -fight as though you saw my face and heard my voice, and all -will be well. If you find that the enemy is too strong to be -withstood, defend the stockade as long as possible, and then -retire, but slowly, and fighting all the way."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The chief replied that he would obey his lord Kuboko in all -things, and fight like an elephant at bay. Tom then impressed -on the minor chiefs that they must give willing support to the -head. Their loyalty to himself had already enabled them to -strike a severe blow at the enemy, and from this they should -learn the value of union against the invader. He reminded -them how one spear was easily broken, while a bundle resisted -all efforts; and with a final exhortation to act as became brave -and loyal men he started with Mbutu and his troops. He -looked at his watch; it was just midnight.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>That march lived long in Tom's memory. Around him was -the vast darkness, occasionally broken by the wan moonlight -piercing the roof of foliage. The air was damp and chill, -permeated by the sickly odour of decay. Tom walked at the -head of his men with one of the best of his scouts, pressing -on until he felt as though he were in a dream, his movements -mechanical, requiring no effort, his feet seeming to find their -way over obstacles without any volition of his, his mind busy -all the time with other things. The pace was slow, for the -path could rarely be seen, hemmed in by giant trees, -underwood, and thorn. On and on the men tramped in silence, -their bare feet making a curious swishing sound on the sodden -mould. There were narrow streams to be forded, switchback -hills to mount and descend; in some parts the path was -slippery, and every step forward seemed to be followed by a -longer slip back. Still he tramped on doggedly, his heart -beating like a hammer against his ribs, the men panting -aloud, uttering a sharp exclamation sometimes when they -struck their bare feet against the knotted roots of a tree, or -dodged a thorn too late to prevent their faces from being -scratched and torn. On and on, with never a pause, till at nine -in the morning the band reached the edge of the forest, -and saw the wide scrub-dotted plain stretching in front of them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>For just five minutes Tom allowed the men to lie flat on -the ground to rest; then up again. They were terribly -fagged; the fighting and marching of the previous days, -followed by the building of the stockade, had told on them all. -But there was no time to spare for a protracted rest. Only -half of the journey was yet accomplished, and the remainder -of it must be done at a quicker pace. Walking was easier -now that the forest was left behind, but the easiness of the -path only incited Tom to quicken the pace, so that a still -greater demand was made on the tired negroes. They plodded -on doggedly, several falling out dead-beat, the rest following -their leader with starting eyes and every muscle of their legs -racked with cramp. At each of the block-houses, as the column -passed, the Bahima in charge came out to meet Tom and -received his instructions for signalling news. There was no -halt at any of these places; Tom gave his orders on the -march. On and on went the column till at mid-day it arrived -at a clump of wood three miles from the village, and there -Tom bade them lie down in concealment and rest, while he -sent forward Mboda, Mbutu's brother, with a scout to find -out what was going on. They were not to go into the village; -indeed, they were to keep out of sight from its stockade, for -the enemy might even now be in possession of it, and in that -case must know nothing of the presence of a relieving force.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At four o'clock Mboda returned with the news that an hour -before they had seen a large Arab force halt at a spot about a -mile to the west of the village, and make preparations for -camping. It had but just arrived, coming from the setting -sun. Tired as he was, Tom saw that his best course now was -to make a reconnaissance in person and discover for himself -what was in the wind.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had had nearly three hours' rest during the absence of -the scouts, but no food except a few bananas, for he would not -allow the men to light fires for cooking. Feeling stiff and -sore and hungry, he started alone, and made a long circuit -round the eastern and southern sides of the village, being -careful not to approach too close to it, and ever on the alert -to avoid any natives who might be in the neighbourhood. -He walked as quickly as he could, so as to come within sight -of the Arab encampment before dark. After a tramp of -nearly six miles, the last two of which had been a gradual -ascent, he found himself, on emerging from a clump of bush, -within a mile of the camp, which had been placed very -conveniently in a slight hollow. Even at this distance he could -see that it was a regular encampment and not a mere -halting-place, and he threw himself down behind a bush, and with his -head propped on his arms surveyed the scene.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's a plot, that's pretty certain," his thoughts ran. -"The question is, are these men outside the village -concerned in the plot which sent eight hundred of the garrison -on a wild-goose chase to the volcano? If so, their only aim -must surely be the capture of the village. Then why don't -they attack? It's a big camp; there must be a big crowd of -Arabs there, and Msala has only about two hundred fighting-men -to defend that enormous circumference. They must know -that, if they're in the plot. And there's always the chance -that the eight hundred will come back. Perhaps the Arabs -are tired out with their day's march, and want time to -recuperate. Or are they going to make a night attack? Last -time they attacked at dawn, their usual custom. I wonder -if they've taken a leaf out of my book, and think that as I -routed them at night, they'll turn the tables and storm the -village under cover of darkness? One thing is clear: they -expect to have to fight, or they'd have marched straight in, -and that they haven't is a proof that I was right in believing -the katikiro to be loyal. Now, what's my next move? I -should dearly like to see a little more closely into their camp; -how can I manage it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He looked about him. The bush dotting the ground was -quite insufficient to hide him continuously from the eyes -of a sharp sentry. On the other hand, if he waited until -dark he would probably fail to see much, and in any case -that course would delay his return to his men, and perhaps -make it too late to do anything to frustrate a night attack -on the village. Wondering what was to be done, as he -moved to the left his eye caught a narrow watercourse -zig-zagging down the sloping ground in the direction of the -camp. He remembered it well now, though for the moment -it had slipped from his memory. The banks were steep, -and the water shallow, so that he felt sure he could creep -down to within a few hundred yards of the camp without -being seen, provided no one came to the brook for water -and that no sentries were posted outside. He decided to -risk it, trusting to hide, if necessary, at one of the many -windings made by the stream. Creeping along, with every -care that no splash or rolling stone should betray him, he -arrived safely within three hundred yards of the camp, and -then, cautiously raising his head, he peered over the bank.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There were only two sentries on this side of the camp. The -nearest, some two hundred yards away on the right, was -leaning, as if half-asleep, on the stock of his musket; the other, -half as far again to the left, had made himself comfortable -in the fork of a fallen tree. It was evident that the Arab -leader was either extraordinarily self-confident or convinced -that he had no opposition to fear.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The whole camp was enclosed by a palisade, which Tom -judged, from the portion he saw, to be about a thousand -yards in circumference. The palisade consisted of saplings, -and was not defended by a trench; but it was at least five -feet high, and from his position in the watercourse Tom could -see absolutely nothing inside the fence. There was nothing -for it, then, but either to wait till darkness had fallen and -then try to creep closer and look over or through the palisade, -or to give up the attempt to obtain information and return to -his men. He was very reluctant to adopt the second alternative, -and decided at any rate to remain where he was until it -was dark.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had not long to wait. It was past four before he left -his own camp, and it was now nearly six. After remaining -for twenty minutes in his place of concealment, until he -began to feel numbed by the cold, he ventured to lift his head -above the bank. There was nothing between him and the -palisade; a red glow from the camp-fires within was lighting, -the sky, and over the fence came the noise of hundreds of -gabbling tongues. He crept over the bank, waited an instant, -and then ran noiselessly across to the palisade, where a few -bushes would afford him some cover if anyone happened to -look over. Resting a moment, he heard the guttural sounds -of talking and laughing on the other side; the negroes were -evidently preoccupied with their own concerns.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When a little time had elapsed he got up and peeped over -the palisade, and saw crowds of Manyema eating, drinking, -gambling about the camp-fires. Beyond them was another -palisade defended by a trench, and within this he guessed -that the Arabs of the force were camped. Finding that -he could obtain no further information except by venturing -among the enemy, which was out of the question, he stole -back to the watercourse, made his way up it, then under -cover of the darkness cut across the country, passing within a -few hundred yards of the village. For a moment he thought -of going in at the southern gate and arranging for the -co-operation of the katikiro and his force in the movements he -contemplated, but on consideration saw that to do so might -arouse a commotion in the village and awaken suspicion among -the Arabs. Proceeding, therefore, on his way, he saved more -than two miles of his former journey, and reached his men -about half-past seven. He was then dead-beat, but he had -made up his mind what his course of action was to be. -Mbutu, he was glad to observe, had not allowed the men -to light fires. Giving orders that the men were to continue -to rest until half-past eleven, and that unbroken silence must -be maintained, he ate ravenously the food provided for him, -wrapped himself in the rug Mbutu had carried, and threw -himself on the ground to snatch a brief sleep.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Long usage enabled him to wake at any moment. At -half-past eleven he rose, and ordered Mbutu to go quietly -about among the sleeping men and rouse them. In a few -minutes they were all on foot, and, looking at them as they -stood, bright-eyed, eager, confident, Tom adopted a well-known -saying and declared inwardly that they "were ready to go -anywhere and do anything".</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Men," said Tom in their own tongue, "the Arabs are -encamped beyond the village there. I am going to lead you -to attack them. We shall surprise them if you walk silently. -There must be no talking, no noise of any kind. The -musketeers will leave all their ammunition behind; this will be a -job for bayonets, spears, and pikes alone."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His plan was to make a wide detour and come upon the -enemy from the north-west, the absence of sentries on that -side having convinced him that if they were keeping watch -at all it was directed towards the village. It was natural -that they should take precautions against a direct sortie -without looking for an attack from the quarter in which -they had themselves come. Leaving fifty carriers, picked up -at the block-houses, to take charge of the food and ammunition, -Tom started with his men at a quarter to twelve.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was pitch dark; the sky was evidently clouded, and the -air had a nipping rawness that seemed to forebode rain. -Tom was rather anxious about the possibility of keeping -the proper direction; but his men were all natives of the -district, and the man he had appointed as guide marched -on with confidence, finding the way apparently rather by -instinct than by the sense of sight. Soon a dull glow on -their right, the reflection of the village watch-fires, served -as a landmark, and in half an hour they were abreast of it, -sufficiently near to hear the occasional howl of one of the -village curs, or the lowing of one of the cattle. They marched -in dead silence. Now and then a pike would catch in some -obstruction, such as a bush, a creeper, a branch of a low -tree; once or twice the butt of a musket carelessly held -struck against an ant-hill or a rock, or a man would trip -over a stone and cause a momentary break in the even -progress of the column; but not an ejaculation came from the -mouths of the men. Tom was proud of the splendid results of -the discipline they had undergone, and ready to avouch that -under proper training anything could be made of the Bantu -negro. On and on they went, the narrow column crawling -like a black snake over grass-land, swamp, and almost bare -rock. They passed the village, began the ascent to the -south of it, skirting the spot where the flourishing banana -plantation had once stood, crossed the stream a mile and a -half above the village, and then arrived at a point whence -they could see the glow from the fires in the Arab camp.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Here Tom halted the men, and quietly told them his plans. -The attack was to be made at two points, the north-west and -south-west corners of the encampment. Tom himself would -lead one body of his men; the other he entrusted to a gigantic -negro named Mwonda, who had distinguished himself on many -occasions during the siege of the village and in the forest fight. -He stood six feet two in height, with extraordinary muscular -development and great physical strength. He was absolutely -fearless. His besetting sin was a habit of boasting, which, -however, was so naïve and inoffensive that his mates were more -amused by it than irritated. He was accustomed to assert -loudly that he was a pure Muhima, though his features and his -whole physical organization proved him to be incontestably -one of the Bairo. But his valour was so pre-eminent that no -one was hurt when Tom appointed him captain of the pikemen, -and his skill with the weapon was unmatched. His pike was -several inches longer, and proportionately thicker, than those -of the rank and file, and on this night he also carried, slung -round his waist, a scimitar taken from an Arab whom he had -killed in single fight in the forest. His men had unlimited -confidence in him, and Tom had marked him from the first -as the ideal leader when any deed of desperate courage not -demanding tactical skill was in question.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Half the force, then, was put under Mwonda's command, -and he was to lead the assault from the north-west. It was -essential to the thorough success of the plan that the two -attacks should be simultaneous, and Tom was for a time -greatly exercised as to how the necessary signal could be -given when the two bodies were separated by the whole -length of the Arab camp. It was important that nothing -should be done to give the alarm there, and Tom, to avoid -risks, had even left his revolver behind, and carried only a -musket. Suddenly he remembered Mbutu's faculty for -imitating the cries of animals. Why not make use of that now?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You can mock the jackal's cry?" he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh yes, sah! berrah good jackal."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The cry of the jackal, he thought, would carry farthest, and -from its very frequency in those parts would not be likely to -arouse special attention. There was just a chance of a real -jackal interposing at an unfortunate moment, and thus precipitating -matters; but the risk, after all, was slight, and Mwonda -would not be likely to make a mistake, knowing from what -direction the expected signal should come. This was therefore -arranged; Mwonda was ordered to creep as near to the camp -as possible, and lead the assault the instant he heard the -jackal's cry. In case either of the parties were discovered -before the signal was given, the resulting commotion in the -Arab camp was itself to be the signal for a charge.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then the march was resumed. Rain had been for some -time falling in a steady drizzle, which increased to a downpour -as they crept down the slope. Uncomfortable as it was, Tom -welcomed the rain, for it completely drowned the dull sound -of tramping feet. The scrub grew a little thicker as the -ground descended, and the patter of the rain on the leaves, -the soughing of the wind through the branches of the trees -dotted here and there, produced a sense of uncanniness. -Down they went, the bare feet of the men sometimes slipping -on a rock, and Tom himself once narrowly escaping a headlong -fall into the watercourse he had descended in the afternoon.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Half a mile from the camp he called a halt. The downpour -was as steady as ever. There was no sign of sentries. If any -had been posted outside the palisade the probability was that -they had taken refuge in a small clump of trees some three -hundred yards to the south. It all favoured the enterprise, -for surely no attack would be expected on such a night. The -very watch-fires inside the camp were well-nigh extinguished, -and the absolute silence indicated that the Arabs and their -negroes were sleeping beneath their tents, rude huts, and mats. -"Now, Mwonda," said Tom in a low whisper, "that is your -way. Lead your men as close to the camp as you can, and -wait for the jackal's cry. Then you know what to do."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mwonda grunted assent. His column filed off, and in the -darkness the individual figures could only be dimly recognized -at a foot distance by the wisps of light-coloured straw which -Tom had ordered them to bind about their left arms to -distinguish them from the enemy. Tom hoped that, faint as it -was, the glow from the dying camp-fires would make these -distinguishing marks of value.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Giving Mwonda's column a few minutes' grace to make the -extra circuit towards the north-west, Toms force began to -creep silently towards the camp. Slowly, cautiously, nearer -and nearer they drew; so cautiously that Tom, leading the -way, stumbled over a man huddled half-asleep in a blanket on -the lee side of a bush. With a half-cry the man sprang to his -feet, but as quick as thought Tom flung out his right fist, and -stretched him on the sodden ground. Before he could rise -again, or Tom could interfere, two Bahima flung themselves -on the body, and only a faint gurgle told that their fatal -knives had done their work. Tom felt a pang as he realized -that one poor creature had gone to his account; he was not -yet case-hardened to the terrible realities of war. But he -did not falter; a life taken meant perhaps hundreds of lives -saved, and never was war waged in a more righteous cause.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The column was now only four hundred yards from the -camp. Yard by yard it crawled along, the squelching of the -men's feet on the ground being smothered now by the heavy -patter of rain on the palisade and the huts. Suddenly a -stifled cry in the distance, far on his left, followed inside the -palisade by a sentry's call, told Tom that Mwonda's column -had not been so fortunate as his own.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now!" said Tom to Mbutu, who had kept close at his side -all the way. Instantly the blood-curdling jackal's howl -undulated through the drenched air. The men sprang forward, -with never a yell or cheer, a quick grunt alone proclaiming -their excitement. With a rush they gained the stockade, -scrambled up and over, Tom never knew how, and while the -startled enemy were still pouring half-dazed out of their -shelters, and hurrying up by twos and threes towards the -palisade, Tom's men were among them. The Arabs in their -long burnouses were distinguishable even in the murk; their -dependants formed only a blacker patch. Between the outer -and inner stockades there was no real attempt at resistance, -the men rushing hither and thither in wild confusion, not -knowing which way to turn, many being without arms, others -endeavouring in vain to fire muskets with damp powder. The -Bahima, now yelling and whooping, ran among them, cutting -them down by scores, and the cries of the wounded were -mingled with the exultant shouts of the attackers.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Rushing towards the inner stockade, Tom met with a more -determined resistance. The Arabs within that had had time -to recover from the first shock, and to seize their arms. They -made for the side on which, judging by the clamour, the -assault was being made. A few shots were fired, at random, -for no aim could be taken; but still the storming-party surged -on. The foremost of them fell back from the higher palisade, -and Tom himself narrowly escaped a blow from a scimitar -which, if it had fallen, would have concluded his career there -and then. But Mboda fortunately interposed his pike, which -was cut clean in two just above the head. Before the Arab -could recover himself a second pikeman had run him through. -This gave Tom enough time to secure a foothold on the top -of the stockade; the next moment he was over on the inside, -laying about him doughtily with his clubbed musket. He was -speedily joined by several of his men, who lunged and smote -at the mass of Arabs before them. There was the remnant of a -large fire still smouldering in the centre of the space. Driven -back on to this, the combatants sent a shower of sparks into -the air, and a flame shot up from the still unconsumed wood, -throwing its light full in the face of Tom's immediate opponent, -a pike's distance from him. In the features, distorted with -rage, Tom recognized those of his old enemy De Castro. The -recognition was mutual. With a snarl of hate the Portuguese -flung his heavy pistol full at Tom's head, and, changing his -sword from his left to his right hand, followed up the throw -with a desperate cut. Tom ducked his head; the pistol struck -with a dull crack on the skull of the man behind; with the -stock of his musket he parried the cut and sprang forward at -his enemy. Other warriors were crowding round, and in the -press there was no room to swing the weapon; all that Tom -could do was to prod heavily with the barrel. De Castro -started back, but he failed to escape the force of the blow -altogether; it took him in the midriff and doubled him up like a -hinge. The surging movement of the throng carried Tom past -and out of reach, and though he wrestled his way through and -hunted high and low for the Portuguese, he saw him no more.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Their attention having been taken up by Tom's force, -which was the first to reach the stockade, the Arabs had not -noticed, until it was too late, that they were also threatened -from another quarter. Mwonda and his men, clambering over -the palisade at the north-west side, found themselves almost -unopposed, and, sweeping away the few Manyema in the -interval between the two stockades, fell upon the rear of the -Arabs in the inner circle. Mwonda himself, by sheer weight -and impetus, bore down everyone who tried to make head -against him. Nothing could withstand the impetuosity of the -charge. Taken thus between two yelling hordes, the Arabs -made no further resistance. They fled for their lives, assisted -in their escape by the rain and darkness which had so much -contributed to their downfall. Scrambling pell-mell over the -stockade on the eastern side, they rushed madly away, and -became aware that the village a mile before them was astir; -shouts were coming faintly on the air. Fearing that still -another force was approaching to fall upon them, they swung -round to the north in twos and threes, a hopelessly broken -force; and falling, stumbling, crashing through mud and bush, -over the streams, into the swamps, they ran headlong, fear -pressing hard at their heels.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Measure for measure!" said Tom to himself grimly. Many -and many a time, he made no doubt, had panic-stricken negroes -fled from their oppressors in the same way. It was a turning -of the tables. The measure the Arabs had meted was being -indeed measured to them again, and Tom rejoiced in the -thought that just retribution was at last falling on men by -whom human life had been held so cheap.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Within the captured camp the victors were panting, laughing, -shouting in their glee. The rain had no power to damp -their spirits. Cries of "Kuboko!" rang through the air, and -a new war-song was composed on the spot. It was past two -o'clock in the morning; the rain was beating down more -heavily than ever; and Tom ordered the men to see to the -few wounded of his force and to do what they could for their -wounded enemies before seeking shelter for themselves. He -despatched a messenger at once to the village to give the -katikiro information of what had happened, and fifteen minutes -after the man had started, the shouts of thousands of voices -were distinctly heard, as they raised their song of rejoicing.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="the-great-fight"><span class="large">CHAPTER XVIII</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">The Great Fight</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">Rumaliza takes the Field--Exit Mabruki--Tom checks a -Rout--Mbutu Protests--The Great Zariba--Coming -to Grips--Beaten Off--The Second -Attack--Tom in the Breach--Rumaliza's Last Charge--The -Eight Hundred--Nemesis</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>When morning broke in cold and mist, the scene showed how -complete had been the surprise of the camp, and how one-sided -the fight. More than two hundred men lay dead and wounded -within the two stockades, and Tom's heart bled as he realized -how helpless he was to do anything effectual for those whose -wounds were serious. His own losses had been very slight; -many of the men had nothing but insignificant bruises and -cuts to show, only a few had been killed. All the equipment -of the camp, and a large quantity of arms and ammunition, -had fallen into his hands, forming a very welcome addition -to his resources. He estimated that the captured rifles and -muskets would enable him to arm nearly six hundred men.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With the morning light came the katikiro with a hundred -of his men. He was wild with delight at the discomfiture of -the Arabs' scheme, and furious with rage at the trick played -upon him, which, but for Tom's vigilance and energy, would -probably have succeeded only too well. Despatching three -hundred men in pursuit of the Arab force, with orders to -bring back what prisoners they could, Tom led the katikiro -aside and questioned him on the extraordinary mistake he -had made. Msala said that, on the evening of the day on -which Kuboko started for the forest, a messenger had come -into the village from an Arab force two marches away -demanding its surrender.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I cut off his head," said Msala simply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom started, but the moment was not opportune for a -reprimand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What happened then?" he asked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nothing. I posted sentries as you bade me; nothing -happened."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where was Mabruki?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He heard the man's message and saw me cut his head off, -and he said he would go into the fields and search for herbs -and charms to keep the village safe."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And you let him go?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What could I do, master? Mabruki is a strong man, and -the people would have grumbled if I had not let him go on -such a good errand."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Always a moral coward, Msala," said Tom to himself. -"Well, what then?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He came back at dead of night with his herbs. Next day -came the messenger from you, showing me the rag with the -mark. I sent him back to you. I did not wish to send him, -I thought he was tired, but Mabruki said send him, for he -would know the way, and would tell you himself that his -errand was fulfilled."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I sent no messenger; that man never reached me. Go on."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Then I sent the second message to say how weak I should -be without the eight hundred. I did not tell Mabruki, for I -thought he would be offended."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No doubt."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And then I sent the eight hundred men to the burning -mountain, as you bade me. And that is all I know till I saw -the Arabs coming from the north and making their camp. I -was ready to fight. I sent off another messenger to you; but -you came, O Kuboko, and you have smitten them like hares."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I do not understand it yet. Where is Mabruki now?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I left him burning grass in honour of your victory."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well. Go back to the village and keep a watch over -him. Don't let him escape."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The katikiro returned, with a very crestfallen look, to the -village. Tom then gave orders that the Arab camp should be -destroyed after everything of any value had been removed. -By and by his three hundred returned in twos and threes, -bringing with them prisoners captured on the confines of the -forest. From one of these, an Arab, Tom succeeded with -some trouble in extracting information about the previous -movements of the force to which he belonged. He found -that, about a week before the main body of the Arabs had -left their stronghold, a smaller force of one thousand picked -men had started under the leadership of De Castro, all armed -with firearms. Their destination was not known when they -set out, but they had approached the village by a circuitous -route through the forest, some thirty miles to the west of the -route adopted by the main force. Their object was to surprise -the village after its defenders had been decoyed away. De -Castro had not reckoned on finding any force in the village, -believing that its full strength would, by the time he arrived, -have been drawn into the forest. What had happened after -his messenger failed to return, this prisoner did not know.