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diff --git a/old/42017-0.txt b/old/42017-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 2eab95f..0000000 --- a/old/42017-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,14882 +0,0 @@ - TOM BURNABY - - - - -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 Project Gutenberg License included with this -eBook or online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license. - - - -Title: Tom Burnaby - A Story of Uganda and the Great Congo Forest -Author: Herbert Strang -Release Date: February 04, 2013 [EBook #42017] -Language: English -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM BURNABY *** - - - - -Produced by Al Haines. - - - - -[Illustration: Cover] - - - - -[Illustration: A Warm Reception. (See page 46.)] - - - - - TOM BURNABY - - A STORY OF - UGANDA AND THE GREAT CONGO FOREST - - - BY - - HERBERT STRANG - - - - NEW EDITION - - - - What good gift have my brothers, but it came - From search and strife and loving sacrifice? - SIR EDWIN ARNOLD - - - - HUMPHREY MILFORD - OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS - LONDON, EDINBURGH, GLASGOW - TORONTO, MELBOURNE, CAPE TOWN, BOMBAY - - - - - REPRINTED 1922 IN GREAT BRITAIN - BY MORRISON AND GIBB LTD., EDINBURGH - - - - -_MY DEAR JACK,_ - -_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!_ - -_Your affectionate uncle,_ - _HERBERT STRANG._ - - - - - Contents - - -KABAMBARI - -CHAPTER I - FITTING OUT AN EXPEDITION - -CHAPTER II - MBUTU - -CHAPTER III - ON THE VICTORIA NYANZA - -CHAPTER IV - A STERN CHASE - -CHAPTER V - A LONG MARCH - -CHAPTER VI - UNMASKED - -CHAPTER VII - AMBUSCADING AN AMBUSH - -CHAPTER VIII - IN THE TOILS - -CHAPTER IX - GONE AWAY! - -CHAPTER X - THE LAND OF THE PIGMIES - -CHAPTER XI - THE VALLEY OF THE SHADOW - -CHAPTER XII - BIG MEDICINE - -CHAPTER XIII - BLOOD-BROTHERHOOD - -CHAPTER XIV - THE SIEGE OF BAREGA’S - -CHAPTER XV - ARMS AND THE MAN - -CHAPTER XVI - THE MAKING OF AN ARMY - -CHAPTER XVII - TREACHERY - -CHAPTER XVIII - THE GREAT FIGHT - -CHAPTER XIX - TOM’S ARMADA - -CHAPTER XX - AN END AND A BEGINNING - -ZANZIBAR - - - - - Illustrations - - -PLATE I - A WARM RECEPTION . . . . . . _Frontispiece_ - -PLATE II - A MÊLÉE IN THE FOREST - -PLATE III - TOM SURPRISES MABRUKI - -PLATE IV - TOM IN THE BREACH - -PLATE V - THE FIGHT ON THE LAKE - - - - Plans - -PLAN I THE BATTLE OF IMUBINGA - -PLAN II - BAREGA’S VILLAGE DURING THE SIEGE - -PLAN III - THE GREAT FIGHT BY THE SWAMP - - - - -_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._ - -_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._ - -_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?_ - - - - - CHAPTER I - - Fitting Out an Expedition - -The Major--A New Friend--By Rail to Uganda--Dr. O’Brien Introduces -Himself--The Major Orders a Retreat--Left Behind - - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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: - -"Well--I’m--hanged!" - -Tom stood in front of him, looking very warm. There was another -embarrassing silence. - -"What do you mean by this?" were the major’s next words. - -"I really couldn’t help it, Uncle Jack." - -"Couldn’t help it!" gasped the major. - -"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!" - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -"So much for that! I was half afraid I’d catch it," he said to himself. -"My word, isn’t it hot!" - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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: - -"Just out, sir?" - -"Yes; I landed this morning." - -"H’m! Government appointment, sir?" - -"Well no, not exactly. The fact is, I’ve come out to see my uncle." - -"H’m! Many boys do; hard up, I suppose," said the old gentleman under -his breath. "Name, sir?" - -"Burnaby--Tom Burnaby. My uncle is Major Burnaby of the Guides." - -"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!" - -The old fellow’s short snaps of sentences, and the little gasps he gave -at intervals, rather tickled Tom. - -"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!" - -At this Tom began to fear that he was in for a lecture, but he was -reassured the next moment. - -"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." - -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: - -"Excuse me, but have you seen a red-covered guide-book, left on one of -the chairs?" - -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. - -"Oh, thank you!" said the girl. "Poor Father is always so careless." - -And with a smile she flitted out of the room. - -Later in the evening, when Tom strolled on to the veranda, Mr. Barkworth -came up to him. - -"H’m! come and let me introduce you to my daughter, sir. Lilian, Mr. -Burnaby, nephew of my old friend Major Jack." - -Lilian Barkworth gave Tom a friendly little nod and smile of -recognition. - -"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." - -When he had gone over to speak to the admiral, Tom and Miss Barkworth -looked at each other and smiled. - -"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?" - -"Well, he did give me some historical information--" - -"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." - -"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. - -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. - - -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. - -"Hi, you there? stop that!" cried Tom. - -The man looked up sharply, gave the interrupter one scowling glance; -and, seeing only a stripling, laid on again. - -"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." - -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. - -"Fery goot, fery goot, my young friend," said a voice near Tom; "but you -hafe soon forgot vun of my advice-vords." - -"Oh, it’s you, is it, Herr Schwab?" said Tom, turning and recognizing -his fellow-passenger on the steamer. - -"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." - -"Oh, that’s all right! You couldn’t expect me to look on and see that -murderous brute ill-using the poor wretch?" - -The German shrugged. - -"Black is black, and business are business. Kindness all fery goot, -courage equally all fery goot, but you should hafe--vat you call tact." - -"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." - -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. - -"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?" - -The little man with the keen gray eyes and pleasant mouth looked up at -Tom and frowned. - -"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!" - -"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?" - -"Will I? Indeed I will. Come along." - -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. - -"Ah, this is nice!" he said. "Can I have a drink, Doctor?" - -"To be sure. What’ll you have? Your uncle’s burgundy is good. I can -recommend it." - -"Really, a drink of water would do me best just now." - -"Very well. Here, Saladin, cold water." - -The major-domo, a tall muscular Musoga, appeared with a carafe of -sparkling water. - -"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?" - -Tom told his story, the doctor breaking in every now and then with -sympathetic little ejaculations. - -"’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." - -"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." - -"That’s right, now. And sure here’s the major