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Questioning him further, Tom was rewarded with information -of the greatest interest and importance. The Arab -stronghold lay many marches to the north-west, on an island -in the middle of a lake. It was strongly fortified, and so -cleverly concealed that no one could suspect from the shore -that the island was anything but a wilderness of bush and -trees. The forest surrounding the lake was dense, broken -here and there by clearings where slaves were kept. The -officials of the Congo State had never once made their -appearance there. No path led through the forest to the shore. -The Arabs reached the lake by a river, their canoes being kept -on the island and paddled out and in when required. No -white man had ever seen this fortress--stay, one white man -was probably there now. On the way towards the village -De Castro's force had met a big red-faced man with brown -hair all over his face, four eyes, two of them stuck on wires -of gold, and a stomach like a tub. They had captured with -him several bags containing all sorts of curious and useful -things, and four donkeys. He had blustered and stormed, -saying many things in a strange tongue, but De Castro had -ordered him to be carried in bonds to the fortress, to be kept -there until the return of the expedition.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom could not help smiling as he thought of Herr Schwab, -so full of confidence and cheerful assurance, kept a prisoner -in the Arab stronghold.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And who is your leader?" he asked the man.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was Rumaliza himself, he replied. He was an old man, -much broken since his last great fight with the Belgians, but -retaining still all his indomitable spirit. He was actually -accompanying the force through the forest; for he seemed -persuaded that the final crisis of his life had come, and he -wished to superintend the inevitable fight and match his -known skill and craft against the white man, who, rumour -said, was pitting himself against him. With Rumaliza came -his tried lieutenant, Ahmed. Mustapha would probably have -come also, but for the failure of his ambush against the -British force, which had somewhat shaken the old chief's -confidence in him. He had been left in charge of the island -fortress. There were not many men left with him, but an -expedition which had been sent out several months before to -the north was long overdue when De Castro's column started, -and Rumaliza would probably leave these men behind to -strengthen Mustapha's garrison.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All this acted like wine upon Tom's spirit. Rumaliza -himself, the chief whose name was everywhere held in horror -as a synonym for cruelty, fraud, cunning, and barbarous -valour, was leading his host forth on an enterprise on which -he staked all! Tom's imagination was stirred at the prospect -of meeting the redoubtable chief, and still more at the news -of the mysterious island fortress.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From another prisoner, an Arab of higher rank, he obtained, -later in the day, particulars which enabled him to piece -together a coherent story of the attempted ruse. De Castro -had waited and waited for his messenger to return, fuming at -his delay, and vowing to teach him a lesson. At length a -Muiro appeared, who explained that the man was dead, but -brought an offer from the medicine-man to treat. De Castro -had gone forward after dark and met Mabruki. This, Tom -conjectured, was the time when the katikiro had supposed -him to be gathering herbs. The prisoner had himself -accompanied the Portuguese to the rendezvous, ten miles from the -village, and had heard the terms of the compact. Mabruki -had promised to get rid by a trick of the greater part of the -katikiro's force. The Portuguese would find it easy then to -enter the village. The katikiro would be cut in pieces, after -which the white man was to be inveigled back and handed -to De Castro. In return for these services Mabruki was to -receive a present of ivory, and to be allowed to make himself -chief in Mwonga's stead, thus getting possession (Tom supplied -the detail from his own knowledge) of the store of ivory and -treasure which lay beneath the chief's hut. It was evident -that only the katikiro's after-thought, to send a second -messenger into the forest, had foiled the plot.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There were still two points that puzzled Tom. The first -was, why had not De Castro gone direct to the village instead -of camping within a mile of it, three hours before sunset? -The Arab explained that his chief had acted in the teeth of -the advice of his lieutenants. They were all for proceeding -without delay. It was sheer indolence, so characteristic of -the Portuguese, and overweening self-confidence, that had -determined De Castro to rest after his march and enjoy his -evening meal in peace, deferring the attack until dawn. The -other point was: How had the medicine-man got possession -of the paper? The Arab knew nothing about this, Msala was -equally in the dark, and Tom resolved to question Mabruki -himself and probe the plot to the bottom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Having now a pretty clear idea of the course of events, Tom -returned to the village, where the people were holding high -festivities in honour of the great victory. Tom did not check -the mirth of the non-combatants, but he gathered the fighting-men -together and told them gravely that the hardest fight of -all was still before them. A few minutes after his return -Msala came to him boiling with rage.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mabruki is gone!" he said. "While I was away he -gathered his basket and bell and piles of charms and -fetish-grass, and went away towards the setting sun. Many men -saw him go, but they feared his evil eye and the might of his -magic, and none dared to stay him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, we are rid of a villain, and I am spared the necessity -of employing a hangman."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A hangman!" cried the indignant katikiro. "I would -myself have cut off his head, though all his devils plagued me -for ever after."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Msala," said Tom gravely, "that sort of thing will not do. -Have I been with you so long, and yet you are ignorant of -the true way of justice? You will think better of it when -your anger has passed away, my friend."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Msala was silent.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, we have no time to waste," Tom went on. "We -have had a little rest, and there is the great fight before us in -the forest. We must have the men back from the burning -mountain. Mbutu, I will send your brother for them. He -will go to the volcano and bring back the eight hundred men -there. On reaching the village they must rest for a short -time; then, Msala, you will send six hundred of them on with -all speed northwards, along with two hundred fresh men. The -rest will remain with you to defend the village."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This having been arranged, soon after twelve o'clock Tom -led his men out towards the north. He had expected a -messenger to come in with news from the force he had left -in the forest, and he could not but regard his non-arrival as -an indication that the men were at least holding their own. -After a march of nearly five hours he reached the largest -block-house, which stood two miles from the edge of the forest. -He found that, though firing had been heard in the distance, -no message had been received from the front, and after his -troops had made a rapid meal he hurried on.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had not gone far before he heard irregular firing ahead. -Hastening his pace he soon saw, amid the scrub and thin -copses at the extreme edge of the forest, scattered bodies of -men approaching in the direction of the block-house. Keen -as his eyesight was, he could not distinguish whether the men -were friends or foes, but some of his own troops at once -exclaimed that they were Bahima. The men he had left in -the forest were evidently, then, retreating, but the firing -showed that they were retiring slowly, fighting, as he had -commanded them, every inch of the way. He at once made -dispositions to prevent a rout, and to give his men a strong -position to retire upon. Sending out a small body of picked -men to rally the retreating troops, he ordered the seventy -spademen he had with him to throw up a rough breastwork -behind which the musketeers might take secure aim. The -work was only half-completed when loud shouts, with the -boom-boom of trade guns and the sharper crack of rifles, -showed that the Arabs were pressing hard upon the retreating -Bahima. Suddenly a larger body of men emerged in -confusion from the dense scrub, followed closely by another body -evidently in hot pursuit. The retreat would soon have -become a rout, for the Bahima were outflanked and outnumbered, -and the Arabs, assured of victory, were pressing hard upon -them, with exultant cries, and the manifest determination, as -soon as the whole of their force had debouched, to finish the -struggle with a crushing charge. But the opportune arrival -of the small rallying force sent forward by Tom enabled the -retreating troops to draw off in comparatively good order. -The reinforcements occupied a small copse on the extreme -right of the Arab advance, and from this place of vantage -they poured in so harassing a fire that the enemy, taken by -surprise and fearing a trap, halted, undecided whether to press -forward or retire, in the meantime taking what cover the -ground afforded. The few minutes' respite was all that was -needed to enable Tom to withdraw his discomfited troops -behind the breastwork, and when the Arabs made up their -minds to clear the copse they found it deserted. They then -showed some disposition to advance against Tom's main -position, but, meeting a sharp musketry fire, they changed their -minds and prepared to form a camp, from which Tom concluded -that they had decided to postpone their attack in force -until they had surveyed the ground and taken a rest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was now past five o'clock, and little more than half an -hour of daylight was left. The Arabs had had a hard day's -work. They had found the ford so stoutly defended that a -passage at that point was impossible, and they had had to -march for some miles before they found another fordable -place, and then to cut their way through dense forest, -harassed all along by the persistent Bahima. Thus they were -much in need of rest. To attack by night, moreover, is -foreign to all the Arab's habits and traditions, and Tom -recognized thankfully that he had the whole night in which to -prepare for the fateful conflict.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Obviously, with a force so largely outnumbered by the -enemy, he could not afford to risk a fight in the open. The -questions occurred to him: Suppose he took up a strong -defensive position, could he tempt the Arabs to attack him -directly? was there no danger of their creeping round on -his right and overwhelming the village? The first question -he easily answered. The Arabs had come purposely to attack -him, and all that he had ever seen or heard about them -warranted the belief that they would waste no time in tactics, but -would come on in a furious onslaught, trusting to sheer weight -of numbers to carry them through. The second question gave -him more difficulty; but when he remembered that in order to -reach the village without fighting him the Arabs would have -to make a detour of nearly twenty miles, through a country -already stripped of food and waterless, with the danger of -their rear being harassed all the way, he regarded such a -movement as very improbable, and decided that the approaching -battle would in all likelihood be fought on ground of his -own choosing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had already marked what seemed to him an ideal spot -for such an encounter. Extending for nearly a mile into the -plain, there lay, to the west of the path into the forest, an -extensive swamp, fringed with thick reeds, and so much -swollen by the recent rains that it was bound to present great -difficulty to an advancing enemy. He resolved to form during -the night a strong zariba, resting one side of it upon this -swamp. He ordered his men, therefore, to remove all the -ammunition and provisions from the block-house to the edge -of the swamp, and to obtain a good supply of water from a -stream running across the plain half a mile in his rear, and -then to set fire to the block-house, which could not be held if -seriously attacked, and yet might prove a source of danger if -left as a means of cover for the enemy. Collecting, then, his -whole force, he led them to the swamp, and set a large number -digging a trench and erecting an earthwork around three sides -of a square, each face being about one-fifth of a mile in length. -Another body he ordered to collect mimosa-scrub and cactus -from the clumps in the neighbourhood, to plant these in the -earthwork, and to weave among them all kinds of thorn-plants, -so as to make a thick hedge, almost impervious to bullets. It -was dark before the task was weir begun, but posting a number -of pickets and sentries round his position, to prevent any -interference on the part of the enemy, he got some thirty of his -men to light the workers with torches, which, being seen -extended over a large area, would no doubt also serve to give the -Arabs an exaggerated notion of his strength. Soon after the -torches were lit, shouts from the Arab camp more than a mile -away apprised him that they had noted his movements, and -the beating of drums at first suggested that an attack was -imminent; but Mbutu explained that the Arab drummers were -merely amusing themselves by signalling the terrible deeds -that were to be done on the following day, and how the Bahima -force was to be scattered to the four winds.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom merely smiled, and pressed on the work, allowing his -men short spells of rest, until about eleven o'clock, by which -time the zariba was complete. He would have liked to -protect his position still further, by means of pointed stakes -planted all round it, driven deep into the ground, and projecting -only four inches above the surface. In the half-light, -when he expected the attack to be made, these would be -invisible to the enemy. But, walking round in the moonlight -among his men, he saw that their work on the entrenchments -had told heavily upon those he had brought from -the village, while those who had been fighting all day in the -forest were obviously incapable of further exertion. It was -absolutely essential that they should regain their strength and -freshness for the morrow's combat. He therefore contented -himself with protecting only the two exposed corners of the -zariba, knowing that these are always the most vulnerable -points, and the first to be attacked.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Soon after eleven he turned in himself for a short nap, -taking every precaution against surprise by posting pickets -and maintaining a regular series of patrols, of which Mwonda -was left in charge. At two he was up again, going the round -of the sentries, and he ordered Mwonda to get what sleep he -could before dawn. He had expected that by this time the eight -hundred men from the village would have joined him, but -when at three o'clock there was still no sign of them he called -Mbutu to him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You must go and hurry on the advance of those eight -hundred men," he said. "We have tremendous odds against -us, and it may make all the difference in the world to have -those men. If, when you return, you find us fighting, take -them round the swamp and fall on the rear of the enemy. I -depend on you, Mbutu."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom had spoken in Mbutu's own tongue, and was somewhat -surprised to miss the bright eager look with which the boy -usually received his commands. Mbutu's face was -expressionless, and he made no remark.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is it, Mbutu? You are not afraid?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am not afraid. I am never afraid."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tell me, then, why you look so strangely solemn?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu was silent for a few seconds. Then he said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I vowed never to leave you, master, to stay always by -your side, to be your right arm. You send me from you; I -obey. But if any harm comes to you, if a spear pierces you, -or a bullet plunges into your flesh, I shall not be there. It is -not well, master."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom was touched by the boy's devotion.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am proud of you, Mbutu," he said. "It is because I -trust you that I give this task to you. Do not fear for me; -you will do me the best service by leading the eight hundred -faithfully to my support. It is my command, Mbutu."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I will do as you say, master," said Mbutu, and hastened -away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom employed the two hours before dawn in still further -strengthening his position. He got his men to throw up a -semicircular entrenchment inside the zariba and resting on -the swamp, as a protection for his reserve. Near the middle -of this was a boulder from which he could survey the whole -battlefield. For the safe-keeping of his ammunition and -hand-grenades he directed his men to make a number of bullet-proof -shelters--holes about a yard deep, dug near the earthwork, -roofed with wood, and covered with the earth excavated. -These shelters were ample protection except against powerful -artillery, which Tom knew that the Arabs did rot possess, and -he was no longer in any anxiety lest an unlucky shot should -explode his reserve ammunition.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At one point on each face of the zariba he so arranged the -screen of mimosa and cactus that it formed a rough gateway -opening outwards, thus allowing, if opportunity should arise, -of a rapid sally by the defenders. On the northern and -southern faces the gateways were at the extremity resting on -the swamp; on the third face the opening was at the -south-east corner, clear of the stakes.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>While a small force of workers was carrying out these -operations, Tom sat down to take a final cool review of the -whole situation. His own advantages were: a strong position, -ample supplies of food and water, a certain number of -disciplined troops, and some novelty of armament in the shape of -pikes and hand-grenades. On the other hand, he was weaker -in numbers than the Arabs, and was not nearly so well equipped -with firearms. They, on their side, had the larger force and -the better weapons, but these advantages were to some extent -counterbalanced by the defects of their strategical position. -They were bound to attack, for their supplies were limited. -They could only safely obtain water from a stream five miles -in their rear; while in regard to food, the whole region for -a hundred miles was so sparsely peopled, and had been so -thoroughly scoured during their advance, that it could not -now maintain a tithe of their number for a week. To assault -the village would be, as he had already decided, to court -disaster, and after their previous experience, they must -themselves feel that they had very little chance of capturing it with -a rush. It was quite possible--indeed, more than probable--that -they had already heard of the crushing blow suffered by -De Castro. Many of the fugitives from his force had no doubt -sought safety in the forest until their friends came in sight, -and then had joined them. Tom thought it not unlikely that -De Castro himself was in the neighbourhood, and he at any -rate would stimulate the Arabs to attack, and seize what -opportunity there might be of crushing their enemy at a -single blow. Weighing all these points, Tom saw that a task -of great difficulty and tremendous import lay before him, but -he did not quail; his courage and determination rose to meet -the manifest danger, and it was with a feeling of confidence, a -consciousness that every faculty was nerved to the encounter, -that he quietly, about five o'clock, gave the order for the -camp to be aroused.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Breakfast!" he said, for he well knew the fighting value -of a good square meal. The natives were wildly excited, and -no amount of discipline would suffice to make them hold -their tongues. All the time that the food was being prepared, -and throughout the meal, their tongues clacked and chattered -with unchecked volubility. Soon responsive sounds came -from the Arab camp, and the drummers on both sides started -a tempestuous duel of threats and malediction. Tom, -however, put a stop to this on his side, and when the meal was -finished he collected the men, and in a few quiet and earnest -words impressed upon them the gravity and moment of the -impending conflict. Then he ordered them to their posts.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On each of the three exposed sides of the zariba he placed -a front rank of musketeers and a rear rank of pikemen, the -double line accounting for two thousand seven hundred men. -The six hundred trade guns and rifles captured from De -Castro's force had been distributed among the allies. These -included a fair percentage of hunters who knew how to use -firearms, although only one in a hundred was the happy -possessor of a flint-lock. At each of the corners of the zariba -Tom posted fifty additional pikemen, forming thus a double -line. The pikemen were supplied with three hand-grenades -apiece. The remainder of the force, consisting of four hundred -picked men, was stationed in reserve within the inner -entrenchment, ready to be thrown towards any threatened point. -This reserve was under the command of Mwonda. Tom -himself took up his position on the boulder, whence he looked -through the gray dawn towards the Arab camp.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a cold morning, and a thin mist lay clammy over -the plain, wrapping the scattered bushes and trees in a fleecy -garment of white. The scouts whom Tom sent out soon -vanished, but a breeze was springing up, and pale streaks -of light struggled through the haze. Half an hour went by, -a period of anxious expectancy. The noises from the Arab -camp were hushed, and Tom's three thousand men stood to -their arms, and strained eyes and ears towards the enemy. -The mist was rolling towards the swamp, and suddenly, as -it were behind it, two of the scouts reappeared, with the -news that the enemy was on the move. Soon afterwards -shots were heard, the remaining scouts came hastening back, -and in the distance, dimly through the wisps of vapour, -appeared the Arab host, a compact mass, moving directly and -rapidly towards the north-east corner of the zariba. It -advanced in dead silence. The zariba was still partially curtained -by mist; but the Arabs could not have expected to surprise -the camp, for the shots fired by the scouts as they were driven -in must have shown that Tom's troops were on the alert. -From his post of observation on the boulder Tom saw that -behind the main body, which he judged roughly to be about -four thousand strong, a smaller body was advancing at an -interval of a hundred and fifty yards. A few white burnouses -were dotted among the serried mass of Manyema in the van, -but the reserve force was Arab throughout.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The light was growing, and the mist hanging over the -zariba was gradually rolled by the breeze back on to the -swamp. Shouts arose from the foremost ranks of the Manyema -as they saw their enemy, who responded with a bellowing -roar. On came the hostile host, and Tom marked every -foot of their progress, ready at the right moment to give the -word to his eager troops. The Manyema would charge, he -knew; he made up his mind that the force of their charge -must be broken ere they came too near, so that they might -have less energy for hand-to-hand fighting. The effective -range of his muskets was no more than three hundred yards, -but he had a few Winchesters, captured after the siege and -in the rout of De Castro's force. When the enemy was within -about a third of a mile of the zariba, Tom ordered twenty -picked riflemen to open fire. A sharp volley rang across the -plain; several men in the front ranks of the Manyema dropped, -and there was an instant reply.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Down, men!" shouted Tom, immediately after his men -had fired. Not a head was visible above the parapet, and -the enemy's scattered volley passed harmlessly over the camp. -Many of the bullets, indeed, were nearly spent when they -struck the earthwork; and Tom concluded that the best-armed -among the Arabs were certainly not in the van.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He threw a hasty glance at the Arab reserve, now about -half a mile away. It was advancing leisurely to the support -of the main force, as though the leader expected the zariba -to be carried easily at the first shock of the huge mass. Only -two faces of the zariba were threatened, and Tom, seeing -that there was no immediate danger of an attack from the -south, ordered the musketeers on that face to issue from -their gateway and post themselves behind the stakes at the -corner, whence they could bring a flanking fire to bear on -the dense crowd approaching. At the same time he moved -the pikemen-grenadiers on this face to the eastern front, -to assist in meeting the expected rush, and ordered part -of his reserve to sally out by the north gate, and, lining the -edge of the swamp, to threaten the flank of the attack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Rapidly as these movements were carried out, they were -barely completed when the Manyema broke into a run, and -with fierce exultant yells surged forward, firing as they came. -Their fire was wild and unsteady, while Tom's riflemen, taking -careful aim from their position behind the earthwork, did -much execution among them. The remainder of the musketeers, -stooping behind their shelter, eagerly expected the order -to fire, but Tom stood silent and watchful, waiting until the -enemy were well within range. Even in that tense moment -he felt proud of his men's self-restraint. Then, when the -shouting negroes were within two hundred yards of the zariba, -the long-awaited order was given. A sheet of flame burst -from the two sides of the zariba on which the attack was -directed. There were many gaps in the advancing ranks, -but so dense was the throng that these were instantly filled -up, and the Manyema came on like a swiftly-moving wall. -There was no time for Tom's musketeers to reload. At fifty -yards he gave the word to his grenadiers, who were stooping, -match in hand, their eyes fixed on his face, their limbs strained -like springs. At the command, three hundred grenades were -hurled into the seething mass, and amid the deafening clatter -of the explosions the grenadiers seized their pikes and stood -close to stem the advancing torrent. Yelling with fury, the -horde swept forward. Standing grim at his post, Tom -wondered whether anything could resist the impending shock, -and glanced with a momentary anxiety at his embattled -ranks. But there he saw no sign of flinching, nothing -but gleaming eyes, and hands clenched firmly about their -weapons.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly the centre of the enemy's line came upon the -row of stakes at the north-eastern corner of the zariba, so -cunningly planted that in their impetuous rush the Manyema -failed wholly to perceive them. The advancing wave broke -like surf upon the shore; the onrushing force split into two -sections, with a confused heap in the centre, stumbling -helplessly over the sharp points, screaming with pain, yet pushed -on by their comrades behind, these in their turn to fall upon -the stakes. As they struggled there, a heavy fire broke from -the musketeers who, pushed out from the southern face, had -just taken up their position behind the stakes at their corner. -A moment later an answering volley came from the ranks of -the reserve thrown out on the north side. Bullets fell thick -among the maddened heap. Five hundred yards away the -Arab leader recognized that his main body was in imminent -danger of rout, and hurried forward a portion of his reserve. -But it was too late. His riflemen could not fire without doing -more damage among their own friends than among the Bahima. -Before they had covered half the distance separating them -from the zariba, the vanguard was in full flight, rushing -pell-mell from the withering rifle-fire, bursting into the ranks of -the reserve, and sweeping them away in their mad dash for -safety. Fierce yells followed them; the musketeers behind -the earthwork had had time to reload, and, leaping up, poured -a volley into the retreating ranks. Some of the pikemen were -preparing to fling themselves over the fence in pursuit, but -a curt word from Kuboko fixed them to their posts. Tom -saw, a quarter of a mile away, some fifteen hundred -well-armed men, the flower of the Arab force, and recognized that -before he could get his own troops clear of the zariba the -broken ranks of his enemy might re-form and return with the -supporting force to outflank and crush the Bahima, by superior -numbers, to say nothing of superior armament, which in the -open would tell much more in the enemy's favour. He -therefore checked the incipient pursuit, and ordered the troops he -had thrown out on each flank to return within the shelter of -the zariba.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It had been a breathless moment. Not a quarter of an -hour had elapsed since the advancing tide had rolled towards -him in the full confidence of victory, and now it had rolled -back again, leaving four hundred strewn over the field.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well done, my men!" cried Tom, and a great shout rose -from his exultant troops. Their loss had been but slight. -Tom ordered the wounded to be attended to, and allowed the -panting warriors to drink their fill of water.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He was under no illusions upon the situation. The first -attack, an impetuous rush </span><em class="italics">en masse</em><span>, had been repelled; but -he knew that he was not dealing with mere savages, or even -with Arabs of the Soudan, but with experienced warriors who -had borne the brunt of many a fight, and who had every -motive for nerving themselves for a second and more formidable -onslaught. It was now broad daylight; the sun lay -large and red upon the horizon. In the distance Tom descried -the Arab camp occupied only by a horde of slave carriers; -between them and him was the baffled enemy, and he saw the -Arab leaders slashing at their retreating troops, and adjuring -them with vehement cries to rally and stand firm. The -conflict was evidently still to come, and Tom was glad of the -breathing-space to allow his men to rest, and to enable himself -to make preparations for meeting an attack which he knew -would strain the powers of his force to the uttermost.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The exertions of the Arab leaders had checked the rout -among their men, who were gradually rallying and forming up -on either side of the reserve. There was an interval, and -then Tom saw emerging from the hostile force three tall -figures, two of them wearing turbans and long white robes, -the third a gigantic negro, taller even than Mwonda. Tom -looked anxiously at the other two as they approached, no -doubt to see for themselves the position which had so -unexpectedly disconcerted their men. They drew nearer.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That is Ahmed, I suppose," said Tom to himself. "Who -is his companion, I wonder? Can it be the hakim?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But no; the figure was that of an older and a taller man -than the hakim, a venerable figure with long white beard -reaching almost to his waist. He was slightly bent, and -walked with the tottering steps of an old and feeble man. -"Rumaliza!" ejaculated Tom; "it must be Rumaliza himself, -the old chief who has deluged Central Africa with blood. -He comes breathing out threatening and slaughter. He means -to direct the fight; he does me honour."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The three figures still advanced. They were now within -musket shot.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Impudent, not to say foolhardy," thought Tom. "I can't -allow them to come any nearer."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He called up half a dozen of his sharp-shooters and bade -them open fire. Six bullets sped across the earthwork; next -instant Ahmed staggered, and was supported out of range by -his companions.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's no want of courage, at any rate," thought Tom. -"The real business is only just beginning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the three intrepid leaders had regained their lines, -about a thousand men advanced in skirmishing order towards -the zariba, taking advantage of what slight cover was afforded -by the inequalities of the ground and the little scrub which -Tom's men had not removed. Halting out of range of Tom's -muskets, though not of his few Winchesters, they opened a brisk -fire on the zariba. A moment's observation sufficed to show -Tom that he was outranged; he therefore made no attempt -to reply to the fire, but ordered his men to lie close, withdrew -them from the north and south faces, where they were exposed -to the cross-fire over the earthwork, and set a number of -spademen to dig a shelter trench and embankment parallel to -the northern and southern faces of the zariba. Beginning -under the eastern face, the men were in great measure -protected from the enemy's bullets, and though every now and -then a man was hit, the new defences were completed with -surprisingly little damage.</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 88%" id="figure-88"> -<span id="the-great-fight-by-the-swamp"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="The Zariba and its defences at the moment of the 2nd. Arab attack." src="images/img-296.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">The Zariba and its defences at the moment of the 2nd. Arab attack.</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>The firing went on more or less fitfully for nearly an hour, -and Tom could see that his persistent refusal to reply caused -first surprise and then anger among the Arabs. A general -movement began on their part. Some fifteen hundred men -detached themselves from the main body and marched northwards; -a similar body, not quite so numerous, moved to the -south; and Tom instantly concluded that a combined attack -was to be made simultaneously on each face of the zariba. -Taking advantage of some scrub, the northern party was able -to advance safely to within two hundred yards of the -earthwork, while the southern force in the open halted at a rather -greater distance, out of range of all but the Winchesters. -Owing to lack of ammunition for these, Tom was unable to -touch the enemy, and had perforce to await developments. As -soon as the flanking forces had taken up their positions, a -compact body of five hundred Arabs advanced to join the -skirmishers in his immediate front, and the whole force there, -some fifteen hundred men in all, formed up in four ranks over -a frontage of about two hundred and fifty yards. Of the -whole Arab host only five hundred men remained in the rear, -stationed on a knoll selected as their head-quarters during the -fight. Among these Rumaliza and Ahmed were conspicuous.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom, watching every move of the enemy with lynx-eyed -keenness, imperturbably gave his orders. He recognized that -it was this time to be a hand-to-hand struggle, with all the -odds against him. He divided his reserve into three portions; -one, under Mwonda's command, to reinforce any point threatened -on the northern face; the second, under the kasegara, to -watch the southern face; and the third, under his own direction, -to stand in readiness to lend any assistance required at -the eastern face. He cast his eye round the position; the -men stood to their arms, expectant, eager, confident; there -was not a sign of timidity or cowardice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From the knoll, five hundred yards away, came the roll of -a drum. Raising their weapons aloft and uttering a fierce -war-cry, the three divisions of Arabs and Manyema sprang -forward at the same moment upon the three sides of the -zariba. The lesson taught by their former mishap had been -well learned; this time they avoided the stakes at the corners, -and charged in directions perpendicular to the three fronts. -For the first hundred and fifty yards they fired as they came, -and though, when well within range, they were met by a -murderous discharge of bullets and grenades from the earthwork, -they pressed on regardless of their many casualties, and -within half a minute had reached the thorn-protected zariba.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then began a desperate and mortal struggle. With the -exception of the reserve, still held by Tom as in a leash within -the inner entrenchment, every man was at grips with the -enemy. Firearms were useless. It was pike and bayonet -against scimitar, clubbed musket, and spear. So fierce was the -onset that in many places the thorn hedge was cut or torn -down, and through the gaps a wild horde of black and turbaned -warriors struggled to force a way. The defenders had lost -heavily during the enemy's advance, and Tom's anxious eye -had noted many weak spots in the double rank of musketeers -and pikemen. He himself stood in the middle of the square, -to outward appearance impassive, the target for snap-shots -still fired, when opportunity offered, by the assailants. A -half-spent bullet struck him on the left forearm, inflicting a -slight wound which he hardly felt. He mechanically took off -his turban and handed it to one of his men to bind tightly -about the arm, all the time having his eyes fixed on the thin -line of troops fighting gallantly against such desperate odds. -No detail of the fight escaped him. On the northern face -the enemy were making but little headway; their force there -consisted mainly of Manyema, and as yet the screen of mimosa -and cactus was almost intact. But on the eastern face, where -tall Arabs were led by the gigantic negro, the strength of the -garrison was taxed to the uttermost. Most of the Arabs -were attacking with scimitar in their right hand and clubbed -musket in their left. At first the Bahima's long pikes, thrust -out through interstices in the fence, were too much for them, -but as the combat progressed they instinctively adapted their -method of fighting to the new conditions. Approaching just -out of reach of the pikes, they tempted the pikemen to lunge, -and then with a sharp stroke of their keen blades either -severed the head from the shaft or so weakened it as to render -it useless. Tom saw the trick, and was about to give -instructions how to meet it when he was delighted to perceive that -his men, after one or two of them had been caught, had -themselves seen how to avoid the danger by shortening their lunge. -Even when the heads of their pikes were knocked off, however, -they still made good use of the shafts, bringing them down -with tremendous force upon the heads and bodies of all who -came within reach.</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 65%" id="figure-89"> -<span id="tom-in-the-breach"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="Tom in the Breach" src="images/img-299.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">Tom in the Breach</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>So far, though the Arabs fought like tigers, they had been -kept outside the wall of the zariba. But suddenly, at the -eastern face, a portion of the fencing collapsed as though it -were made of paper. Through the gap instantly poured a gang -of yelling Arabs headed by the negro captain, before whose -huge two-handed sword pikemen and musketeers went over -like grass before the mower.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bahima, with me!" shouted Tom, springing from his -boulder, and dashing forward at the head of his reserve -company to stem the torrent. He saw that there was not a -moment to lose; if the breach was not instantly dammed the -invading horde would carry all before them and sweep the -garrison into the swamp.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Among the nine thousand men on that stricken field, Tom -alone had, until this moment, been unarmed; but stooping now -as he ran, he snatched from the ground the weapon of a dead -musketeer, just in time to parry a sweeping stroke of the negro -captain that fell upon his musket and cleft the wood to the -barrel. He saw the look of exultation in the negro's fierce -eyes, but the force of the blow caused the assailant to recoil; -before he could recover, Tom was in under his guard and with -the butt of the musket struck him square between the eyes. -No skull but a negro's could have survived the force of the -blow; he did not fall, but halted, dazed. His arm hung for a -brief moment helpless at his side, and then Tom, dropping -his broken musket, dealt him a body blow with the bare fist -which from school experience he knew must be conclusive. -The negro swayed, reeled, and dropped like a log; Tom was -swept on over his prostrate body and saw him no more. The -fight had occupied but a few seconds. Tom's men had thrown -themselves furiously upon their opponents; the Arabs, missing -the inspiriting presence and voice of their gigantic leader, -faltered; in a few seconds more they were overpowered, and -now tried to regain the outside of the square.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Guard the gap, my men!" cried Tom, and seeing that -there was no immediate danger of another irruption in this -quarter he extricated himself from the mêlée, and made his -way towards his post of observation to see how the fight was -going elsewhere. Before he reached the centre he knew that -the whole of his reserve was now engaged. Two breaks had -been made on the southern face and one on the northern, and -a small band of Manyema was threatening the flank of the -defence by wading some yards into the swamp. On the south, -as Tom knew by soundings that he had taken, the ooze was -so deep that any man venturing into it would speedily be -sucked down and submerged, but on the north there was a -fordable though difficult approach, and it was important to -repel this attack once for all. Calling, therefore, a few of his -best musketeers, he stationed them at the north-western corner, -and assured himself that by keeping up a steady fire there -they could prevent a dangerous assault in that quarter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Turning again, he saw, with a pang, that his force had -already suffered very heavily. On every face of the zariba -the ground was strewn with prone bodies, and it was a harrowing -thought that, in the heat of the fight, nothing could be -done for the wounded men, whose groans mingled with the -yells of the combatants.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where is Mbutu?" was the unspoken question that ever -and anon formed itself in Tom's mind. It was past nine -o'clock; there had been ample time, surely, for the eight -hundred men to arrive from the village, and Tom more than -once looked anxiously towards the forest in the hope of seeing -Mbutu appear with the reinforcements so urgently needed. -Would he never come? On the knoll the five hundred Arabs -were still held in reserve; so confused had been the contest -hitherto that it must have been impossible for the Arab leaders -to form a just idea as to how the fight was going; but they -had seen at any rate that their men had not yet been driven -away; and if they threw their reserve into the scale, as they -might do at any moment, Tom felt that it would be impossible -to maintain his ground.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But though he was anxious he was not yet dismayed. He -saw that his men, fighting with unquenchable ardour, were -slowly getting the better of their assailants. Several times he -was moved to utter cries of commendation and encouragement -as he witnessed some skilful feat of arms. Mwonda was -bearing his huge bulk resistless into the thick of the fight, and -largely by his individual prowess and contagious recklessness -the enemy were at last driven off pell-mell at all points. But -while some ran to a safe distance and threw themselves -exhausted on the ground, others clung tenaciously to their -position outside the zariba, deriving almost as much protection -from the earthwork as the garrison inside. For some minutes -there was a strange lull, like that which occasionally interrupts -the fiercest hurricane. The war-cries were hushed; the clash -of arms was stilled; nothing could be heard but the moans -of the wounded. Both sides were gathering strength for a -renewed struggle. The sun was rising hot in the heavens, and -Tom's men in the glare and heat were too much fatigued even -to reload their muskets. Tom allowed them to go in small -batches to the water-pitchers, where they gulped down a few -mouthfuls, then returned to their posts. The enemy all the -time were exposed to the fierce pangs of unassuageable thirst, -and many lay panting on the ground, while some crept away -to the extreme edge of the swamp, and lapped up the foul -scum-cloaked death-dealing water there.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Will Mbutu never come?" was Tom's unuttered cry.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The restful interval was not of long duration. Tom, whose -attention never flagged, noted a movement on the knoll. He -saw the gaunt figure of the veteran leader stand before his -men, draw his sword from its scabbard, and wave it above his -head, while the gestures of his other hand showed that he was -addressing the warriors in a fervid harangue. These were -doubtless the flower of his army. With the insight born of -long experience he had recognized that a supreme effort was -necessary to turn the scale, and he was resolved to play his -last card.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Bahima and Bairo and all you my brothers," said Tom, -"the great Rumaliza himself is preparing to come against us. -You have done well; you have fought valiantly, and fulfilled -my highest hopes; but now still more is required of you. -Play the man, my brothers. The great chief who has enslaved -your people for so many years must not escape. Every man -of you must fight like three men this day; every man of you -must say within himself: 'Rumaliza shall not return to his -stronghold, nor take slaves any more for ever.' He is -advancing now, my brothers; be strong, be strong and brave!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Kuboko's bold words infused fresh spirit into his men. -They sprang to their places; the musketeers reloaded their -weapons, and every man of them, for all his weariness, stood -with a grim look of obstinate resolution. Away on the plain -Rumaliza had put himself at the head of his men; Ahmed was -at his side. They marched slowly to within a hundred and -fifty yards of the eastern face of the zariba, and were received -with an irregular volley from the musketeers. Even Tom's -stout heart sank for an instant as he saw that the desperate -fighting of the past two hours had rendered his men's aim so -unsteady that, though the advancing mass offered an easy -mark, there were now but few casualties in their ranks. The -Arabs shouted as they too observed this fact; they halted, -and summoned to them the men who still clung to the earthwork, -along with those who had scattered after their repulse. -Already Tom had seen what was impending. He massed the -whole of his reserve on the eastern face, placing the hardiest -and least-wearied men alternately with the others so as to -equalize the strength of the fighting line. He was himself -pale with anxiety; his whole body seemed to him a bundle of -tingling nerves; and as he contrasted his worn-out troops with -the fresh and buoyant Arabs advancing, their unstained swords -and spears gleaming in the sunlight, he prayed that Mbutu -with the missing eight hundred might still come in time to -redress the balance. He had so often looked in vain towards -the forest that he was scarcely disappointed when, turning in -that direction for the last time before the impending shock, he -saw no sign of aid. And now with shouts of "Allah-il-Allah!" -the Arabs came forward at the charge, Rumaliza himself, -whom the breath of battle seemed to have infused with the -vigour of youth, maintaining his place unfalteringly at the -head of his men for many yards until he was distanced by -them. It was a matter of seconds. Then, as Tom turned his -head finally from the forest whence no help came, with the stern -determination to hold out till the last gasp, his eye caught a -glint of light little more than half a mile distant. It was just -above the swamp itself. His heart leapt, his eye gleamed with -hope. A second instantaneous glance showed him that it was -the sunlight reflected from a spear-head; dropping his gaze, he -descried a number of small dark objects moving on the very -surface of the swamp--the heads of a band of men wading -almost breast-deep in the ooze. There were no turbans, no -white garments; they were coming from the north-west; -surely they must be no other than the long-expected eight -hundred! A glad cry broke spontaneously from Tom's lips; -despondency went to the winds; and at that instant the -onrushing force of the enemy fell like a thunderbolt upon the -staggering parapet. Slashing, hacking, hewing, the -fierce-eyed Arabs surged into the gaps made in the last attack. An -almost audible shudder passed through the ranks of the -defenders as they braced themselves for the last dread struggle. -Not a man blenched; they all knew that they could expect no -quarter; and Tom, looking at them, felt that with the battle -fever in their veins they would dare all.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mbutu is with us!" he shouted, knowing that the news -would act upon their spirits as a tonic.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The Arabs, with Ahmed, wounded as he was, at their head, -were cutting their way steadily through the gaps, enlarging -them as they did so, and pressing the defenders backwards by -sheer weight of numbers. Behind them Rumaliza raised his -shrill voice in encouragement. Every now and then a desperate -rally regained a few yards for the garrison, but they were -unable to maintain their advantage, and Tom began to dread -lest all should be over before Mbutu could arrive. Standing -in the centre of the square he felt like the man in the iron -room of old fable, with a wall approaching inch by inch to -crush him. His last hope rested on the men he had placed at -the corners of the zariba. Protected from external assault by -the stakes, they had faced inwards at his order, and taken the -encroaching Arabs in flank. But Tom saw that they were too -few to delay the invaders for more than a minute or two. -Could Mbutu arrive in time? Fierce shouts rent the air all -around him; the heavy clash of weapons, the flash of scimitars -in the hot sunbeams, the gleaming eyes and distorted features, -the pants and cries of the warriors, the shrieks of the wounded, -made up a terrible scene that well-nigh broke down his nerve. -Arabs were still springing into the zariba; the Bahima were -engaged on every face, fighting an unequal fight, doing -manfully, but receding foot by foot, inch by inch. Tom felt that -he must throw himself into the fray. He sprang from his -boulder; seizing a bayoneted musket, he leapt to the side of -Mwonda as he smote thick and fast upon the serried mass, -and shoulder to shoulder with him tried desperately to beat -back the overwhelming tide.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly a tremendous shout rang out to the north. Tom, -at that moment beset by three Arabs, thrilled with relief as -he recognized the familiar battle-cry of the Bahima. -Unperceived by the enemy, Mbutu and his eight hundred had waded -through the swamp, formed up, a shivering miry crowd, under -cover of the thick growth of rushes fringing the swamp, and -darted out upon the rear of the Manyema attacking the -northern face of the zariba. Taken completely by surprise, -the bewildered negroes turned about, were seized with panic, -and without a thought of resistance broke and fled, Mbutu's -men pouring after them with jubilant shouts, and taking with -their long spears a terrible toll of the fugitives. The pressure -in front of Tom was immediately eased, for without knowing -exactly what had happened the whole Arab force seemed to -have become aware that the tide was turning. But Rumaliza -behind his men lifted his quavering yet penetrating voice in -adjuration, and the throng immediately about him threw -themselves again into the fray. Tom would gladly have recalled -Mbutu's troops to take the main Arab force in flank, but, -intoxicated with their success, they were streaming away -to the north-east after the fleeing enemy. It was not an -opportunity to be lost, however, and Tom seized the moment -by the forelock. He saw that the defenders of the northern -face, finding themselves suddenly without an enemy, were -hesitating what to do. Ordering Mwonda to continue his -exertions with even double energy--an appeal to which the -weary Titan nobly responded--Tom instructed the -commander of the northern line to bring his pikemen to the -support of the eastern contingent. Then, gathering about -him the panting musketeers who remained on this side of the -square, Tom led them out rapidly by the northern gate -towards the right rear of the Arab main body. This -movement, being covered by the wall of the zariba, was not -perceived by the Arabs until the sallying party, skirting the -stakes, emerged into the open. Of the four hundred and -fifty musketeers who had originally been posted at the -northern face less than three hundred remained to follow Kuboko, -but coming unexpectedly on the Arabs' flank and rear they -were more than sufficient to throw consternation into their -ranks. Too late Ahmed saw the peril threatening him. His -men were already disheartened by the sudden strengthening -of the resistance in their front, due to the reinforcement of -pikemen; they had been startled by the joyous shouts of -Mbutu's men, informing them that in that quarter the fight -was going against them. Before Ahmed could make any -disposition to meet the new attack, the exultant Bahima, flushed -with the anticipation and assurance of victory, flung -themselves with a fierce yell upon the Arab right. At once it -crumbled to pieces; there was a general </span><em class="italics">sauve-qui-peut</em><span>. Away -into the open plain swarmed Arabs and Manyema; arms, -ammunition, everything that might impede their flight was -flung away by the panic-stricken mob. Away and away, -heedless of direction, trampling on fallen men, stumbling over -obstacles, on they sped, some dropping and dying of exhaustion -and fright, others flinging themselves on the ground and -whining for mercy as the pursuers overtook them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank God!" murmured Tom, as he stood still a few -yards from the zariba. "The fight is won."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was no need to order his captains to continue the -pursuit; they were leading on their men with fresh ardour, -and would not return until they had thoroughly dispersed the -remnant of the hostile force. Thankful to the bottom of his -heart, yet pitying the wretches who lay all around him, Tom -returned with a few men to the zariba to do what could be -done for the wounded. The square presented a terrible -sight--a sight that Tom could not banish from his memory for -many a long day. The ground was strewn thick with the -bodies of the slain. More than five hundred of his own men -had fallen, and at least twice as many of the enemy. As he -surveyed the scene, and set some of his men, tired as they -were, to tend the wounded, friend and foe alike, only one -thought consoled him for the suffering and the loss of life -that day's work had entailed. "It is a retribution and a -promise," he said to himself; "retribution on the Arabs for -the years and years of untold misery they have inflicted on -the people, and a promise of long years of freedom and -peaceful industry. It is worth the price."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>While the men fulfilled his orders he mounted his boulder -once more, and looked across the field. Away in front, on -the knoll whence they had started on their last fatal charge, -a band of some twenty turbaned warriors had taken up their -position, and in a roughly-formed square stood at bay, to -defend their aged chief. All around them surged a throng -of Bahima, among whom Mwonda was conspicuous. The -Arabs were armed with rifles, and as they grouped themselves -closely about Rumaliza they did deadly execution among the -assailants. But the cordon was gradually closing around them. -Calling one of his men, Tom despatched him with a message -to Mwonda.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Spare all who surrender," he said.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The man hastened on his mission. He delivered the message. -Mwonda, with instant obedience at which Tom rejoiced, ordered -his men to halt, and in a loud voice, audible at the zariba, -called on the Arab chief to surrender. The only answer was -a rifle-shot that killed the man by Mwonda's side. With -a yell of rage the giant sprang forward at the head of his -men. He had obeyed Kuboko; his duty was done; the -Arabs gave no quarter, nor should they receive any. Rushing -on, heedless of bullets, heedless of the men dropping around -him, he forced his way up the knoll, his men pressing on knee -to knee. They reached the top; there was a short hand-to-hand -fight; then, bursting through the devoted body-guard -that encircled the gaunt figure of the chief, Mwonda swung -the huge two-handed sword he had taken from the prostrate -negro captain earlier in the day, and with one blow cleft -Rumaliza to the chine.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then Mwonda lifted his wet sword towards the sun and -shouted; and instantly, from hundreds of voices over that -reeking field, rose a vast echo of his cry:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"RUMALIZA IS DEAD!"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="tom-s-armada"><span class="large">CHAPTER XIX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">Tom's Armada</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">On the Trail--A Picked Force--Through the Great Forest--The -Last of Mabruki--On the Lake Shore--Building a -Flotilla--Floating Forts--The Island in the Lake--Forcing -a Landing--A Parley--De Castro Expresses Himself--Preparing -for the Attack--Mwonda the Dauntless--Fire and -Sword--Rumaliza's House--De Castro's Last Shot</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>It was now one o'clock in the afternoon. For nine hours -Tom and all his men had been afoot, engaged in one of -the most arduous struggles that native Africa had known. -The great fight so long anticipated was over; the dreaded -power of Rumaliza, the centre of the hateful slave-traffic, was -broken; Rumaliza himself, with his lieutenant Ahmed and -many other of his principal coadjutors, lay on the field, and -the shattered remnant of the force that left its distant -stronghold in such warlike ardour and confidence was routed beyond -hope of rallying. But Tom saw that his work was not yet -completed. The fortress in the forest still remained. It was -no doubt strongly garrisoned; the fugitives would naturally -betake themselves thither; the survivors of De Castro's force -and De Castro himself would gather there, and in course -of time, though they could never expect to recover their old -strength and prestige, they might repair their disaster -sufficiently to menace for years to come the security and -happiness of the weaker tribes. "I must destroy their scorpions' -nest," said Tom to himself wearily; "when shall I see home -again?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He saw that his force was too much exhausted to carry -operations further that day. Of less than four thousand men, -at least five hundred lay dead and wounded; and their exertions -had been so violent and so long-continued that the living -and unwounded were fit for nothing but rest. Mbutu and the -eight hundred who had so opportunely arrived with him were -still apparently keeping up the pursuit, and it was impossible -to make any detailed arrangements until they returned. Tom, -therefore, sent off a messenger to the village with news of the -victory, and with orders to the katikiro to bring up two -hundred men with a stock of ammunition. He then went -with a few of his body-guard to the Arabs' camp, where their -vast horde of slave carriers must now be dealt with.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He found that the slaves, at least five thousand in number, -had risen and overpowered their guards, and were working -havoc among the effects of their late masters. At Tom's -appearance they crowded round him, some of them recognizing -him as the prisoner who had escaped months before from the -clutches of Mustapha. The poor creatures were wild with -delight at the discomfiture of the Arabs, and many of them -threw themselves at Tom's feet and vowed that they were his, -body and soul, to do with as he pleased. Seeing on them -unmistakeable evidences of terrible suffering during their recent -march--open sores, mutilated features, scars and weals made -by the lash--Tom lost all compassion for the Arabs who had -perished in the fight, and was strengthened in his resolve to -visit the Arab stronghold and there complete the work he -had begun.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He ordered his men to knock off the chains from their necks -and ankles, and those who were thus liberated to assist in the -work with their fellows. He ordered them also to collect the -ammunition, stores, and camp furniture and carry them to the -zariba, and then to dig deep trenches and bury the dead. The -slaves were suffering greatly from want of water, and Tom -informed them of the stream two miles to the south, and -allowed them to go and refresh themselves at it, commanding -them to report themselves before nightfall at the zariba, where -he intended to camp for the night.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Two hours later Mbutu returned, accompanied by a portion -of his force. They gave a great shout when Tom welcomed -them, and Mbutu, his face beaming with joy, informed his -master of his recent movements. With a quickness for grasping -a military situation with which Tom had not credited him, -he had seen the importance of preventing any considerable -concentration of the fugitives, and sent small bodies of men to -the right and left to guard the approaches to the forest, and -thus prevent any junction of the scattered bands of Arabs -and Manyema who had spread out fanwise in the course of -their retreat.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You have done splendidly, Mbutu," said Tom, patting him -on the shoulder. "But why were you so late in bringing -up the eight hundred men? We were almost at our last gasp."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu explained that when his brother reached the -volcano he found the eight hundred men in a state of great -perplexity at the non-appearance of Kuboko. They had waited -and waited, expecting to be engaged in some enterprise of -moment, and when hour after hour passed away, and day -followed day, without their receiving any orders, they had -grown angry. Some of them had wandered miles away to -the south of the mountain to see if there was anything in that -direction that seemed to call for them. When Mboda appeared -and ordered them to return, it took some time to collect the -dispersed bands, and though they had made all haste, they -had found it impossible to march with any great speed over -the broken country between the volcano and the village. -Mbutu had met them, indeed, a few miles north of the village, -and had brought them on, with the fresh men drawn from -the garrison, as rapidly as possible. He was thankful "too -much, too much," he said, that he had arrived at such a -critical moment. To save time, he had chosen to risk wading -across the swamp in preference to taking the longer circuit -round it through the forest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And you did well," said Tom. "If you had gone the -farther way we should have been overpowered, I fear. It -was a stroke of genius, Mbutu. The art of generalship is to -know when to take risks. Some people call it luck, but I -can't see myself why luck should have such a happy knack of -favouring the incapable."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu did not understand this speech, but he saw that his -master was pleased with him, and he went with all -cheerfulness and contentment to superintend the camping -arrangements for the night, receiving willing assistance from -Msala, who came up presently in a state of great delight, -tempered by regret at his own enforced absence from the -scene of the great battle. To please Mbutu, Tom then sent -his brother Mboda with a small force into the forest to build -a new stockade on the farther bank of the fordable stream, so -as to block the way of any Arabs who might endeavour to -retrace their steps over the central path.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next morning, before returning to the village, Tom sent -eight hundred of his best men, divided into several bands -under trusty leaders, to dog the fugitive Arabs. Some were -to scour the country on the outskirts of the forest, others to -penetrate the forest itself, press forward beyond the new -stockade, and watch every narrow cross-track, every possible -alley, so as effectually to bar the retreat of the Arabs except -by long circuitous routes on which, as the news of their defeat -spread, they would be exposed to the attacks of the tribes -they had ill-treated and oppressed. These scouting bodies -were to carry with them sufficient food for three days, and -at the end of that time to return.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom's march to the village was a triumphal progress. The -people came out in their thousands to meet him, and in a -great glad throng, amid the din of drums and loud songs of -victory, escorted him to his head-quarters. Mwonga ordered -several of his finest oxen to be killed for the victor's feast, -and extensive preparations were made for high jubilation. -Tom could not but be sympathetic towards the people's -rejoicings, but he recognized the danger of their imagining that -nothing remained to be done, and he determined at once to -make the situation clear to them. Early in the afternoon he -summoned all the chiefs to a council at some distance from -the village, where they could deliberate without interrupting, -or being interrupted by, the festal proceedings. When they -were assembled he made a short address to them, in which he -reviewed what had been accomplished, and clearly stated what -had yet to be done.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"True, the Arabs are scattered," he said. "You have all -done nobly. But many of your men have been killed; many -of your women are widows and your children fatherless -to-day. If your sacrifices, your toils, your wounds, are not to -be useless, you must not stay your hands until this nest of -venomous snakes is utterly destroyed. You must make one -more effort, my brothers. It may not be a great one. The -flower of the Arab army is destroyed; there cannot be more -than a handful at their stronghold. Our successes hitherto -will have encouraged you, and you will not fail to see that by -one final blow you may destroy your enemies for ever. If, -however, you let slip this opportunity, the Arabs will in time -recover even from this great defeat, as they have recovered -from defeats in the past, and by and by the old evil work of -raiding for ivory and slaves will begin again. I myself will -lead you to this Arab stronghold, and in a few weeks the -impregnable fortress of which they boast shall be a heap of -smoking ruins."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The majority of the chiefs shouted an instant assent to -Kuboko's proposal, but some murmured discontentedly, and -declared that they had done enough; the Arab stronghold was -far away, and they wished to get back to their own villages -and resume their ordinary life. Tom accepted the position -good-humouredly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let those who wish to go to their homes go," he said. "I -understand their feeling. I myself long ardently to see -my own home again. Let them go, then; and I thank them -for their brave and willing services. But for the rest--I ask -you, brothers, shall we sacrifice a little more, and make the -Arabs drink to the dregs the bitter cup they have so often -brewed for you their victims?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We will! we will!" cried most of the chiefs.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is well. Now, we have a long march before us, my -brothers, but 'tis a long track that has no end. We shall -reach their stronghold; we shall capture it, and if perchance a -great booty, stores of ivory stolen from you, should fall into -our hands, I promise you it shall be divided among you in -proportion to the number of men you severally furnish."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The prospect of booty, conjoined with their deep-seated -hatred of the Arabs and their exultation at their recent -victory, made the chiefs all eagerness to attempt the new -enterprise. Many of the murmurers were now among the -most anxious to volunteer, and Tom was intensely amused as -they tried with every appearance of artlessness to explain -away their previous reluctance. He went on to say that -he would not need all their men; he asked for only twelve -hundred fighting men and as many carriers. But both carriers -and warriors must be of the very best; he needed men who -were strong and active, and, above all, prompt to obey. He -arranged with the chiefs to make a selection during the next -few days from among their contingents, and was secretly -pleased when he found, as the work of selection proceeded, -that the men who were not picked went about with dejected -faces, and openly envied their comrades' good fortune.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>From prisoners who had fallen into his hands Tom learnt -that when the Arab force left, a garrison of about five -hundred men remained in the island fortress. They were all -Arabs, well armed, under the command of his old enemy -Mustapha, and secure in their possession of a post which they -deemed impregnable. Before he could reach it, Tom had no -doubt that the garrison would be increased by the arrival of -De Castro with the survivors from his luckless expedition, -and also by a certain number of Rumaliza's force, who would -succeed in evading pursuit and escaping the perils of the -forest. He might also have to reckon with the overdue -raiding-party from the north. But even though the -defenders of the fortress should number nearly a thousand, -Tom was confident that twelve hundred of his disciplined and -seasoned men would suffice to reduce the place.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Several days were spent in choosing men and collecting -stores. Tom could not resist Msala's plea to be allowed this -time to take an active part by his side. Mwonda was one of -his lieutenants as a matter of course, and Mbutu begged that -his brother Mboda might accompany the expedition. There -was no lack of arms and ammunition; the chief difficulty that -faced Tom was that of provisioning his force during the march -through the forest, which he expected, from information -received from the prisoners, to occupy nearly a month. While -the resources of the village and the surrounding country were -being taxed to the uttermost, Tom sent a force of five hundred -men into the forest to build a strong redoubt three days' -march within its borders, and arranged with one of his allies, -the chief of a small village still farther in the forest, -destroyed by the Arabs in their advance, to return and rebuild -his village, with entrenchments and fortifications. Both these -places he decided to make depots for large stores of grain, in -order to reduce the work of the carriers with the expedition, -and to form reserves in case of a check.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a fine day in December, a week after the battle, when -the expedition started. Tom was convinced that in point of -physique no finer force ever set out on any military enterprise. -During the week all that good food and regular drill could do -had been done to bring the men into perfect condition, and, -looking at their well-developed muscular frames and clear -bright eyes, Tom felt proud to command them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The redoubt was already built and stocked when the column -reached it at the end of the third day's march. Two days -later, on reaching the native chief's village, Tom was surprised -to see what progress had been made with its reconstruction. -Men, women, and children were hard at work, running up -grass huts and stockading the whole enceinte. When the -force resumed their march next morning, Tom felt that the -expedition was beginning in earnest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then began the long march towards the Arab fortress, a -march to which Tom always looked back with mingled -pleasure and pain. His previous acquaintance with the great -Congo Forest had been made in a time of such stress, anxiety, -and illness that he had missed many things which now, as he -marched with a large confident force of warriors, he had more -leisure to notice. The column was led by a company of -pioneers to clear the path where it was overgrown with -creepers and bush. Then came a company of musketeers, -followed by pikemen, among whom Tom kept his place, -accompanied by the ever-faithful Mbutu. Behind these -trudged the carriers, strong straight men with no lumber about -them, tramping along steadily beneath their burdens, poking -fun at each other and at the men in front of them, laughing at -any slight mishap that occurred during their progress. After -these came the rest of the force, the officers placed among the -men at intervals, big Mwonda being in command of the -rearguard. The march began each day at 6.30 and continued until -11, when the column halted for dinner and rest; it was -resumed at 12.30, and ended about 4 o'clock, to allow time for -forming a camp before dark, and for stragglers to rejoin. -Ten miles a day was the longest distance that could be -traversed through the denser undergrowth, and Tom learnt from -the Arab prisoners whom he had brought with him as guides -that, allowing for delays caused by rivers to be crossed, felled -trees to clamber over, detours to be made to avoid other -obstacles, it would take him nearly three weeks to reach the -lake in the midst of which the island-fortress stood.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom realized now for the first time what the worst -difficulties of forest marching were. The ground was rank with -vegetable corruption, the atmosphere with exhalations from -myriads of dead insects, leaves, plants. At every pace his -head, neck, arms, or clothes were caught by a tough creeper, -a calamus thorn, a coarse brier, or a giant thistle-like plant, -scratching and rending whatever portion they hooked on. -Innumerable insects lent their aid to embarrass and worry him, -especially the polished black ants, which dropped upon him -from the leaves of trees as he passed, and inflicted bites worse -than the wasp's sting, till his skin was swollen up in large -white blisters. Yellow ants and termites also seemed to have -an insatiable appetite, nibbling, gnawing, prowling all day -long. There was the mantis, too, a strange insect five inches -long, gaunt, weird, mysterious; and numbers of ladybirds, -their brilliant red spotted with black. Tom heard the rustling -of millions of tiny wings, the garrulous chirp of crickets, the -buzz of ant-lions, the dull roar of bull-frogs. And over all the -lower sounds was the crackle of twigs, the crash of falling -branches, the creaking of the huge, thick-clad stems as they -were brushed by the wind. There were leopard-scratches on -the boles; a genet cat was occasionally seen; rhinoceroses and -crocodiles were met at the broader streams; Tom was told -several marvellous stories of the incredible strength of the -sokos; once or twice some of his men assured him that they -had caught sight of pigmies, who instantly disappeared as -soon as they were observed. They gave no sign of hostility, -and Tom congratulated himself on the fact that his saving of -the pigmy woman's child seemed to have won for him the -freedom of the forest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There was very little to indicate that the path had already -been traversed by a large Arab force. Occasionally the -advance-guard came upon the remains of a human body, -sometimes a mere skeleton with chains still about the neck and -ankles--some poor slave left by the Arabs to die of starvation -or by the more merciful agency of the wild beasts that -haunted the forest shades. The native habit was to walk -round these horrible obstructions in the path, but Tom had -ordered his men to remove them into the forest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the sixth day of the march his foremost pioneer came -running back to him in great excitement. He had come upon -a dead body lying across the path, and he declared positively -that it was the corpse of Mabruki.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom was at first incredulous, but on reaching the spot he -saw that the figure stretched on the path was unmistakeably -that of the medicine-man. He lay face downwards, and -innumerable insects were already at work on his body; but -he could not have been dead long, for there was no sign -of mutilation by any wild beast. One of the men turned -the body over, and then Tom saw a pigmy spear transfixing -the traitor's breast. The weapon was evidently poisoned, for -the twisted limbs and contorted features indicated that the -hapless man had tasted death in one of its most terrible forms.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Put him out of sight!" said Tom, shuddering as he passed -on. He surmised that on escaping from the village to avoid -the penalty due to his treason, Mabruki had struck due north -and had used his knowledge of the forest to make his way by -side tracks into the depths far from the main path. He had -struck into that path when all fear of meeting Tom's men -was gone, and then, while on his way to join the Arabs, or -perhaps to foist his false magic upon some lesser chief, he had -met with swift death at the hands of the Bambute.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The tragic end of the medicine-man made a deep impression -on the natives. Many of them had believed that he was -invulnerable to everything but superior magic, such as -Kuboko's, and his death by so paltry a weapon as a pigmy's -spear destroyed the last shred of their faith in him. Hearing -now for the first time the story of his treason, they were -quick to connect his fate with his crime, and said among -themselves that white man's medicine certainly reached far and -never failed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Day followed day, and the march was little varied. Once -or twice the column passed the sites of what had been small -villages, now waste and desolate. The Arabs had burnt and -destroyed every human habitation upon or near their path. -There were streams here and there to be crossed, sometimes -by fords, sometimes by tall trunks thrown across from bank -to bank, once on a bridge consisting of a large tree submerged -two feet below the surface. Whenever a temporary thinness -in the foliage overhead allowed the sunlight to stream fully -on the path, the spirits of the men seemed to respond, and -they broke into song. Tom noticed the leader in these -choruses, a tall handsome young fellow with a fine mellow -voice, clearly a prime favourite with the men. His songs -were composed on the spur of the moment, but they were -picked up at once by his comrades, who raised the chorus in -strange wild harmony, Tom had become so accustomed to -the ingenuous adulation of the negroes that it no longer caused -a pang to his modesty to hear himself made the subject of -their pæans. One of their songs, roughly rendered in English, -ran:--</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>"Sing, O friends, sing!</span></div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>We are all warriors bold, and Kuboko is king.</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>Aha! Aha!</span></div> -</div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>Strong is his arm and invincible; sing, brothers, sing!</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Blithely we march. Ah! what will the enemy say?</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>On to the fortress; long is the way.</span></div> -</div> -</div> -<div class="line"><span>Then we will eat and drink, dance all the livelong day.</span></div> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="inner line-block"> -<div class="line"><span>Aha! Aha!"</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Thanks to the slow rate of marching, regulated by the pace -of the carriers, to the good food-supply, and to the physical -fitness of the men when they started, there had not been more -than fifty cases of sickness in the column, when, after twenty -days' marching, Tom learnt from his prisoners that he was -but half a day from the lake in which the Arab fort was -situated. He pitched his camp that evening with even more care -than usual, and gave strict orders that no member of the force -was to stir beyond its bounds without permission. He sent -forward a few scouts to reconnoitre, and one of these reported, -on his return to camp, that he had caught sight of several -Arabs making their way rapidly towards the lake.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The enemy's scouts!" thought Tom. "Well, we could -not hope to surprise them."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He posted extra sentries that night, though he hardly -expected an attack, and the hours of darkness passed without -incident. By ten o'clock next morning, Tom, with the head -of the column, had reached the lake side. It was a larger -sheet of water than he had expected to see, extending as far -as the eye could reach in a north-westerly direction, bordered -to the very edge with dense forest and extensive banks of -reeds. Some miles off, almost equidistant between the east -and west shores, rose the island, a mass of dark green in the -blue water. As the warriors came in sight of it they raised -great shouts. Not one of them had seen it before, for the -escape of a slave was an almost unknown event. Tom himself -felt a strange thrill as he looked over the placid water and -realized that that distant forest-covered islet was to be the -scene of a stern fight. He stood gazing at it in silence, -thinking of the long years during which it had been a hot-bed of -cruelty and wrong, and he felt a thrill of joy at having -attained the desire of his heart--the opportunity to strike -at the head of the slave-dragon. "And," he said to himself, -"please God, I will strike hard!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>No well-trodden path led to the lake side. The men had -had to make a way for themselves through the underwood. -On reaching the edge they came upon clear signs of human -activity--a rough landing-stage of boards, litter and debris -of all kinds. But no human being except Tom's own men -was in sight, nor, so far as could be ascertained, was any boat -moored along the shore, though the banks of reeds might well -conceal many craft.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mbutu," said Tom, "clamber up that tall tree and tell -me what you see."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu, agile as a monkey, was soon swarming up a straight -trunk.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I see a boat!" he cried, when he came near the top. "Long, -long way; go dis way"--he waved his arm from east to west. -"Go from shore to island. Small canoe; four men. No more, -sah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom called up a prisoner, and, questioning him, learnt that -the canoe was probably crossing at the shortest passage, -requiring only half the time that would be taken from the point at -which the expedition had struck the lake.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Anything more to be seen, Mbutu?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"No, sah, nuffin."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come down, then; we'll have to do a little scouting."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A path ran round the lake close to the edge, narrow and -much overgrown, but evidently leading to the spot from which -the canoe had started for the island. Tom sent fifty of his -best scouts, under Mboda, to explore this path.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If you come across any canoes, seize them," he said. -"Don't fight if they are defended in force; they probably -won't be worth losing lives for."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>While the scouts were gone he ordered the men to form an -entrenched camp. For all he knew the enemy might be lurking -in the forest ready to take advantage of any slip, any sign -of unwariness; and until he had located the Arabs, and, if -possible, discovered what their strength was, it was impossible -to form definite plans for an attack on the fortress.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Towards dusk Mboda returned with his men and reported -that the path grew wider and less obstructed as it bent -northward. They had seen one canoe, manned by a crew of half -a dozen Manyema, who had shipped their paddles and jeered -when they caught sight of the scouts. The best marksmen -among these had tried a shot at the canoe, which, though -it had fallen short, had been sufficient to set the men hastily -paddling towards the island. Mboda had tried to see exactly -where their landing-place was, but the shore of the island -appeared to be an impenetrable wall of jungle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the evening meal had been eaten, and the camp-fires -were lit, Tom sent for his prisoners again and subjected them -to a further interrogation. He learnt that the lake was fed -by a small river flowing from the north-east, as well as by -numerous rivulets at other points. The surplus water escaped -on the left, where it formed a fairly large stream. The mouth -of the river on the north-east was fringed with dense clumps -of reeds.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Since there are apparently no canoes to be captured we -shall have to make some," said Tom to himself; "and that -will take time. I hope our stock of food will last till we -capture the Arabs' stores. Dug-outs will be the easiest to -make, I suppose. These men of mine have never made a -canoe in their lives, I suspect. Msala," he said aloud to the -katikiro, "could you make a canoe, do you think?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Msala looked doubtful, but at length said that he thought -he could if Kuboko would show him the way!</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Like the genius who had never played the fiddle, but -thought he could if he tried!" thought Tom. "O wise -man!" he said. "That's a good answer. I'll try to show you -the way, though I've done nothing of the sort since I broke -a dozen pen-knives carving a sailing-boat when I was a boy -of twelve. The first question is, where are these canoes to be -made, eh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Msala could give no assistance towards solving this problem, -but Tom soon thought it out for himself. The outlet on the -west was wide, the prisoner had said, and comparatively free -from reeds. Operations there would run the risk of being -disturbed, for no doubt the enemy possessed a considerable -flotilla on the island. But the reeds at the mouth of the river -on the north-east would serve as a screen, and a few -sharpshooters carefully posted would easily defend the position -against attack.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's the place, evidently," said Tom. "To-morrow -morning, Msala, we'll start building our fleet. Now for sleep, -my men--we must be up early in the morning."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next day he ordered his men to build a block-house where -he had emerged from the forest, so as to intercept any fugitive -Arabs who might have found their way back to the lake, and -to keep a general look-out. Leaving a garrison of two hundred -men there, he started with the rest towards the north-east -corner, which they reached after an arduous march of fifteen -miles, the path having to be cut after they left the principal -landing-stage opposite the eastern shore of the island. It -happened to be a particularly bright and clear day, and at -different points along the route Tom caught glimpses of the -island, which enabled him to form a fairly good idea of its -character and extent. He judged it to be about a mile long; -it was covered with vegetation of the nature of jungle, tall -forest-trees being conspicuously absent. The prisoners pointed out -the exact spot, near the centre of the island, where the fort -was situated, but so dense was the thicket that not a corner of -it was visible. They explained that, while the forest-growth -at the shore was allowed to remain in its pristine wildness, -within this fringe and behind some plantations the ground -had been cleared, and the fort, capable of containing two -thousand men, had been built on a slight eminence in the very -centre of the island. It consisted of a double row of palisades, -fifteen feet in height, the exterior palisade being defended -throughout its whole circuit by a glacis, with a slope of one -foot in four.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"So there are two difficulties to surmount," thought Tom. -"First, the difficulty of reaching the island and landing my -men; then the difficulty of storming a fort defended by such -high outworks and a glacis to boot. It's a case of scaling-ladders -as well as canoes. A great piece of luck that I thought -of bringing so many artificers among the carriers."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the force reached the mouth of the river, it was too -late to begin the work of constructing canoes. Tom ordered -his men to make an entrenched camp, and to throw up a -special earthwork behind the screen of reeds, where a company -of picked marksmen could easily defend the canoe-makers -from attack. Early next morning Tom set all his men who -had axes to fell the largest and straightest teak in the forest, -a few hundred feet from the shore. When the trees were -felled, another band of men was set to strip off the foliage and -bark, and so quickly did they work that by nightfall a large -number of huge logs lay ready for scooping out, varying in -length from forty to sixty-five feet. Tom saw that he would -need a fleet of about forty-five canoes if he intended to -convey all his force to the island at one time, as would probably -be necessary. He therefore selected the requisite number of -trees himself, and while the carriers were felling these he -instructed the warriors how to dig them out. He divided them -into gangs of twenty to thirty, each gang to form one canoe -crew, and he set these to fashion their own craft. He marked -off equal lengths along the logs, and gave each man his own -portion to scoop out with knife or pike-head, encouraging them -to work hard by the promise of a reward to the man who -finished his portion first. They all worked with a will, driving -their tools into the wood with unfaltering zeal, and showing -much interest in their novel work.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>While the digging-out was in progress, Tom employed other -men in making thwarts and rough paddles, and the best -carpenters in constructing scaling-ladders. After ten days' work -he was in possession of forty-five dug-outs, with their due -equipment of paddles, and fifty ladders ten feet high. The -canoes were, of course, keelless, and Tom knew that they were -bound to sway and roll with the slightest movement of the -body; but fortunately there was little likelihood of their -having to encounter rough weather, and he hoped that they -would suffice to convey his men across the four miles separating -the lake shore at this point from the island. "They'll do -as well as Napoleon's flat-bottom boats, I expect," he thought; -"or better, for his invasion never came off, and mine will."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The work had not been carried on for ten days without -molestation. Every day canoes came from the island, filled -with armed men, evidently curious to learn what was going on -out of sight. On the first day they paddled towards the mouth -of the river, and Tom ordered his men behind the earthwork -to allow them to approach well within gunshot, and then to -let them have a sharp volley. The canoes came within fifty -yards of the concealed marksmen without suspecting their -danger, and at least half the men on board were hit when the -Bahima opened fire. The survivors paddled away in frantic -haste, and ever after that the canoes kept out of harm's way, -the Arabs contenting themselves with patrolling the lake, in -cheerful assurance that their fortress was impregnable. All -this time Tom sent scouting-parties regularly along the shore, -from whom he learnt that at several points on the western -side there were large clearings, which appeared to have been -slave settlements, and he concluded that the slaves had either -been withdrawn into the island or sent deeper into the forest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His preparations so far being complete--and none too soon, -for the stock of food was running low,--Tom decided to make -a reconnaissance towards the island. He first tested some of -his canoes on the river, out of sight from the Arabs, employing -a few men who knew how to paddle, and found to his great -pleasure that, though clumsy and incapable of being propelled -swiftly, they rode the water fairly upright, and were safe -enough in a calm. He therefore ordered his men to launch -half a dozen of the canoes at the mouth of the river, and -with these fully manned with riflemen he moved slowly -towards the island. The movement was instantly observed; -hardly a minute had elapsed before a fleet of twenty light, -swift canoes, filled with armed Manyema, shot out from the -island and made towards him. Recognizing that he could -not hope to vie with them in speed, and that he could not -approach the island so closely as he wished without running -great risks, Tom ordered his men to paddle back, and regained -his camp. A tremendous yell of delight from the Arabs' -canoes, ringing clear over the still water, bore witness to the -enemy's confidence, but Tom only smiled. He remembered -reading, in one of Stanley's books, an account of how that -great explorer had defended some canoes from attack in -precisely similar circumstances, and once more he found his -recollection serve him well. He sent his men into the forest, some -to cut long poles an inch thick, others to cut poles three inches -thick and seven feet long, a third band to cut straight long -trees four inches thick, and a fourth to remove the bark from -all these and make bark-rope. While this was being done Tom -selected three of the longest canoes, and had them drawn up -parallel to one another near the water's edge, and four feet -apart. As the stripped trees were brought up they were laid -across the canoes, and lashed firmly to the thwarts with the -bark-rope. Then the seven-foot poles were lashed in an -upright position to the thwarts of the outer canoes at the extreme -edge, and the inch-thick rods were twisted in and out among -these uprights, just as gipsies make baskets. After this, thin -saplings were woven in through any remaining interstices, and -at the end of the day the structure resembled a huge oblong -stockade of basket-work, sixty-five feet long and twenty-seven -feet wide. A gap having been cut in one of its faces, and a -rough gate made, the contrivance was complete.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next morning Tom went to a distance of three hundred -yards and tried a shot at the stockade with one of his men's -rifles. The bullet penetrated the wall, but fell dead inside. -He then ordered his men to collect reeds and large leaves -from the toughest plants they could find, and with these to -line the inside of the palisade. When this was done he tried -another shot, and found that the bullet embedded itself in -the lining. Delighted with the assurance that the structure -was practically bullet-proof, he next instructed his men to -make loopholes at intervals along the sides, and then ordered -eight hundred of the carriers to haul and push the strange, -awkward-looking fort to the water. He then sent sixty -paddlers to take their places on the thwarts, and a hundred -and fifty musketeers to find room among them. He was in -some anxiety lest with its full complement of men the fort -should be too heavy to float, but a few moments' paddling -convinced him that, unwieldy as it was, it would ride the -water, though to propel it with any speed was out of the -question. A great shout of applause burst from the onlookers -as the floating fort moved a few yards towards the lake. -Tom ordered it back, stepped on board, closed the gate, and -started on his reconnaissance.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The warriors left on shore watched the progress of the -strange craft across the lake. It went on slowly and steadily -towards the island, and reached the middle of the channel -before any sign of movement was made by the enemy. Then -forty canoes swept out swiftly from the island's green bank, -and in one of the foremost, as it came more clearly in sight, -Tom, spying through one of the loopholes, saw his old enemy -De Castro. The canoes came on rapidly; when within four -hundred yards they stopped dead, and the men on board of -them opened fire. The worst marksman could hardly have -missed so huge a target, and the exposed wall of the redoubt -rang with the impact of hundreds of bullets, only a few of -which penetrated, to fall quite harmlessly in the water -between the canoes. Tom then ordered the paddlers to slew -the fort round, so that it presented one of its longer sides -to the enemy, and a few moments later a volley burst from -the loopholes, doing considerable damage among the crowded -craft of the Arabs. Seeing that the inventiveness of the -English lad had once more proved too much for him, De Castro, -with a curse, ordered his men to paddle back to the island, -and Tom was left to make his reconnaissance unmolested.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Slowly the unwieldy mass moved round the island--slowly, -steadily, like some uncouth leviathan. Even Tom's own men -on shore, who had seen it made, watched it with awe, and -some of them cried out that it was a spirit in monstrous -shape. As he circumnavigated the island, Tom kept a keen -look-out towards it, and found that there were several possible -landing-places, the shore being comparatively low. Deciding -that the most convenient point of debarkation was a sparsely -wooded tongue of land at the south-east corner, Tom made -a careful mental note of the whole position, and returned to -his own quarters, well satisfied with his day's work.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The next two days were spent in constructing two similar -floating redoubts, and in practising the men in paddling, for -the majority of them were helpless on the water. Tom was -loth to delay his attack, and feared that De Castro might -make an attempt to escape. He therefore withdrew half the -men from the block-house at the edge of the forest, and kept -them, along with men from his force, constantly patrolling -the shores of the lake, to watch for any movement from the -island. His fears were groundless, as he afterwards discovered. -De Castro did indeed suggest to Mustapha that the principal -men should decamp with the treasure, leaving the fort to -its fate, but the Arab curtly refused. He had sworn an oath -on the Koran before Rumaliza's departure to defend the -treasure till the last, and he himself had a bone to pick with the -audacious English youth who had tied him up with his own -rope in his own hut. He was, besides, so positive that the -enemy, even if he effected a landing, would fling himself in -vain against the defences, that he scoffed at De Castro's fears -and taunted him with cowardice.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At dawn on a bright January day Tom set forth on his -momentous enterprise. The three redoubts, each with two -hundred men on board, led the way, followed by thirty canoes -fully manned, these last containing the worst marksmen in -the force. Tom half expected that the enemy, having already -proved their helplessness against the floating forts, would -make no attempt to oppose his landing; but he soon saw that -his passage was not to be uncontested. Forty-five canoes -came out to meet him. At a distance of a thousand yards -the Arabs' flotilla divided into two squadrons, and, rowing -three strokes to the one of Tom's paddlers, evidently intended -to sweep behind the cumbrous redoubts and fall upon the -canoes, a design which Tom at once took steps to defeat. -He was himself in the centre redoubt. He ordered the other -two to move off to right and left until there was a clear -quarter of a mile between him and them. The formation of -his flotilla had then roughly the shape of a bent bow, the three -redoubts representing the arc and the canoes the angle formed -by the stretched string. By thus extending his front, Tom -compelled the Arabs to make a wide circuit. Even then -they passed within range of the loopholed faces of the floating -forts, and suffered severely from the merciless volleys poured -out by the Bahima. Drawing out of range, they had just -begun to converge behind the redoubts when Tom ordered -these to stop, thus allowing time for his canoes behind to -close up and pass between them. The position was now -reversed, the bow being pointed in exactly the opposite -direction, Tom's canoes nearest the island, and the Arabs' farthest -away. Within his redoubt Tom could distinctly hear the wild -threats and cries of De Castro as he ordered his men to swing -round and paddle back to the island.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He's afraid we shall be there first," said Tom with a smile -to Mbutu.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His move had completely disconcerted the enemy, who -abandoned outright the attempt to delay the progress of the -flotilla, and made off at full speed to the island. There most -of the armed men disembarked, and the unarmed paddlers, -with a few Arab marksmen as guard, withdrew the canoes -towards the north.</span></p> -<div class="align-center auto-scaled figure margin" style="width: 61%" id="figure-90"> -<span id="the-fight-on-the-lake"></span><img class="align-center block" style="display: block; width: 100%" alt="The Fight on the Lake" src="images/img-324.jpg" /> -<div class="caption centerleft figure-caption margin"> -<span class="italics">The Fight on the Lake</span></div> -</div> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom's redoubt arrived without mishap off the spot selected -for the landing, and was there met by a tremendous fusillade -from the enemy concealed in the wood. Thanks to the -stoutness of his palisade, he sustained no casualties, but it was -evident that his men would suffer severely if they landed -before the woods were cleared. He knew from his prisoners -that thick copses stretched northwards and westwards from -the tongue of land he had arrived at; about a hundred and -fifty yards inland they gave place to plantations of pine-apples, -bananas, and other fruits; then came another belt of wild -woodland fifty yards deep. Judging from the hotness of -the enemy's fire that the woods coming down to the shore -were full of marksmen, he decided that these must at once be -cleared. He ordered the separate canoes to stand off for the -present out of range, and then sent two of the redoubts -northwards to hug the shore, and halt about a hundred yards up, -while he had his own redoubt propelled for the same distance -to the west. At a given signal, the men in the redoubts -opened fire through the loopholes, their fire crossing over -the south-east corner of the island, enfilading the copses that -commanded the landing-place. After half an hour of this, -Tom came to the conclusion, from the sudden cessation of -the enemy's fire, that they had abandoned their positions -and fallen back into the belt of woodland nearer the fort. -He therefore landed two hundred fighting-men from each -of the two redoubts, unperceived by the Arabs, and sent -one redoubt up coast northwards, and another to the west, -to divert, if possible, the enemy's attention from movements -in their front. Then, running his own redoubt on to the -tongue of land, he ordered the canoes in the offing to paddle -up swiftly and disembark their men, retaining the men in his -own redoubt to protect the landing-parties. But no attack -was made; the landing was quickly effected. Tom then threw -open the gate of his redoubt, disembarked his fighting-men, -and sent the redoubt back to the mainland to fetch the -scaling-ladders, and a supply of food and ammunition, -including a number of fire-balls he had brought with him from -the village.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He had now more than a thousand men safely on the -island. As soon as they were formed up, he led eight hundred -forward to penetrate the copse, and, after discovering by -means of skirmishers that the movements of the redoubts -had, as he hoped, drawn off a large body of the enemy from -his front, he threw his men across the plantations and into -the farther wood. There, after a sharp fight, in which his -men distinguished themselves by the nimbleness with which -they worked forward under cover of the trees, he had the -satisfaction of seeing the Arabs bolt across the open space -beyond, and enter the fort by the gate in the outer stockade. -Between himself and the glacis the land was absolutely clear -of trees.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>There were three gates to the fort, as Tom had learnt -from the prisoners, one at the north, one at the east, and -the one at the south by which the Arabs had just entered. -Before sunset he had formed an entrenched camp opposite -the eastern gate, into which he drew the whole of his force. -Next morning he sent one redoubt, accompanied by five canoes, -each way round the island to search for the Arab flotilla, -surmising that the enemy, fearing an assault in front, would -not venture to despatch a sufficient force to protect their -boats. It turned out as he hoped. The redoubts returned -in the afternoon, and reported that the enemy's canoes were -found moored along the northern shore, under the charge -of a mere handful of Manyema, who, when they saw the -mysterious forts bearing remorselessly down upon them, did -not wait to fire even one volley, but incontinently fled. -Mwonda, who had been in command of the expedition, gleefully -pointed to the long lines of canoes which he had brought -back with him, towed by the redoubts and by the ten canoes -which had accompanied them.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well done, Mwonda!" said Tom. "Now we will -keep twenty of the captured canoes for our own use; the -rest you can tow out into the lake and set on fire. We -shall thus effectually prevent any of our enemy from -escaping."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The men cheered wildly as they saw the blaze on the -surface of the water, and clamoured to be led against the -fort. But Tom called the katikiro, the kasegara, and other -chief men to his side.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My friends," he said to them, "I have come to beat the -Arabs, as you know. But in the fights we have already had -much blood has been shed. It would be right, I think, t -avoid further loss of life, both among ourselves and among -the enemy, for many of them, as you know, are Manyema, -who only fight for the Arabs their masters, and would be -incapable of mischief without their leaders. I propose, -therefore, to invite Mustapha, the chief in command, to surrender."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Every member of the little council was absolutely averse -to this unexpected proposal. Msala declared that he had -come to kill Arabs; he would rather kill them in fair -stand-up fight, but if they surrendered he would kill them -all the same, so that no bloodshed would be saved among -them at any rate.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Msala," said Tom sternly, "you have ill learnt the lessons -I have tried to teach you. If the Arabs surrender they shall -not escape altogether, but they must not be killed. I should -hand the leaders over to the Congo Free State to be tried by -its courts, like the court of justice in our village, of which you -are such an ornament, Msala. The rest of the enemy I should -allow to go free, but without firearms, and thus incapable of -doing further mischief."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The katikiro still raised objections, but Tom combated them -one by one, and at last brought all the officials to agree to his -proposal. Accordingly he called up Mboda, Mbutu's brother, -as one of the most intelligent of the men with him, and sent -him forward under a white flag to the gate of the fort, with -directions to ask for Mustapha himself, and to deliver to him -in form the summons to surrender. The messenger returned -in about half an hour. He had spoken with Mustapha, who -was accompanied by a little dark man with evil face. Mustapha -had at first refused to treat, but at De Castro's request -had at length agreed that a meeting should take place between -the opposing leaders half-way between the camp and the fort. -He proposed to come himself with two of his chief men, all -unarmed, and he invited Kuboko to do likewise. Mboda -had only just delivered this message when Mbutu broke in -impetuously:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not go, sah," he said. "De Castro bad man; him come; -him remember sah knock him down; him no friend; him no -speak good words. Mustapha too; him tied; him berrah mad, -oh yes! Not go, sah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't be afraid, Mbutu. There is honour among thieves. -They have themselves proposed to come without arms. We -shall merely have a talk, and be done with it. Go back, -Mboda, and say that I agree to the proposal, and will meet -Mustapha and his friends in an hour's time midway between -our positions. Both sides, it is understood, will come -unarmed."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>An hour later Tom set off to the meeting, accompanied -by Mwonda, and by Mboda as interpreter. He thought it -well not to provoke the two hostile chiefs unnecessarily by -bringing Mbutu before them, and Mbutu, much against his -will, remained in the camp, his heart filled with misgiving. -To relieve him, Tom said, just before he started:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You can keep a sharp look-out, Mbutu, and if you do see -any open movement of treachery, which for my part I do not -expect, you will order a company of men to fire, taking care -not to hit me or my friends, you know."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As he approached the meeting-place he saw three men -issue from the gate of the fort. He looked at them with -interest. There was his old enemy Mustapha, his opponent -in single-handed fight, his captor, and his victim. By his side, -dwarfed by the Arab's giant frame, was De Castro, his red -shirt and yellow breeches seeming all the more gaudy beside -the white robes of the Arabs. The third figure--it was with -a start that Tom recognized Mahmoud the hakim, who had -befriended him to the utmost of his power during his short -captivity months before. The two little groups met in the -open field, and bowed ceremoniously, no outward sign of -recognition passing between Tom and the other side. Curiously -scanning the features of the Portuguese, Tom almost found -it in his heart to pity him. His face was lined and haggard, -its expression was fierce and darker than ever; the iron -of disappointment and defeat had evidently entered deep into -his soul. He eyed Tom with an insolent and malignant -scowl, and kept clenching and unclenching his fists. -Mustapha was much more composed, preserving the impassivity -so characteristic of his race.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom wasted no time in preliminaries. He gave no explanation -of his presence there at the head of a great force of -armed Bahima; he courteously but plainly stated the terms -he had come to propose--unconditional surrender, the leaders -to be placed in the hands of the Free State Government, -their followers to be disarmed and dismissed. If these -terms were not accepted the fort would be stormed. Mustapha -looked at him in silence for a moment; then his eyes -flashed, and he cried:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You come to me to propose terms? You, my enemy! -Know that you are in my power. You will storm my fort? -You shall never enter it alive. I have waited for this day; -my revenge has been long in coming, but it has come at -last. I fought you by the river; would to Allah I had -slain you! I kept you a captive and fed you; would that -I had slain you then! Now is the third time; you shall -not escape me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>De Castro, who had ill concealed his impatience, here took -a step forward, spat upon the ground, and began to speak in -broken English.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I mock at you, I laugh at you, Inglese," he cried. "You -dare threat us? Who has the greater army, I like to know? -You take the fort! Bah! Is it a dog's kennel? You talk to -me, eh? I talk to you, so; I say, you insolent puppy; you no -take fort; no. You go back to your camp, and in a little -while our army will come to you and drive you into the -water. Bah, I spit at you!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom paid no heed to the furious man's insolence. He turned -quietly towards Mustapha, and with unruffled courtesy said:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Have I your final answer?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His manner evoked a corresponding politeness from the -Arab, whose reply, as translated by Mboda, was simply:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I have sworn an oath. I will not surrender. I will fight -you."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom decided to make one more appeal. Addressing the -hakim, who had stood hitherto gravely silent, he said in -German:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mahmoud, my friend, cannot you persuade Mustapha, -to abstain from a hopeless contest? You have all heard -of my success till now. You, surely, do not doubt that -I shall succeed again? You yourself were kind to me; I -should be deeply grieved if, during the struggle that seems -inevitable, any harm came to you. Will you not induce -your chief to give way?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The stately hakim looked with kindly eyes upon the young -Englishman, whose earnest and friendly tone had touched -him. Then he shook his head.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am an Arab," he said. "Whether we win or lose, -whether we live or die, all rests with Allah. I am Mustapha's -man."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I am sorry," replied Tom, and was about to take leave -when De Castro said suddenly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You speak French?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then, speaking rapidly in that language, De Castro -suggested that Tom should give him a safe-conduct for -himself and his property. In that case he promised to -deliver up the fort; he cared nothing, he said, what then -became of the Arabs. Tom looked at the traitor with -silent scorn. The Portuguese quailed for a moment; then, -his face livid with rage and mortification, he glared at -Tom's accusing face, and burst out in Swahili, clearly for the -benefit of Mustapha, who was looking at him with suspicion:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Have you your answer, puppy? Will you go? To-morrow -I will have you in the fort, tied to a post, and you shall not -escape me again. Now I make you my bow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>With a low mocking inclination he turned away. Tom -bowed to the Arabs, and also turned. At that instant De -Castro wheeled round, whipped a revolver from his pocket, -and fired point-blank at Tom. The shot missed, but struck -Mwonda, immediately in front of Tom, and wounded him in -the shoulder. The giant turned round with a roar like a -bull's, and sprang towards his treacherous assailant. De -Castro pointed his revolver again at Tom; the bullet whistled -past his ear. Cursing his ill-luck, the Portuguese turned -just in time to elude the raised arm of Mwonda, and at -that moment a volley rang out from the camp; one of the -bullets sped past Tom and hit De Castro's left arm. The -revolver fell from his right hand, and with a howl of agony -and rage he bolted up the field into the fort. Mustapha -disdained to run; he walked back in his stately way, and -escaped. The hakim was not so fortunate. As he was -returning to the fort, a little behind Mustapha, he was shot -through the back, and fell. Tom sprang to the fallen man, -and at the same moment Mbutu, at the head of a hundred -musketeers, came running out of the camp in desperate fear -for his master's safety. Tom reached the hakim, lifted him in -his arms, carried him a few steps, called Mboda to assist him, -and hurried with the heavy burden towards his own camp -just as a volley flashed from the fort. The shots were hasty -and ill-directed, and, covered by Mbutu's company, who halted -and poured a steady fire towards the fort, Tom and his two -companions safely reached the shelter of their entrenchments, -and, panting with their exertions, laid the unconscious hakim -on the ground. Mbutu returned with his men immediately -afterwards, the whole incident having occupied little more -than a minute. Tom had much trouble in restraining his -infuriated troops from rushing upon the fort without further -delay.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wait, my men," he cried; "they shall pay to-morrow." And -he turned to examine the hakim's wound.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mahmoud died at dawn, having recovered consciousness for -but one brief moment, during which he pressed Tom's hand, -smiled at him with the same grave, wise smile, and murmured: -"It is the will of Allah; all is well."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom buried him on a little hillock at the lake side. Then -he set about his preparations for the final struggle, with a -fierceness foreign to his nature. His heart was filled with -bitter resentment against the dastard whose treachery had -brought unnecessary death upon an innocent man. "Within -twenty-four hours it shall be finished," he said to himself with -grim resolution.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He did not underrate the difficulty of the task before him. -From the number of canoes that had met him on the lake, and -the number of men in them, he calculated that the garrison in -the fort amounted to at least a thousand men. The five -hundred left by Rumaliza had been increased by fugitives from -his own and from De Castro's force, and further by a -completely equipped force of two hundred and fifty men who had -returned, a few days before Tom's arrival, from an expedition -northwards. With such a garrison, and the advantage of -a strong position behind a glacis which could be swept from -end to end by rifle fire, the fort was obviously secure against -direct attack with a force of only eleven hundred and fifty -men. Investment, again, would not only be a very protracted -affair, but was likely to fail, for the Arabs were no doubt well -provisioned, while Tom had only a scanty stock of food. If -they could have been deprived of water a siege would soon -terminate, but Tom had learned from the prisoners that a -constant supply was obtained from a deep well within the fort. -The only method left was a night-attack, and after his previous -experience De Castro would unquestionably be on his guard -against surprise. Still, it seemed the only possible course, -and Tom, after breakfast, sat down to think out the points -involved.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The most common danger attending a night-attack--the -risk of losing the way and stumbling on the enemy unawares--was -absent. Further, the attackers could approach the -palisade under cover of darkness with less risk of suffering -serious loss by rifle fire than if the assault were made by -daylight. By making feints in two or three quarters Tom could -throw his main force in overwhelming strength on the real -point of attack. And, last consideration of all, the Arabs had -an inveterate repugnance to fighting by night, whereas his -own troops had by repeated successes gained confidence in this -respect. The only great disadvantage was that, unfamiliar as -he was with the interior of the fort, he could not be sure in -the darkness of directing the attack towards the most -vulnerable points; but this drawback might be neutralized by a -simple means he had at hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A night-attack was therefore decided on. Tom prayed that -the night might be dark. He called up one of the prisoners, -and made him draw a rough plan of the fort on a leaf torn -from his pocket-book. Then he sent one of the redoubts -to the mainland to fetch further stores and to bring back a -number of carriers with knives and axes. When these arrived -he set them to work in cutting a path through the bush on -the east side of the island in order that his troops might move -rapidly from place to place without being seen. While the -carriers were engaged in this task a sudden shout from the -south apprised him that something was happening in that -quarter. In a few moments a messenger came up with the -news that the enemy had made a sortie from the south gate -with the evident intention of capturing the canoes, and had -driven back the post placed between the plantations and the -belt of copse. But this move had been already provided -against. When the Arabs reached the shore they saw, to their -chagrin, that the canoes lay two hundred yards out on the -lake, under the protection of one of the floating forts. Tom -sent three hundred men under the kasegara to intercept the -enemy as they returned. The Bahima placed themselves just -within the copse in a line parallel to the path leading to the -gate, and poured in a hot fire at the Arabs as they hastened -back. Mustapha, in the fort, was on the alert; he threw out -a large force to cover the retreat of his men, and but for this -it seemed likely that the sortie-party would have been cut off -from their base and annihilated. As it was, they lost heavily, -and no similar organized attempt was made during the rest of -the day, though occasional shots were fired from the fort as -if to show that the enemy was not napping.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Taking advantage of the freedom from serious interference, -Tom devoted himself to his plan of operations. He decided -that the real attack should be made, not from his camp, east of -the fort, as the Arabs would no doubt expect, but from the -south. The katikiro with two hundred men would make a -feigned attack from a point north of the fort, and the kasegara -with another two hundred would demonstrate vigorously -against the east. Each of these feigned attacks would be -accompanied with heavy rifle-fire, and, while they were in -progress, Tom himself would lead a strong force against the -southern portion of the palisade, from which he expected that -most of the defenders would have been drawn off towards the -apparent danger north and east.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>At nightfall, then, Tom called his officers together and -explained his plans. He was somewhat surprised to see Mwonda -among them, for the giant had been badly wounded in the -right shoulder. He was still more surprised to learn that the -heroic negro had got a companion to cut the bullet out of his -flesh, and had borne the terrible pain without so much as -a groan. He came now, with his right shoulder bound up, -and his musket in his left hand, determined to wreak -vengeance in person for the treacherous blow dealt him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You are a brave fellow, Mwonda," said Tom. "You shall -be in command of the northern force, and the katikiro shall -stay with me. The kasegara will attack first, on the east, when -I send him word, an hour before dawn. When you hear his -rifles in play, Mwonda, you will make a sham attack on the -north gate. Understand, you are both to keep up a heavy -fire, and shout as loud as you like; but you are not to make -a real attack until you get orders from me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Since his arrival on the island Tom had taken no pains to -preserve silence in the camp, and on this night he ordered -companies of a hundred men, in addition to the usual sentries, -to be kept awake in turn, each for an hour, so that their -chatter might delude the enemy and cover up any sounds -made by his troops as they moved to their positions. Two -hours before dawn the movements began. Mwonda led his -men northwards, being instructed to march as silently as -possible. Tom, accompanied by Mbutu and Msala, went -southwards with seven hundred men, leaving the kasegara in -charge of the camp with orders to keep his men talking until -he received the signal for beginning the sham attack. With -Tom's men went fifty carriers with scaling-ladders, and before -starting he ordered one man in five to take a fire-ball in -addition to his gun or pike. When they reached the position -he had decided on, he briefly explained what they were to -do. Then he turned to Mbutu and the katikiro and said -quietly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"If I fall, press home the attack with all your might. The -men will follow you if you only show them strong leadership. -And, Mbutu, when the fight is over, if I am not alive, I trust -to you to make your way to Kisumu, and tell my uncle, if he -is there, or the English commander if he is not, all that has -happened to me. That is my last request."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Then he sent a messenger to the kasegara. Ten minutes -later a sharp volley was heard in the direction of the camp, -accompanied by savage yells. Immediately afterwards shouts -and the crackle of rifles were heard, less distinctly, from the -north.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My men," said Tom, "now is our turn. Go quietly -through the copse, make a rush to the foot of the slope; -scramble up, on hands and knees if you must, and make for -the palisade. No firing, mind; nothing but bayonets and -pikes at first. Don't fire till I give the word. Now, -advance!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Two hundred men being left in reserve, Tom's little force -consisted of five hundred musketeers and pikemen, and the -fifty carriers with the scaling-ladders. These latter held the -ladders in front of them as a partial protection from rifle fire. -The whole force moved quickly through the woodland, gained -the bottom of the glacis with a rush, and began the ascent. -The front ranks were half-way up before their presence was -discovered. Then a brisk fusillade broke out from the fort, -and several men fell. The rest threw themselves on their -hands and knees, and finished the ascent at a scramble. The -point made for was a few yards to the left of the gateway. -While the bullets were flying erratically over the palisade, the -carriers placed their ladders against it, and as, owing to the -slope, they stood somewhat insecurely, Tom ordered four men -to hold each while the rest mounted. In hardly more than -a minute a hundred men were within the palisade, to find -themselves exposed to cross-fires from the gate and from a line -of fencing thrown across from the inner stockade to the outer, -thus dividing the space between them into compartments. -But faster than the gaps were made they were filled by fresh -men swarming over the fencing. Tom was over among the -first. He ordered some of the ladders to be hauled across and -planted against the inner palisade, now more strongly -defended by reinforcements which the first alarm had drawn -from north and east. The Arabs were firing not only over -the palisade, but through loopholes in it. Luckily the -invaders had already spread, so that there were no close ranks -to be decimated by the fusillade, and in the darkness and the -flurry the defenders' fire was necessarily ill-aimed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Light fire-balls!" cried Tom in a clear voice. In half a -minute twenty flaming balls whizzed through the air and over -the inner stockade, lighting up the interior of the fort with -its huts and tents, and showing the loopholes in the fencing. -These became the target for Tom's best marksmen as he now -at last gave the order to fire. Bullets flew fast; war-cries -seemed to split the air; the defenders were already verging -on panic. Some were making desperate attempts to extinguish -the fire-balls, only to become the marks for more of those -flaming missiles. A hut was already alight, and Tom's men -were now swarming almost unchecked over the palisade. A -few fire-balls had speedily cleared out the enemy from the -cross fence, and this position was immediately occupied by -the Bahima. The katikiro, at Tom's orders, had led a party -of men with scaling-ladders to the left along the enclosure -between the palisades to a point opposite the eastern gate, -and cries from that quarter told that a position had been -occupied there. Thus in less than half an hour three positions -were held by the attackers. Several huts in the interior of -the fort were in flames, and the defenders were rushing hither -and thither, exposed to destructive rifle-fire from their own -palisades.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom had already sent instructions to the kasegara and -Mwonda to cease their demonstrations as soon as they saw -a strong light in the fort, and to move towards each other -and join forces. When the junction was made, and as soon -as carriers with scaling-ladders arrived, they were to make -a vigorous attack in real earnest at a point midway between -their former positions, that is, from the north-east. Profiting -by the respite from attack on the north and east, Mustapha -and De Castro, who had given their orders hitherto from the -very centre of the fort, now began to get their men into some -sort of order, rallying them around Rumaliza's house. Hardly -had this been done when a great din to the north-east -announced that an assault was commencing there.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Over into the fort, men!" cried Tom as soon as he heard -the welcome sound. Up they clambered, up the ladders -already planted against the inner palisade, up and over, -hundreds of eager men pouring into the enclosure, no obstacle -now between them and their enemy. Brought to bay, the -Arabs fought desperately, dodging behind huts, seizing every -point of vantage, knowing well that their former victims would -spare none of them. Many of their dwellings were now ablaze, -and in the brilliant illumination scores of the Manyema could -be seen using the Bahima's scaling-ladders to escape over the -palisades into the darkness. The Arabs themselves held their -ground more stubbornly, but their enemies were now closing -all round them. The attackers under Mwonda had met with -but feeble resistance, for the majority of the defenders at the -north-east had been withdrawn to withstand the earlier attack -from the south. Mwonda himself, whose bellow could be -heard above all other noises, plunged along at the head of his -men, swinging his heavy musket, disdaining the few bullets -that fell around him, and searching everywhere for the wretch -who had shot him when he was unarmed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the space between the stockades filled with the exultant -Bahima, hundreds of the enemy flung down their arms and -begged for mercy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Spare all who surrender!" shouted Tom, and the order -was repeated through the ranks of his men. Some of the -enemy, however, scorning to yield, fought with the courage -of despair to the bitter end, and were shot down or speared -after they had themselves done great execution on the now -crowded ranks of their assailants. Tom had several times -caught sight of Mustapha moving about among his men, but -not once had De Castro been visible. The centre of the -fortress was occupied by a range of buildings of more solid -construction than the huts nearer the stockade. It was -Rumaliza's own house, a substantial stone structure of two stories, -with a veranda running around the upper story, obviously an -effort after comfort amid savage surroundings, and modelled -on the residences of merchants on the coast. Tom, joined by -Mwonda, and accompanied by Mbutu and the katikiro, led -a small force of Bahima towards this building, in which he -conjectured that some of the enemy, perhaps De Castro -himself, had taken refuge. The walls were loopholed, and from -these, as well as from the veranda, a hot fire met the little -group. Two of the men fell. The door was of stout oak.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We must burst it in," said Tom. "Find a stout beam, -Mbutu. Quick!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu darted away, and soon returned with three men -hauling a massive beam, obtained by cutting down the post -supporting the roof of a neighbouring hut. Just as they -reached the door one of the three men was shot through the -heart, and a bullet from above struck Tom in the thigh.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm hit, Mbutu," he said. "Bind this strip of linen -tightly round my leg; there's the place."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come away, sah, come away!" cried Mbutu pleadingly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not yet. This door must come down first. Msala, batter -the door in. Come, lift the battering-ram, men! Now then, -one, two, three--that's it! The door's started. Now again, -one, two, three! Ah! it's down. In you go, men! I'm -coming!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the door fell in with a crash, the party of twenty men -poured in, Tom limping painfully after them. There was -no resistance; the room was empty.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Up the stairs!" cried Tom. "Don't waste a minute!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mwonda was already springing up the ladder in the -corner of the room, taking three steps at a time. In twenty -seconds he came tumbling back into the room, yelling that -the upper floor also was empty. At that moment there was -a shout from the rear of the house. Bushing out, the Bahima -found themselves in a sort of yard. The gate was open, and -beyond were evidently outhouses and store-rooms. At one -side of the yard was a man chained to a post, and yelling with -all his might. By the feeble light from the now diminishing -conflagration outside, Tom as he hastened up recognized Herr -Schwab. The recognition was mutual.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Out, out!" cried the German. "Zey are outside."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Cut him loose," cried Tom to one of his men as he passed -by, heedless of further cries from the German.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mwonda and Msala were already in the narrow lane beyond -the yard. There was no sign of the enemy.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"After them!" cried Tom. "Don't wait for me; I'll follow -as quickly as I can."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The little band swept on, out of the lane, past the outhouses, -into the open ground again. There they learnt that some -twelve men had suddenly dashed out into the open, headed -by Mustapha and the "small devil", as the Bahima called -De Castro. The Arabs had rushed across towards the western -part of the palisade, burst open a gate which had hitherto -escaped the notice of the attackers, and clambered over the -outer stockade. Six of their number were shot as they -mounted, but the rest succeeded in getting clear away and -disappeared.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Hearing this, Mwonda dashed in hot pursuit with his party. -But though, utterly regardless of their own safety, they ran -madly down the glacis, into the copse, through the plantation, -down to the shore, they saw no trace of the enemy, who, -knowing the ground perfectly, had made good their escape. -Mbutu had hurried after the pursuers at Tom's command, -and ordered them to waste no time in searching. Tom was -himself unable to walk farther than the stockade, where he -met them as they returned, and, learning that they had failed -to find the fugitives, he instantly instructed Mbutu to hurry -down to the landing-place and order ten canoes to be manned -and to patrol round the island.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Let them go in opposite directions, and watch every yard -of the shore," he said. "I will come myself immediately."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The sky was now lightening with the dawn. Tom ordered -four of his men to carry him down to the landing-place on -one of the scaling-ladders. His wound was giving him intense -pain, but feeling that if Mustapha, and above all De Castro, -escaped, his victory would be shorn of half of its glory, and -his work be left incomplete, he resolved that at whatever cost -he would personally direct the search for the fugitives. While -he was being carried to the shore he ordered the katikiro to -despatch parties into every corner of the island to search the -woods thoroughly.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Just as he arrived at the landing-place, Mbutu came hastily -to his side, and declared that he had that instant seen a small -canoe stealing westward. It was now half a mile from the -shore.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Put me into one of the Arab canoes," said Tom; "the -lightest you can find to hold twenty paddlers. Order two -other canoes to follow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>A few minutes later his canoe was being rapidly propelled -in the direction of the chase, which Tom could now see was -manned by a crew of six, and had one man in the stern who -was not paddling and who had a bandage on one arm.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Paddle your hardest, men," cried Tom; "that is our arch -enemy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The negroes responded vigorously, and it was soon evident -that the chase was being gradually overhauled. The crew of -six were straining every nerve to escape, and every now and -then the man in the stern turned his head to look at the -pursuing craft, and then cried aloud to his men to increase -their efforts. Tom fixed his eyes unswervingly on the stern -of the fleeing canoe.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It is De Castro unmistakeably," he said to himself, as the -man turned once more. The expression of mingled despair, -rage, and fright on his face was fearful to behold. Suddenly -he turned completely round, leant over the stern of the canoe, -and took aim with his rifle at the canoe now so rapidly -overtaking him. The bullet whizzed past Tom's ear. Tom looked -round for a weapon with which to return the fire, but saw -that not one of his crew was armed with a musket, so great -had been the haste of the embarkation. But from the first of -the other pursuing canoes, now close up to Tom's, a shot rang -out. It struck the side of De Castro's canoe. The Portuguese -took aim again, and this time the bullet struck one of Tom's -men, who screamed and dropped his paddle. A rain of bullets -from the other canoes fell around the fugitive, but he seemed -to bear a charmed life.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He is a devil," said one of Tom's men; "shots cannot hurt him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Suddenly Tom observed a commotion among the six Arabs. -A man that looked like Mustapha rose in the boat, raised -his paddle above his head, and, just as De Castro was about -to fire a third time, brought it down with tremendous force -upon his unsuspecting head. He was leaning forward over -the stern; his head fell on the edge, and in an instant the -Arab had caught his legs and thrown him over into the -water. He sank like a stone, and a dark circle formed in -the frothing wash of the canoe. Within two minutes Tom's -canoe arrived at the scene of the tragedy, but there was no -sign of the victim. Tom stopped the canoe, to cruise round -on the chance of De Castro reappearing. The other canoes -stopped also, and loud cries of satisfaction rose from their crews. -But when after a minute or two it became evident that the -Portuguese would be seen no more, Mwonda uttered a yell of -rage at his being thus snatched from personal vengeance. Tom -meanwhile had ordered two canoes to continue the chase after -the Arabs; but their craft, lightened by the loss of De Castro, -was bounding over the water, the paddlers profiting by the -temporary cessation of the pursuit. The Bahima paddled hard, -and called to the crew of one of the patrol-canoes approaching -from the north to join in the chase. But their efforts were -vain. The fugitives gained the western shore, ran the canoe -between two banks of reeds, and plunged into cover before the -pursuers could overtake them. Mwonda dropped his head on -his sound arm, and burst into tears. Then, lifting his huge -body, and standing to his full height in the canoe, he passionately -called upon all the evil spirits of his tribe by name, and -adjured them to shrivel up the escaped Arabs with their -blighting influence, and to inflict upon them tortures -unspeakable until they were dead. Then the canoes were put about. -Mwonda uttered one more bitter malediction as he passed over -the spot where De Castro had sunk, and was still bemoaning -his ill-luck when he overtook his victorious but weary and -fainting master.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst" id="an-end-and-a-beginning"><span class="large">CHAPTER XX</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><span class="medium">An End and a Beginning</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 1em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span class="small">Mr. Barkworth keeps Cool--In Suspense--Tom's Escort--The -Padre's Story--An Appreciation--Tom's Reward--Farewell--Herr -Schwab's Lament--Fame--Mbutu Returns Home--Inspiration--Proposals</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>One morning, towards the end of March, Mr. Barkworth -was seated at breakfast at The Orchard, Winterslow, dividing -his attentions impartially among his food, his letters, and -his daughter, who sat facing him at the other end of the -table. His day was never properly begun unless the letters -and the bacon arrived together. He had opened two letters, -and cut the third, and Lilian was pouring out his second cup -of coffee, when a sudden ejaculation from her father caused -her to hold her hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Scandalous, 'pon my soul and body, perfectly scandalous!" -he exclaimed.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What is it, Father?" asked Lilian, not very anxiously, -for she was accustomed to little volcanic explosions at home: -plenty of rumble but no fire.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What, indeed! Just listen to this, h'm! 'My dear -Barkworth, I found an opportunity in the lobby last night of -speaking to the Prime Minister on the matter of a -search-expedition for your friend Mr. Burnaby. He was very -sympathetic, but said that, much as he should have liked to -serve me, he was afraid our hands were too full just now to -think of it. One can understand it, poor man. You see, what -with these complications threatening in Persia, and the various -little troubles in all parts of the world, connected with our -imperial policy, one can hardly expect--' Faugh!" He tore -the letter across. "Fiddlesticks! I'd like to see Palmerston -back for a week. We'd soon see then, h'm! We'd have an -expedition off to Central Africa in a winking. We want a -little more of the 'Civis Romanus sum' in our milk-and-water -politicians. Cicero, you know, my dear."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But, Father, I don't understand what Cicero and Lord -Palmerston have to do with Mr. Burnaby."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now, that's just it. Women never can see that sort of -thing; your mother couldn't, poor woman! I'll explain so -that any child could understand it. Cicero was a great Roman -orator and statesman, you know, my dear. In one of his -speeches he asked how many Roman citizens his hearers -imagined had been insulted with impunity, how many Roman -merchants robbed, or ship-owners kept in captivity,--meaning -that he defied 'em to say a single one. Now suppose that -Cicero had been Lord Palmerston, what would he have -said?--tell me that, now!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Wasn't Lord Palmerston an Irish peer, Father?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Eh! what? Yes, must have been, or he couldn't have sat -in the House. But what's that to do with it?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, Father, if Cicero had been Lord Palmerston, would -not he have said: 'Just thread on the tail of me coat', or -something to that effect?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Barkworth looked sharply at his daughter, but she was -demurely peeling an egg. As he was hesitating whether to -explode or not, there was a knock at the door, and a maid -entered bearing a salver.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A telegram, sir, and there's a shilling to pay."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Con-found these extra charges!" broke out Mr. Barkworth -irritably. "What's the good of paying taxes to bolster up a -wretched Post Office that can't give us free delivery? Give -the man his shilling, and tell him not to dare show his face -again!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He tore open the envelope, stared at the message for some -moments in inarticulate surprise, and then ejaculated:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"God bless my soul, he's found! Tom's found! We can -do without the Prime Minister! 'Gad, didn't I say he'd turn -up some day! Listen, Lilian; a despatch from the cable -company forwarded by the Post Office: 'Tom found; mail -follows.--O'Brien.' Might have said a little more; what's a shilling -or two, eh?--Well, Jane, what is it now?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Another telegram, sir, and, if you please, this man wants a -shilling too."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Barkworth pulled out a handful of silver, and picked it -over.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Here, I can't find a shilling; give him this half-crown and -tell him to put it in the Post Office Savings Bank. Now -what's this about, h'm?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Lilian watched him anxiously as he opened the brown -envelope, half fearing it might contain a contradiction of the -good news.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Eh! what!" he exclaimed. "It's from Jack Burnaby himself. -'Tom found; am starting for Mombasa to-morrow; will -you come?'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, do take me, Father!" cried Lilian, clasping his arm. -"I'm sure you won't go without me."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"H'm! Don't know that I'll go at all. Running your poor -father off his legs again! Very short notice, too. Just like -Burnaby; just as young as ever he was, spite of the -K.C.B.--What are you doing, Lilian, waggling your hand about so -frantically at the window?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just calling the telegraph man, Father. You didn't give -him a reply."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's true; well, we'll go, begad. Here's a form. Write -it for me. 'Yes, tickets for two via Marseilles and Brindisi.' That's -right. Another one to Dr. O'Brien. 'Hurray! always -said so.' Now, we must go by the 6.15 up-train to-night, so -get your packing done. And for pity's sake don't get excited; -try to keep as cool as I am. And so that fine young fellow's -found, eh? Where, and how, and when, and what's he been -doing? Gad, I want to know all about it. Think we'll catch -the 4.20, Lilian; the packing will do itself if only you keep -cool."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Barkworth showed his wonderful coolness by setting -everybody in a fluster for the rest of the day. The whole -household was called upon to assist him in his preparations. -He had a genius for mislaying his things, and then accused -the first person he came across of deliberately putting them -out of their places; and when the gardener had been called in -to find his master's newest suit of pyjamas, and the cook to -rout out the straps of his hold-all, everybody was quite ready -to see the back of the fussy old gentleman. Lilian got him -safely away in the nick of time to catch the 6.15, and after -spending the night at Claridge's, they sought out Tom's uncle, -and arranged to meet him at Charing Cross for the night -French mail.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was Major Burnaby no longer. His services had been -recognized by promotion to a lieutenant-colonelcy, an honour -crowned by the conferment of a Knight Commandership of -the Bath. Mr. Barkworth was vastly proud of the fame of -Sir John Burnaby, K.C.B., and regarded his honours as a -remarkable testimony to his own foresight and discrimination. -All the way down to Dover he plied his friend with questions, -comments, and suggestions, though Sir John explained more -than once that he knew nothing beyond the bare fact that -Tom was at last found. Ever since the news of his disappearance -reached England, Mr. Barkworth had at intervals fired -off cable messages at Dr. O'Brien in Kisumu, asking for -information, or upbraiding him for not displaying greater activity -in the search; and he was now firmly convinced that the -recovery of the long-lost Tom was in great part due to his -indefatigable enquiries.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On the voyage out he lost no opportunity of telling the -whole story, and magnified Tom's achievements (of which, -since the fight by the bridge, he, of course, knew nothing), -until the young Englishman appeared a new Cincinnatus, the -saviour of his country. He became more and more fidgety as -he drew nearer to the journey's end.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I never in my life so took to a young fellow, never," he -would say, to excuse his excitement; "if he had been my own -son I couldn't have felt it more."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the boat steamed slowly into the harbour at Mombasa, -Mr. Barkworth was the first of the passengers to cross -the gangway.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where's Tom?" he cried, without waiting to greet Major -Lister, who, like his former chief, had won a step in rank. -"Why isn't he here to meet us?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Impossible, sir," said Lister laconically. "How d'e do, -Sir John?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Glad to see you, Lister. You remember Miss Barkworth?" The -major bowed. "We're all anxious, of course. Where is -the boy? how is he?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! you don't know then? Of course; you couldn't have -got Corney's letter before you started. It was the padre who -found Tom. On the day Corney sent you the cable he had -got a pencilled note from the padre, brought here by train -from Kisumu, where it had been carried by a native in a -canoe round the Nyanza. I have it in my pocket."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He took out of his pocket-book a small, crumpled, dirty -note, and handed it to Sir John, who translated aloud the -almost illegible writing: "I have just found Tom Burnaby. -He is badly wounded. I am taking him, as soon as he can be -moved, to Bukoba."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>They were all walking now towards the hotel, and a painful -silence fell upon the group as they heard the brief message.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I suppose Corney started at once?" said Sir John.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh yes! He caught the first train. Your cable arrived -just before he left, and he asked me to assure you he would -do everything he could."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Of course he would. And you have heard nothing since?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not a word."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why Bukoba, do you think? Wouldn't Entebbe have been -a more natural point to make for?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's nothing to show where the padre wrote from, but -I take it that Bukoba is the nearest point on the Nyanza. -The padre knows the German commandant, and has probably -arranged with him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ah! it is trying, this suspense; but I suppose we shall get -an explanation before long."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Before long! I should think so," cried Mr. Barkworth. -"Burnaby, I'm going across to Bukoba; start to-morrow -morning. Never imagined the boy'd be wounded--badly -wounded, the padre says. This is terrible, terrible!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I guessed you would go on," said Lister, "and wired to -Port Florence, as soon as your boat was signalled, to fix a -launch for you. We may find a reply at the hotel."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thanks, Lister," said Sir John. "Yes, I shall go on -to-morrow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was a sad and silent party on the hotel veranda that -evening. Sir John was almost angry with the doctor for not -cabling the whole of the padre's message, though on reflection -he saw that he had been spared three weeks of intolerable -anxiety. It was a keen disappointment to them all to meet, -instead of Tom himself, a messenger of bad news, and they -were all disinclined to talk. Mr. Barkworth did indeed find -some relief from his anxiety in opening his mind to a Monsieur -Armand Desjardins whom he met in the smoking-room. He -poured out a recital of Tom's heroic deeds, drawing freely -upon his imagination to fill up the gaps, until he had worked -the impressionable Frenchman into a fit of enthusiasm. Monsieur -Desjardins was a 'functionary' of course, and a journalist -to boot, and he seized on Mr. Barkworth as an abundant -reservoir of 'copy'. He went down to see the party off when -they left next morning, and said to Lilian, to whom he had -been specially attentive:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I burn with envy to see dis Monsieur Tom; truly he is a -hero, and I go to put him in a book. Good-bye, mees! you -spik French? Oui, je m'en souviens. Eh bien, mademoiselle, -vos beaux yeux vont guérir bientôt le jeune malade, -n'est-ce-pas? Hein?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What's that, what's that?" exclaimed Mr. Barkworth -suspiciously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Nothing, Father," said Lilian with a blush. "Monsieur -Desjardins is pleased to be complimentary."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, it's a good thing he don't do it in English, for -compliments in English just sound--piffle, humbug! Train's off; -good-bye, Mossoo!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>On reaching Port Florence the travellers found that a launch -was waiting for them. They embarked without delay, and -reached Bukoba on the third evening after leaving Mombasa. -The German commandant--no longer Captain Stumpff, who, -like so many of his kind, had carried things a little too far and -been recalled three months before--put his bungalow at their -disposal, and told them that a runner had come in that very -afternoon with the news that Father Chevasse was only a day's -march distant, and was bringing the wounded Englishman in a -litter. Dr. O'Brien had gone into the interior with an escort -of German native soldiers as soon as he learnt where to find -the padre, and all the information brought back by them was -that he had found the Englishman under the missionary's care -in a large native camp. Mr. Barkworth was for starting at -once to meet the returning wanderer, but was persuaded to -restrain his impatience and accept the German officer's -hospitality.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next day, an hour before sunset, Sir John, sitting with -Mr. Barkworth and Lilian on the veranda of the bungalow, -heard faintly in the distance the regular thump, thump of -drums.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"At last!" he exclaimed, and, getting up, looked eagerly -towards the hills. The sound became every moment more -distinctly audible, forming now, as it were, a ground bass to -strains of song which came fitfully on light gusts of wind, in -strange harmony with the fading light, the red glory beyond -the hills, and the sombre shadows of the distant trees. Sir -John unstrapped his field-glass, and, looking through it, saw -the head of a procession emerge from a belt of wood nearly a -mile away. The trees stood out black against the crimson -sky; the pale green above was deepening to a blue; and the -sounds came more distinctly to the ear--a few notes ascending -and descending by curious intervals, the same phrase being -repeated again and again in the same low solemn chant, -swelling and dying on the breeze. Mr. Barkworth had let his -cigar go out, and was walking up and down the veranda like -a caged lion. Lilian sat motionless in her chair, her fingers -tightly intertwined, her cheeks pale. Not a word was spoken; -the only sounds were the light swish of the ripples on the -shore, the hum from the woods and marshes preluding the -dark, and the ever-approaching song with its melancholy -dirge-like accompaniment of drums. The three watchers on the -veranda were tense with anxiety. Was it a funeral march? -Was Tom coming back to them only for burial?</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The procession drew nearer and nearer. It was possible -now to distinguish the figures with the naked eye. A drummer -walked at the head; behind him there were four negroes -bearing a litter covered with an awning; and yes, it was the tall -figure of the padre walking at one side. Behind, as far as the -eye could reach, stretched a long line of black forms, marching -in single file, keeping step to the drums, and singing their -monotonous song, that now came low in tone but immense in -volume, like a sonorous emanation from the splendid sky. -Nearer and nearer; and now the figure of the doctor could be -seen behind the litter, and Mbutu by his side. Nearer still; -and then, at a few yards' distance from the bungalow, the -drums ceased to beat, the voices fell like a breaking wave, the -rearmost of the column continuing to sing for some seconds -after the foremost had stopped. There was a great silence. -The sun's rim had just dipped below the purple horizon. The -doctor came forward, and at the same moment the principal -drummer gave a signal tap, and a thousand stalwart negroes, -armed with musket, spear, and pike, formed up in a -half-circle about the litter. Sir John stepped down from the -veranda; the litter was brought to meet him. Removing the -awning, the doctor showed him a thin, pale, wasted form, with -large bright eyes gazing eagerly out into the dusk, which the -commandant had now illuminated with a number of flaring -torches. Tom's face broke into a glad contented smile as he -saw his uncle looking down upon him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Uncle Jack!" he whispered.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The older man murmured a word or two--no one heard -them--and laid his hand gently upon his nephew's. Then, -too deeply moved for speech, he turned and walked beside the -litter as it was borne towards the bungalow.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mr. Barkworth had been blowing his nose violently, and -more than once he lifted his spectacles and rubbed them with -quite unnecessary vigour. As the litter approached he took -Lilian by the hand.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Come inside, my dear," he said hurriedly. "Not good for -him to see too many at once, you know. Uncle enough for -to-night. He looks very ill. Glad we have him, though. Thank -God, thank God!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the doctor had settled the invalid comfortably for the -night, Mr. Barkworth waylaid him.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Will he get over it?" he asked anxiously.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Indeed and he will. He has had a narrow shave, but I -think he will do. The constitution of a horse, sorr--thorough-bred, -nothing spavined, no broken wind, sound everywhere."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Where was he? What has he been doing all these months?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Faith, I have not got to the bottom of it yet; but so far as -I can make out he has been administering a corner of the Congo -Free State, raising a regular army, smashing the slave-trade, -and taching the negroes something of the blessings of civilization. -I mean it, bedad; the padre tould me all he knew, but -sure there's a deal more to be tould yet.--Have ye got a -cigar, Mr. Barkworth? I forgot my case, and have been -wearying for one for three weeks. Hark'e! Those blacks -outside are beginning a hullabaloo. I must put a stop to that. -Come and see what they're after."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The host of natives who had solemnly escorted Kuboko to -the shore of the Great Lake had begun to build fires in the -neighbourhood of the bungalow in preparation for camping. -The German commandant made a wry face when he saw their -intention, and had already sent some of his men to order them -to a more convenient distance. The awed silence with which -they had looked on at the greeting between Kuboko and his -friends had given place to chattering and laughing and singing, -and the doctor took pains to impress upon them that the noise -would disturb Kuboko's rest. His expostulation was effectual; -they ate their evening meal in comparative silence.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was long past midnight before any of the Europeans -retired to rest. Seated in the largest room of the German -commandant's bungalow, Sir John Burnaby and his party listened -while the padre told of his discovery of Tom. Never before -had Mr. Barkworth so keenly felt the drawbacks he suffered -through want of familiarity with French. He would not -allow the padre's story to be interrupted by any attempt at -interpretation, but listened with a painful effort to follow it, -and got Lilian, tired as she was, to give it privately in outline -afterwards. But he there and then vowed that one of his -first duties on reaching home would be to agitate for the -compulsory teaching of conversational French, and decided -to found a prize at his old school for proficiency in the -subject.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Father Chevasse told how, as he was returning by easy -stages from a visit to a mission-station at the upper end of -Lake Tanganyika, he had heard vague rumours of battles -fought far to the north between the Arabs and a confederation -of negroes under the leadership of a white man. As he -proceeded, the stories became more and more circumstantial and -the details more and more extraordinary. He learnt that the -intrepid commander was quite young, a man of marvellous -powers, able to turn lakes into engines of destruction, and to -bring fire out of the heavens. Such stories, even after he had -made all allowances for the natives' exuberant imagination, -awakened his curiosity; and suddenly it occurred to him that, -improbable as it seemed, the white man might be no other -than the long-lost Tom. "Nothing British surprises me," he -interpolated with a smile. He hastened his march, made -diligent enquiry at every village through which he passed, and -by and by encountered people who had actually formed part of -the confederacy and fought under the stranger's command. -The information given by them did but strengthen his -growing conviction, and when he at last, under the guidance of a -Muhima, reached Mwonga's village, he was rejoiced to find that -his surmise was correct. Almost the first person he saw on -entering the stockade was Mbutu, who ran up to him, threw -himself at his feet, and broke out into ejaculations of delight -mingled with entreaty. He was led to a hut in the centre of -the village, and there saw Tom, lying on a couch covered with -clean linen--Tom indeed, but the pale shadow of his former -self. Bit by bit the padre learnt from one and another the -story of his deeds, from his capture by the Arabs to the final -destruction of their island fortress. After that noteworthy -event every vestige of the stronghold had been burnt or -razed to the ground. A search was made for the treasure -which rumour attributed to the Arabs, and beneath the -flooring of Rumaliza's house, in cellars extending for many -yards under the surface of the soil, had been discovered an -immense hoard, the accumulation of many years--hundreds -of ivory tusks worth untold gold. The few Arabs who had -survived the fight had been sent eastwards under escort, and -their Manyema dependants disbanded. Many of these threw -in their lot with the conquerors. Then the Bahima force had -started on its return journey, bringing the captured treasure -in triumph to the village.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom's wound had become more and more painful, and -though he tried at first to walk with his men, he found -himself obliged, after one day, to give up the attempt, and was -carried for the rest of the way in a litter. On the journey he -had talked long and earnestly with the katikiro and other -officials, suggesting and advising them as to their movements -and the future government of the village in case he died. -They had only reached the village two days before the -missionary's arrival, and, at Mbutu's entreaty, the katikiro was -arranging to despatch messengers to the shore of the Victoria -Nyanza with a request for help. The padre at once sent off -one of his own attendants under a strong escort to Bukoba, -the nearest European station, and the German commandant -had forwarded the message immediately to Kisumu.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My own knowledge and skill in surgery is but slight," -added the missionary, "but I did what I could until our friend -Dr. O'Brien arrived."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"He extracted the bullet," said the doctor; "capitally too. -It was an ugly wound."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And Tom bore the pain with marvellous fortitude. -Happily, he sank into unconsciousness before I had -completed my task, and never so much as murmured when he -awoke to the full sense of his agony and helplessness. I made -arrangements at once to convey him here, and the villagers, -whose devotion to him transcends anything I have ever -before seen in the natives, of their own accord organized the -procession which you have just witnessed. We were already -half-way here when Dr. O'Brien reached us, and his skill -completed what my clumsier hands had begun. I have given you -only a sketch of what this young hero has been able, under -God's mercy, to accomplish; indeed, I am not able to fill in all -the details, for Tom himself has been too ill to talk, and is, -besides, very reticent about his own actions. One fact stands -out pre-eminent, and no distrust of native stories can explain it -away. He has stamped out a pestilent gang of slave-raiders, -and may with a whole heart sing 'Magnificat!' And though -we dare not be so sanguine as to expect that the lessons of -self-sacrifice, courage, justice, brotherly kindness, he has by -his example taught the natives, will never be effaced from -their minds, yet they must bear fruit, and certainly he has -prepared the way for me and my brethren, Catholic or -Protestant. You have a nephew to be proud of, Sir John."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Next morning, the commandant, who had considerately -effaced himself on the previous night, resumed his autocratic -air, and told the assembled natives bluntly that he would be -delighted to see the last of them. In their wholesome dread -of the Wa-daki, they took the very broad hint and prepared -to return to their remote wilds.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But before they departed they wished to take a formal -farewell of the great muzungu who had taught them so much -and saved them from their hereditary foe. Msala was -deputed to seek an interview with Sir John, and he asked, -with his usual eloquence, that Kuboko might be brought out -to his sorrowing people, that they might look upon his face -once more. Sir John consulted the doctor, who pursed up -his lips and looked doubtful, but confessed that Tom himself -had asked that the people should not be allowed to go until -he had seen them and bidden them good-bye. Accordingly, -about eight o'clock in the morning, Tom was carried out in -his litter and placed on the veranda, where he lay in the shade -during the scene of farewell.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It was in truth a remarkable scene. Arranged in three -concentric semicircles stood the throng of a thousand negroes, -including representatives of almost every race known to the -eastern half of Central Africa. A few steps in advance of the -rest stood Mwonga, the young Bahima chief, with the katikiro -and a few other of his principal officers. Their black faces -were all aglow, their bright eyes fixed on the tall figure of -Sir John Burnaby, who stood just within the veranda of -the bungalow. By his side lay Tom--the black man's loved -Kuboko--thin as a lath, pale and haggard, the head of his -couch raised so that he might see the crowd of natives. On -one side, a little in advance, for he had offered to interpret -the katikiro's speech, stood the tall dignified White Father, -his lips parted in a slight smile, his eyes beaming a -compassionate kindliness. With him stood the little doctor, a -striking contrast with his short, neat, wiry frame, his -twinkling gray eyes, his stubby beard. And on the other side was -the stout figure of Mr. Barkworth, his rubicund side-whiskered -face cheerful and benevolent as ever; and the fair girl at his -elbow, white and radiant, looking alternately at the negroes -and at Tom.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The signal being given, the katikiro stepped forward and -stood before Sir John. He had never before had the opportunity -of addressing a group of white men, and his gait showed -that he fully realized the importance of the occasion. Sticking -his spear in the ground, so as to have the use of both arms for -gesture, he began his oration. The exordium was a long -account of himself, his family, his achievements in hunting -and war, his importance as katikiro first to Barega and then -to Barega's successor, Mwonga. He proceeded to recount with -minute circumstantiality how he found Kuboko in the forest, -carried him to the village, and from that time on had been -his most devoted friend and disciple. He passed on to a -chronological narrative of the subsequent events in the village: -the contest with Mabruki, the making of big medicine, the -protracted siege, the wonderful machines invented by Kuboko -for the discomfiture of the enemy, and, finally, the formation -of the great confederacy which, by obedience to Kuboko, -had succeeded in defeating time after time the enemy who -had for many years crushed native Africa beneath his iron -heel. All this was narrated with many repetitions, many -picturesque adornments, much extravagance of language and -gesture, and the padre's translation in French almost did -justice to the Muhima's fervour.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But Msala's eloquence was to soar a still higher pitch. -So far he had dealt with facts, with just enough embroidery to -make the presentment of them artistic. He went on to express -the opinions and emotions of his community.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Never was such a white man seen," he said. "We have -had nothing to do with white men. We have heard about -them,--about the Wa-daki, who live day and night with -kiboko; about the white men of the Lualaba, who buy rubber -and ivory at their own prices, or for nothing at all. But never -such a white man as this. Surely he must be a mighty chief -in his own land. Never did he raise his hand to strike us; -Kuboko was his name, but kiboko had he none" (he evidently -deeply relished the jingle). "When Mabruki did him -wrong, and Barega would have cut off the villain's head, -Kuboko said: 'Nay, let him pay back the bulls.' Did he -order a thing to be done? He showed how to do it. Was -there little food? Kuboko had no more than the rest. He -did justice and showed mercy; he even sported with the -little children, teaching them how to smite balls with a stick, -and giving them turns equally, doing favour to none above -the others. And what was all this to gain? The Wa-daki, -as men tell us, give one and take two; but Kuboko took -nothing. He might have been chief, but would not. 'Nay,' -he said, 'I will stay with you until the Arabs are destroyed, -and then I go to my own people, and Mwonga shall be chief.' In -the caverns of Rumaliza lay thousands of tusks, long -as a man, the spoils of our hunting and the hunting of our -fathers. All this belonged by right to the victor; but did -he say: 'It is mine, I will take all of it'? Nay, he said: 'My -brothers, it is yours; divide it among yourselves.' We threw -ourselves at his feet, and implored him to take this great -treasure, but he shook his head, and even waxed angry, and -bade us hold our peace. Only at the last, when Mwonga -himself offered the two tusks that have come down from chief to -chief, and begged Kuboko, if he loved him, to take them for -his own,--only then did he yield and say: 'I will take them as -a gift from your people, and keep them ever to remind me of -you.' That is Kuboko.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And now he leaves us. Our women and children are -wailing, and our hearts are heavy and sad. Who will lead -us now in war? Who will guide us in peace? True, we have -Kuboko's words, and treasure them in our hearts; but even -as water dries up in the sun, even as smoke rises into the -sky and is seen no more, so Kuboko's words, as the days pass, -will fade from our memories. Yet how could we keep him? -We are black; he is white. He comes from the land of the -Great White King, who will assuredly make him his katikiro -when he hears what he has done, even as I, Msala, am Mwonga's -katikiro. But though he be far away, in the land of big -medicine, our thoughts will turn to him. He will be to us -as a Good Spirit, to hearten us against Magaso, and Irungo, -and all the other evil spirits who blight our crops and steal -our cattle. He will be even as the Buchwezi, the spirits of -our ancestors, whom we do not see, but who nevertheless -see us and watch our doings and maybe help us in our hour -of need. We, Bahima and Bairo, Ruanda and Banyoro, bid -Kuboko farewell. I, Msala, say it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>It is impossible to do justice in sober English to the -impassioned eloquence of the katikiro. As he paused at the -end of every sentence to allow the missionary to interpret, -loud grunts and ejaculations of approval burst from the -throats of the throng behind him. When the speech was -ended, one great voluminous shout rent the air, and every -man held out his spear in front of him with the precision -of an automaton. The drums gave forth three solemn rolls, -and then Mwonga and the kasegara advanced to the veranda, -and twenty bearers laid two great tusks beside Kuboko's litter.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Thank you, thank you!" said Tom. "Uncle, will you -speak to them for me?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sir John stepped forward and, gripping his coat-collar, -began:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"My friends, I am touched by the eloquent words of your -excellent katikiro. For many months I had mourned my -nephew as dead, and now my joy at seeing him again is all -the greater because I know that during his long absence he -has been doing good things. I thank you, my friends, for -bringing him back to me. I thank you, too, for the respect -and affection you have shown for him. The story your -katikiro has told is a wonderful one. I cannot profess yet to -understand it; but I do understand that by your willing -obedience, loyalty, and devotion to my nephew you have been -able to rid yourselves, once for all as I hope and believe, -of the enemy who has oppressed you for so many years. -Men"--here Sir John's right hand left his coat-collar and -was stretched out towards his attentive audience--"men, -now that you are free, remember the price of your freedom. -My nephew owes his life to your late brave chief, whose -own life he had saved; since then he has spent himself in -your service. Nothing good was ever done except at some -cost. You know what Kuboko did for you. The katikiro -has spoken of it. Now in his name I beg you to turn his -self-sacrifice to lasting account. Obey and support your -young chief. You have learnt what union means. Don't -quarrel among yourselves and eat your hearts out in -miserable little jealousies. Other white men will come to your -village. The officers of the Congo State will visit you. -Render them willing obedience, and though at times they -may be severe, though among white men there are bad as -well as good, remember that the great white nations mean -nothing but good to their black brethren. My nephew, you -tell me, has sought nothing for himself. He takes with him -nothing but your good-will and the memory of your common -sufferings and common triumphs. It is what I should have -expected of him, and I am proud of it. Now we are going -home, and very likely we shall never see you again. But -Kuboko will not forget you; nor shall I forget this great -throng, come so many miles to do him honour. Men, for -him and for myself, I say good-bye, and good luck to you!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>When the shouts with which the natives received Sir -John's brief speech had subsided, Tom asked that the -principal men might be allowed to come to his litter and bid -him a more personal farewell. Accordingly, Mwonga, with -Msala, Mwonda, the kasegara, and eight others marched up -in single file. They passed by the left side of the litter, and -as Tom gave them his limp hand in turn, each stooped down, -pressed it lightly to his brow, and descended in solemn silence -to his place in front of the attentive crowd. The simple scene -was too much for Mr. Barkworth's feelings; his handkerchief -was diligently employed, and he was unfeignedly glad when, -the ceremony being now at an end, the procession re-formed in -preparation for starting on the long homeward march. The -drums gave out their hollow notes, the multitude swayed as -they marked time, and striking up an improvised song in -which Kuboko's uncle and the white lady had the largest -mention next to Kuboko himself, they filed off westward -towards the forest.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Dr. O'Brien insisted on Tom's having a clear day's rest -before his journey was resumed. On the second morning, -therefore, the party of seven embarked on the launch, and -were conveyed rapidly across the Nyanza to Port Florence. -Tom thought of the many things that had happened since he -last saw the lake, and laughed with something of his old spirit -when the padre reminded him of the fight with the -hippopotamus. On reaching the eastern shore they took up their -quarters in Sir John's old bungalow, and there Mr. Barkworth -pestered Mbutu constantly to tell him again and again -of the momentous doings in Mwonga's village.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One day, happening to be at Port Florence, he went down -to the quay among other curious spectators to watch the -arrival of a German steamer from down the lake. As the -passengers came off, Mr. Barkworth was puzzled by one face -among them, which he seemed to recognize without being -able to remember whose it was or where he had seen it. -The passenger was a thick-set, bearded man, wearing gold -spectacles, limping badly, and carrying a big leather valise in -his left hand. As he stepped off the gangway he stumbled, -and would have fallen but for the purser's sustaining arm. -He poured out a stream of very warm German, and as he -limped away the purser turned to a man standing near and -made some remark about the testy passenger. Mr. Barkworth -caught the name.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Swob! Swob!" he muttered. "Thought I knew him. -It's the German trader I saw last year. And a prisoner in the -Arab fort! Hi, Mr. Swob!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He toddled after the German, who turned as he heard his -name thus travestied.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Glad to see you, Mr. Swob," said Mr. Barkworth, coming -up with him. "Extremely sorry to hear of your sad experiences. -It must have been a terrible time, sir. And but -for that fine young fellow--</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Ach ja!" interrupted Herr Schwab; "I know all zat. -I vant to forget it, nozink else."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Naturally, my dear sir. I do hope that you will not -suffer permanently, and that--"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not per-ma-nent-ly! Look at me, look at me, I say. I -hafe vun leg qvite caput, goot for nozink. I hafe marks on -my body zat vill remain till my death-day. Not suffer! -Vy, I suffer vizout end: I suffer in my person, I suffer in -my pockett, I suffer in my pride. I suffer allofer. And vy? -I did nozink. I go to sell zinks--nozink more--and zey keep -me, vill not let me go. Naturally, I protest. I say I appeal -to Berlin, and zen zey chain me opp--yes, to a post--me, a -Gairman sobjeck--and so am I chained for veeks and veeks. -Himmel, but I grow meagre--vat you call skinny. I lose -almost all ze flesh from my bones. Zen come Mr. Burnaby. -By night zere is vun colossal combat. In ze yard of ze chief's -house, zink I, I must be secure. But not so. Ofer ze vall -come tousand fire-balls. I call: 'Hafe care, mind me, I am -Schwab.' But zere hears none. A fire-ball fall upon my toe, -and I am in com-bus-tion. Zen, my goodness! from ze chief's -house run hundert shrieking defils. Portuguese, De Castro, -so vas his name, struck me vid his sword as he pass me by. -Zerefore am I lame to-day. Never shall I forget zat most -fear-ful night. Efen still I shiver before ze zought. I vas let -free; Mr. Burnaby, I must say, vat you call did me vell; but -I hafe some grudge against him. Sir, zere vas hundert -tousand pound sterling ifory in ze vaults below zat house: -hundert tousand, sure as a gun. Now I did expect -Mr. Burnaby to gife me at least--at least, vun tousand pound -vorth for damages. I lose qvite so much in commission, to -say nozink about ze vear and tear of my intellecks. No more -is my brain as it vas. But Mr. Burnaby shut me opp, sir, shut -me opp. He say somezink about ze ifory belong on account -of law to ze Congo State and on account of right to ze blacks. -Zat is not business, it is vat you call rot. He vill not gife me -vun single tusk, and ven I say I vill write to ze Kaiser he -say: 'Hang ze Kaiser!' Vat is zat for a kind of business, sir!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The German's dudgeon was too much for Mr. Barkworth's -gravity, and he had recourse to the never-failing safety-valve -for his feelings--his handkerchief. When he had blown off -his amusement, he asked:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And what have you been doing since you left the fort?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I vent to all ze places vere I had left bags. Now I -return to my home. Of Africa I hafe now enough. I travel -to Düsseldorf, and zere, if ze Kaiser vill not gife me a pension, -and if nozink more remains, I establish myself as barber, for I -am at least--Mr. Burnaby vill say it,--at least vell capable to -cut his hair!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>His tone was indescribably bitter. He continued:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But first of all I go to Kisumu to despatch vun cable to ze -Kaiser. I tell him he shall take ze Congo State. Ze Belgians, -vat are zey? No good. Ze Congo State shall be Gairman, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well! well!" said Mr. Barkworth, humouring him; "let's -hope it's not so bad as that. In the meantime, you'll come -and see Mr. Burnaby to say good-bye?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I zink not, sir. I nefer forgif him; he owe me tousand -pound. Business are business. Long ago I say: 'Step nefer -in betveen ze vite man and ze black.' He step in,--and I step -out, sir."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And with that he walked away.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Three days after this, the travellers left for Mombasa. -Father Chevasse saw them off at the railway-station.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"But we shall see you again?" said Lilian warmly, as they -shook hands. "You will come and see us in England some -day, won't you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The padre smiled a strange, almost wistful smile.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I may not," he said quietly. "We White Fathers, when -we put our hands to the plough, never turn back. I shall -never even see my beloved Normandy again. I shall live and -die in Africa.--God bless you!" he said to Tom; "I shall not -forget you, though I may never see you again."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>All Mombasa was on tiptoe with excitement when it was -flashed along the line that the wanderer was returning. -Everybody knew that he had saved the expedition, but what had -happened since then was a mystery, and a fruitful subject for -speculation among the European colony. Dr. O'Brien grumbled -a little when he saw the crowd awaiting the train at the -terminus.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They might have had the common sense, not to say -common decency, to keep out of the way just now. Making a -peep-show of us, indeed!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>But he managed to get the invalid into the hotel without -mishap, and afterwards referred everybody who applied to -him for information to Mr. Barkworth. "He's brimmin' with -it," he said. Mr. Barkworth, indeed, was pounced on at once -by an inquisitive stranger, who included among his numerous -avocations that of occasional correspondent to the </span><em class="italics">Times</em><span>, and -who cabled a column of extremely good 'copy' as soon as he -had sufficiently pumped the garrulous old gentleman. This -fact, no doubt, explained the number of telegrams which came -during the next few days addressed to Tom--telegrams of -congratulation from strangers, requests from publishers for -the offer of his forthcoming volume, an invitation from a New -York agency to undertake a lecture tour in the States. And -yet not one-tenth of his story had been told. Mbutu had -not vocabulary enough to give a consecutive narrative; it was -only when Tom himself, after being mercifully spared -excitement for a fortnight, was at last pronounced well enough to -talk, that his friends wormed out of him bit by bit the whole -story of his adventures. He dwelt lightly upon his own -achievements, and Mr. Barkworth, when he retailed the -narrative afterwards to all and sundry, did not fail to eulogize -the "astonishing modesty of this fine young fellow; a true -Englishman, you know." All which was duly doled out to -the British public by the indefatigable newspaper-man.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>One evening, when they had been in Mombasa for about -six weeks, Sir John Burnaby was sitting with Mr. Barkworth, -Major Lister, and the doctor in the smoking-room of -the hotel. They were the only occupants of the room. The -doctor had just announced that Tom would be well enough -to leave for home by the boat sailing in three days, and the -pleasure of all the gentlemen had been expressed in Mr. Barkworth's -exclamation: "That's capital!" For a time they sat -in silence, puffing at their cigars, each thinking over the events -of the past twelvemonth in his own way. Then Major Lister, -who was not usually the first to speak, said suddenly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tom going back to Glasgow, sir?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's a question that's been puzzling me," returned Sir -John. "On the one hand, he has gone a certain way in his -profession and might do well in it; on the other--"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"On the other, Burnaby," interrupted Mr. Barkworth, "he's -not going back if I know it. Why, the boy's a born soldier -and administrator, h'm; I knew it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"To tell the truth," said Sir John, "I've been wondering -whether, on the strength of his doings out here, we couldn't -get him a crib in the Diplomatic Service, or, if he wants to -stay in Africa, in the service of one of the companies or -protectorates. He asked me the other day if the Congo Free -State people would give him something to do."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's out of the question," said Mr. Barkworth decisively. -"I've read a lot of things I don't like about these Belgians, and -if there is anything fishy in their methods of administration, -the youngster would only eat his heart out. No; he's an -Englishman; let him stick to the old country and the old -flag, h'm!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"We'll leave it till we get home," suggested Sir John. -"I've a little more influence than I had a year ago, and I -dare say we shall be able to get the boy something to suit -him. Depend upon it I'll do my best; I don't forget that but -for him I might be a bleached skeleton to-day."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And that boy Booty--what about him, now?" asked Mr. Barkworth. -"He's a fine fellow, you know. Too bad to leave -him among these heathens to bow down to wood and stone, -h'm! What can we do for him?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Put him in the K.A.R.," suggested Major Lister.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I don't think he'd get on with them," said Sir John. -"These Bahima are uncommonly proud."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Have the boy in and let him speak for himself," said the -doctor. "We cannot dispose of a human creature as if he -were a bag of bones."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Very well; ring for him."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>In a minute or two Mbutu came in, dressed in loose garments -of spotless linen. He looked rather shyly at the group -of gentlemen, and yet stood proudly, and with an air of -dignity.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Mbutu," said Sir John, "we are all going back to -England on Thursday, and your master will be with us. We -should like to do something for you. You have been a -faithful servant. Your master tells me that you have been his -right hand--tending him in sickness, and never tired of -helping him in health. You more than once saved his life. What -would you like us to do for you?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu was silent for some moments. Then he said, -stumblingly:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Sah my fader and mudder. No want leabe sah. No -leabe him nebber, not till long night come. Big water? No -like big water. Sah him village ober big water? Mbutu go; -all same for one."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm sure my nephew will be sorry to part with you," said -Sir John kindly, "but I am afraid you cannot go with him. -You see, he will not want your help in his own land. There -are no forests to go through; no black men to need interpreters. -I am afraid our cold bleak winters would not suit you, my boy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Tell you what," put in Mr. Barkworth, "let him try. -Booty, you can come with me, and you'll often see your young -master, let's hope. I'll take you as odd man, you know; -clean the boots, run errands, rub down the pony, all that sort -of thing, you know. Good suit of clothes; buttons, if you -like, for best; a kind mistress and a comfortable home."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Mbutu drew himself up.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Me Muhima," he said, addressing Sir John. "Muhima no -slave. Clean boots for sah? Oh yes! sah fader and mudder. -No for nudder master. Oh no! not for red-faced pussin."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There's no gratitude--" Mr. Barkworth was beginning -from sheer force of habit; but the boy went on:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Found brudder, sah; brudder chief. Mbutu not go ober -big water; berrah well. Go to brudder; be him katikiro, -sah. Fink of master always, eber and eber, sah."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I think you are wise," said Sir John. "You can talk it -over with your master to-morrow."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"And just remember," put in the doctor, "that I will -be in Kisumu for two years or more, and if ever you want -any help, ask for Dr. O'Brien."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom had a long talk with Mbutu next day, and loth -though he was to part with him, could not but approve his -plan of returning to his brother's village. He took care that -he should not go empty-handed; indeed, in point of worldly -wealth the new katikiro was probably a greater man than his -brother the chief. But it was only after much persuasion -that he could be induced to accept anything whatever. As -the doctor had decided to return to Kisumu at once, now -that Tom's convalescence was assured, Mbutu agreed to go -back with him without waiting to see his master off. The -boy burst into tears for the first time in Tom's experience -when the moment of parting came.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Good-bye!" said Tom, putting his hand on the boy's head -as he knelt by the couch. "You have been loyal and true to -me, and I know that you will be a true katikiro to your -brother. I should like to hear about you whenever you can -get to Kisumu to send me a message. And see, I'll give you -my watch. You don't need it to tell the time; but it will -remind you of this wonderful year we have spent together. -Perhaps I shall see you again some day. Good-bye, good-bye!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Two days later Tom was carried on board the homeward-bound -steamer amid the sympathetic cheers of a great crowd -of Europeans and natives. Little had been seen of him, but -from the government officials to the meanest coolie everybody -knew all about him, and was ready to laud him to the skies.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>As the gangway was about to be removed, a round little -figure was seen rushing wildly up the quay, holding a blue -envelope in his right hand, and shouting to the seamen.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Just vun leetle moment!" cried Monsieur Armand -Desjardins, panting as he tumbled on board. He made his way -to the long chair on which Tom was lying, and handed him -the envelope. "Monsieur Burnaby, vun leetle gift, vun -souvenir, for to make you understan' my vair high consideration -and my immense entusiasm. Adieu, my dear Monsieur -Burnaby; dat you may arrive sound and safe at de end of de -road, and vun fine day return for to see us now so desolate, -dat is de prayer of your vair devoted Armand Desjardins. -Adieu, mademoiselle, j'ai bien l'honneur de vous saluer; -messieurs ... mademoiselle...."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>And with his hand on his heart the vivacious little Frenchman -made his best bow, and backed down the gangway.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>The bell sounded, the screw revolved, and in a few minutes -the vessel was steaming out of the harbour. Tom's friends -stood at the rail, gazing at the receding shore and the waving -hats and handkerchiefs until they had well-nigh faded from -sight. Then they placed their deck-chairs in a semicircle -around Tom, and sighed a sigh of great contentment.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well, we're off at last," said Mr. Barkworth, lighting a -cigar and looking round over his spectacles on the group, with -even more than his usual benevolence. "England, home, and -beauty, and all that sort of thing, you know. No place like -home. Well, what did mossoo give you, Tom? What I never -can make out is, why a Frenchman can't do things in the same -way as rational people. Why make a ballroom bow on the -deck of a steamer, eh? Tell me that, now. What are you -smiling at, Tom? Some bit of buffoonery, I'll warrant, h'm!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Monsieur Desjardins has dropped into verse," replied Tom, -laughing outright. "A rhymed valedictory."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Read it," said Sir John.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Your accent is better than mine," said Tom, passing the -paper to Lilian, his eyes twinkling. In her perfect accent, -and with due attention to the mute e's, she began to read:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"Ô mon héros si jeune! ô guerrier intrépide!</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>L'Afrique à ton départ a le coeur triste et vide.</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Lea bords du vaste lac résonnent de sanglots,</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Et ton nom, ô Thomas, se mêle au bruit des flots."</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Only Sir John and his nephew noticed that at this point the -reader flushed a little, and crumpled the paper slightly in her -hand. There was a momentary pause, as though everybody -expected more to come, but Lilian was silent, and her father -exclaimed:</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"H'm! Translate, Lilian; why couldn't the mossoo say -what he had to say in English?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sir John took the verses from her, and after an amused -glance at them put them in his pocket.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They're decent enough Alexandrines, Barkworth," he -said with a chuckle. "Lilian's thinking of Tom's blushes, I -suspect."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well then, translate, somebody. What's the fellow say?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Translate 'em in rhyme, a line each, sort of game," suggested -Major Lister.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"A good idea!" exclaimed Sir John. "Place aux dames; -you begin, Lilian; and it must be heroic measure, of course, -to match the theme."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How will this do?" asked Lilian after a moment or two.</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"'O youthful hero, warrior brave and bold!'"</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"Capital! and the right heroic strain. I go on:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>'Deserted Afric's heart is sad and cold'.</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Now, Lister, it's your turn."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Major Lister puffed solemnly at his pipe for at least a -minute before he said slowly, pausing after every word:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"'The shores of the vast lake resound with sobs'."</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"As literal as a Kelly's crib, 'pon my word!" cried Sir John, -laughing; "but I can't say much for your sense of rhythm. -Now Barkworth, you're in for the last line. Come along, no -shirking:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>'Et ton nom, ô Thomas, se mêle au bruit des fiots'."</span></div> -<div class="line"> </div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>"What's it mean in plain English? I never made poetry -in my life; used to get swished horribly for my verses at -school; never could see any good in 'em."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Gammon! It means: 'And your name, O Thomas, mingles -with the noise of the waves'."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"There now, didn't I tell you so! Gammon indeed! Utter -tomfoolery! How can his name do any such thing! Pure -bosh; I knew it!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Play the game and don't argue. You've only to cap -Lister's brilliant line, 'The-shores-of-the-vast-lake-re-sound-with-sobs--' -syllable by syllable. Come along."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I can't rhyme with 'sobs'. The only rhyme I know is 'lobs'; -used to bowl 'em at Winchester forty odd years ago; 'sobs', -'lobs'--can't bring it in anyhow.</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>'The shores of the vast lake resound with sobs--'"</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>He pursed his lips and rubbed his chin.</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>"'The wapping waves exclaim, where's Thing-um-bobs?'"</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>put in Tom quietly, and Mr. Barkworth's protest that he -didn't call that translating was drowned in laughter.</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst"><span>It was some weeks later. The scene was the breakfast-room -at The Orchard, Winterslow. Lilian was already at the head -of the table by the steaming urn, Tom was cutting a rose -in the garden, and Sir John standing with his hands in his -pockets at the open French window. He had come down -overnight to spend a week with his old friend, whose guest -Tom had been ever since his arrival in England.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Kept you waiting, eh?" said Mr. Barkworth, coming in -briskly, his rubicund face aglow. "Glorious morning. Letters -not arrived yet? Ah! here they are. One for Tom; foreign -post-mark. Hi!" he shouted. "Come along; letter for you. -Bacon's getting cold."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Tom entered, cut the big square envelope, read the contents, -and passed it to his uncle.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"That's the third," he said with a smile. He was quite the -old Tom once more, bright-eyed, fresh-coloured, supple as ever; -a little older in looks, to be sure, with an air of manliness and -grit that rejoiced Sir John's heart.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Another offer? Come, that's capital. Who is it this -time, Burnaby?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"The King of the Belgians, by George! His secretary offers -Tom a commission in the Free State forces, with a very -prettily-turned compliment."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"How proud you'll be, Mr. Burnaby!" said Lilian.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Proud! Not he!" retorted her father. "He won't accept -that, or I'm a Dutchman."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"It's a little embarrassing, though," said Tom. "People -are very kind. A crib in Nigeria a week ago, then one in -Rhodesia, and now one in the Congo Free State!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Don't be in a hurry, Tom," said his uncle. "I had a -long talk with Underwood of the Foreign Office yesterday. -There's some idea of--but I won't give it away. Only I'll -say this: that I don't think it'll be either Rhodesia or Nigeria, -much less the Congo."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'm in no hurry, Uncle; it's very comfortable here, and -a few months' rest will do me all the good in the world."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Really!" returned Sir John, with a significant glance at -Lilian. "By the way, I suppose you haven't seen Desjardins' -latest article in the Paris </span><em class="italics">Figaro</em><span>? I have it in my pocket. -He's running you for all you're worth--and more--as a -world-hero, Tom. Here it is."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>He handed a newspaper cutting to Tom. As he replaced a -pile of papers in his pocket, a folded sheet fell to the floor. -He picked it up, casually opened it, scanned it, and -smiled.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Now I think of it, Barkworth," he said, "we never showed -you on the boat the second stanza of the little Frenchman's -effusion, did we?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Oh, you really mustn't!" cried Lilian, starting up and -flushing.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"What! what!" said her father. "Another verse of that -rubbish! Let me see it."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Sir John handed him the paper; he put on his spectacles, -and Lilian, throwing a reproachful look at Sir John, fled to -the garden, while Tom tilted back his chair and laughed a -little awkwardly. Mr. Barkworth pursed up his mouth and -frowned.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Why, hang it!" he cried, "here's my daughter's name! -What does the wretched little man mean by writing my -daughter's name! What's the meaning of it, Burnaby? I -can't read the stuff."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'll read it to you:</span></p> -<blockquote> -<div> -<div class="line-block outermost"> -<div class="line"><span>'Tu vas, comblê de gloire, illustrer ta patrie:</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Tu vas briser des coeurs, et provoquer l'envie.</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>Quel ange te conduit par delà l'ocean?--</span></div> -<div class="line"><span>La mer répond tout bas, murmurant "Lilian"'.</span></div> -</div> -</div> -</blockquote> -<p class="pfirst"><span>Perhaps Tom will oblige by translating."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Not I, sir; I think you'll do it best. If you'll excuse me, -I'll go and----"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Yes, go and find her, certainly, my boy."</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Well now, Burnaby, just translate, please. There appears -to be some mystery here, and I mean to get to the bottom of -it, h'm!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"You must make allowances for a Frenchman's sentiment, -you know, Barkworth. What he says is something to this -effect: 'Covered with glory, you're going to shed lustre on -your country, and there you'll break all the girls' hearts and -make all the boys jealous. What angel is wafting you over -the ocean?'--A little high-falutin, you see. It ends--'And -the sea whispers the name----'"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Confound his impudence!" broke in Mr. Barkworth. -"What right----what are you laughing at, Burnaby? Why--God -bless me, you don't mean there's anything in it? Eh? -What? 'Gad, I'm delighted, delighted, immensely pleased, -old man!--Look at them in the garden, Jack; aren't they -a fine couple, now!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"They're rather young yet, Barkworth, eh?"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"Young! Of course they're young. Makes me young -again myself to see them there, God bless them! Call 'em -in; I must shake hands with Tom, the young dog; I know -him!"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"I'd let 'em alone if I were you, Barkworth. Come round -to the stables, and I'll tell you what Underwood said to me."</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst" id="zanzibar"><em class="italics">It is early morning in Zanzibar. The Arab quarter is scarcely -astir; there are few passengers in its narrow tortuous lanes, with -their square houses, each standing aloof, dark, repellent, prison-like -for all its whitewash. But in the market-place the slant rays of -the sun light up a busy scene. In and out among the booths of the -merchants and the unsheltered heaps in which the lesser traders -expose their wares, moves a jostling crowd--negroes of Zanzibar; -visitors from the coast tribes; Somalis from the north; Banyamwesi, -even Baganda and Banyoro, from the far interior--chattering, -chaffering, haggling in a hundred variants of the Swahili tongue. -Now and again the half-naked crowd parts to make way for a -grave stately Arab in spotless white, with voluminous turban, or -for some Muscat donkey whose well-laden panniers usurp the narrow -space.</em></p> -<p class="pnext"><em class="italics">Suddenly above the hum of the market rises a strident voice. -The wayfarers turn, and see a gaunt, bent, hollow-eyed figure in -mendicant rags; standing on a carpet at the entrance of an alley, he -has begun to harangue with the fervour of madness all who choose to -hear.</em></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Hearken, ye faithful, sons of the Prophet, hearken while I tell -of the shame that has befallen Islam! Verily, the day of our -calamity has come upon us! Woe unto us! woe unto us! The -hand of our foes is heavy upon us; they lie in wait for us, even as -a lion for harts in the desert. Wallahi! the land was ours, from -the sun's rising unto its setting, from the marge of the sea unto the -uttermost verge of the Forest. Where now are all they that went -forth, and in the name of Allah got them riches and slaves? Where -are the leaders of old--Hamed ben Juna the mighty, Sefu his son -strong in battle, yea, and the great Rumaliza? All, all are gone! -I alone am left, even I, the least of their servants. The -Ferangi--defiled be their graves!--shall they afflict us for ever? Are we -dogs, that here, even here in our birthplace, the land of our fathers, -we slink from the foot of the infidel? Awake, awake, O ye slothful! -Haste ye! haste ye! Smite the Ferangi and spare not! Grind -them into the dust; yea, crush them, destroy them utterly. Do ye -linger or doubt? Behold, I will lead you! Lo, my sword!--is it -not red with infidel blood? Let us sweep like the whirlwind upon -them; like the lightnings of Allah will we rend and consume them. -They that pollute our land shall be stricken, and none shall be left, -no, not one alive for the wailing. By the beard of the Prophet I -swear it!</em><span>"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Essalam alekam!</em><span>" </span><em class="italics">says a Somali in respectful greeting to a -venerable seller of sweetmeats</em><span>. "</span><em class="italics">Who is he, O Giver of Delight?</em><span>"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Knowest thou not, O Lion of the Desert? He is a mad nebi -from the Great Forest afar.</em><span>"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Mashallah! And his name, O Kneader of Joy?</em><span>"</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>"</span><em class="italics">Men call him Mustapha.</em><span>"</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span>* * * * * * * *</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 4em"> -</div> -<p class="center pfirst"><span class="large">HERBERT STRANG</span></p> -<p class="center pnext"><em class="italics medium">Complete List of Stories</em></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 2em"> -</div> -<p class="noindent pfirst"><span>ADVENTURES OF DICK TREVANION, THE -<br />ADVENTURES OF HARRY ROCHESTER, THE -<br />A GENTLEMAN AT ARMS -<br />A HERO OF LIÉGE -<br />AIR PATROL, THE -<br />AIR SCOUT, THE -<br />BARCLAY OF THE GUIDES -<br />BLUE RAIDER, THE -<br />BOYS OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE -<br />BRIGHT IDEAS -<br />BROWN OF MOUKDEN -<br />BURTON OF THE FLYING CORPS -<br />CARRY ON -<br />CRUISE OF THE GYRO-CAR, THE -<br />FIGHTING WITH FRENCH -<br />FLYING BOAT, THE -<br />FRANK FORESTER -<br />HUMPHREY BOLD -<br />JACK HARDY -<br />KING OF THE AIR -<br />KOBO -<br />LONG TRAIL, THE -<br />LORD OF THE SEAS -<br />MOTOR SCOUT, THE -<br />NO MAN'S ISLAND -<br />OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN, THE -<br />ONE OF CLIVE'S HEROES -<br />PALM TREE ISLAND -<br />ROB THE RANGER -<br />ROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS -<br />SAMBA -<br />SETTLERS AND SCOUTS -<br />SULTAN JIM -<br />SWIFT AND SURE -<br />THROUGH THE ENEMY'S LINES -<br />TOM BURNABY -<br />TOM WILLOUGHBY'S SCOUTS -<br />WITH DRAKE ON THE SPANISH MAIN -<br />WITH HAIG ON THE SOMME</span></p> -<div class="vspace" style="height: 6em"> -</div> -<!-- -*- encoding: utf-8 -*- --> -<div class="backmatter"> -</div> -<p class="pfirst" id="pg-end-line"><span>*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK </span><span>TOM BURNABY</span><span> ***</span></p> -<div class="cleardoublepage"> -</div> -<div class="language-en level-2 pgfooter section" id="a-word-from-project-gutenberg" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> -<span id="pg-footer"></span><h2 class="level-2 pfirst section-title title"><span>A Word from Project Gutenberg</span></h2> -<p class="pfirst"><span>We will update this book if we find any errors.</span></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>This book can be found under: </span><a class="reference external" href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42017"><span>http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42017</span></a></p> -<p class="pnext"><span>Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one -owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and -you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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