himself." - -"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." - -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. - -"Tub, Saladin," said the major. "And look here, this is my nephew; put -him up a bed and do him well." - -"All right, sah! all same for one," returned the negro cheerfully. - -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. - -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. - -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: - -"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." - -The major relit his pipe, and hid his sympathetic features behind a -cloud of smoke. After a moment Tom said quietly: - -"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." - -"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." - -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!" - -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: - -"’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." - -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. - -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. - -Tom was the last to grasp his uncle’s hand. - -"Good-bye, Uncle!" he said. "Good luck to you!" - -"Good-bye, my boy! Sorry you aren’t with us. But cheer up; please God, -we’ll have a good time together yet." - -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. - -Tom heaved a sigh as he turned away. - -"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!" - -"I’d give anything to have gone too," said Tom. - -Lilian looked amazed and shocked. - -"Why, Mr. Burnaby, you might get killed!" she said. - -Tom laughed. - -"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." - -"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!" - - - - - CHAPTER II - - Mbutu - -Mbutu--Hatching a Plot--The Padre--A Consultation - - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -"Now then, who are you? What does this mean?" he said. - -The boy stuck his arms akimbo in imitation of Tom, grinned, and chortled -rather than said: - -"Me run away!" - -"Oh indeed! Run away, have you? And where from, may I ask?" - -"Me Mbutu, sah! Mbutu servant dago man; sah knock him down; me no go -back--no, no; me hide; now me heah." - -He chortled again with a childish air of satisfaction which made Tom -smile. - -"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?" - -"No, no." - -"Well, then, what do you want?" - -"Me and you, sah; you me fader and mudder, sah; all same for one; me -stop, long stop." - -"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." - -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. - -Such was his story, told disconnectedly, the English pieced out with -occasional phrases in Swahili, the _lingua franca_ 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. - -"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." - -Mbutu’s eyes opened to their fullest extent. - -"Sah him uncle!" he cried. - -He looked puzzled and anxious, and yet seemed to hesitate. - -"Well, what is it?" asked Tom. - -"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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"You’re not making this up?" he said sternly. "Why didn’t you tell all -this before the expedition started?" - -Mbutu spread out his hands. - -"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." - -He pointed expressively to the scars and weals left on his shoulders by -his recent thrashings with the kiboko. - -"Then why have you told me now?" demanded Tom. - -The boy for a few instants looked puzzled; then his features expanded in -a cheerful smile as he said: - -"No kiboko heah, sah! Sah little son of big sah! Sah Mbutu him fader -and mudder!" - -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. - -"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!" - -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. - -"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, _sotto voce_. - -The missionary smiled as he shook hands. - -"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." - -"Ah!" said Mr. Barkworth, catching the phrase. "Who’s been falling -among thieves, padre?" - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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: - -"Oh, what a wicked, wicked thing!" - -"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--" - -But Lilian had seated herself at her father’s feet, and laid her hand on -his knee. - -"Father," she said, "Mr. Burnaby has some strange and terrible news to -tell you." - -"God bless my soul, you don’t say so! What in the world has happened?" - -"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?" - -"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?" - -Tom repeated the story, giving, as nearly as he could, the minutest -details told him by Mbutu. - -Mr. Barkworth took out his handkerchief and blew his nose. "H’m! -Cock-and-bull story altogether. I know these natives. Taradiddles, -sir!" - -"But why doubt the boy, sir? His story was so circumstantial, and he -looked so earnest and truthful." - -"H’m! What do you say about it, mossoo?" - -"It is extraordinary, certainly," replied the Frenchman. "Could we not -send for the boy? He would not try any tricks with me." - -"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." - -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: - -"The boy’s story is consistent in every part. I think he is telling the -truth." - -"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?" - -"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." - -"Why couldn’t I go after the expedition myself along with Mbutu?" broke -in Tom eagerly. - -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: - -"I’m an old fool, h’m! Well now, let’s talk it over." - -A long and serious discussion ensued, in which Tom and Mr. Barkworth -bore the greater part. - -"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!" - -"But how can Mr. Burnaby go after them?" put in Lilian. "They have taken -all the launches, I know." - -Mr. Barkworth’s countenance fell. - -"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!" - -"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." - -"Couldn’t you go straight across, sir?" asked Tom eagerly. "You see how -important it is to lose no time." - -"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." - -"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." - -"At eight in the morning," said the missionary. "If all goes well we -shall cover a hundred miles before we anchor for the night." - -"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!" - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER III - - On the Victoria Nyanza - -Tom’s First Crocodile--Night on the Nyanza--In German Africa--A Storm on -the Lake--A Short Way with Hippos--Danger Ahead - - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"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!" - -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. - -"Good-bye, Mr. Burnaby!" said Lilian, "and I do hope you will succeed." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Did I hit it, sir?" he asked eagerly. - -"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." - -"And that, of course, we can’t do," said Tom with a sigh. - -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. - -"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." - -"But surely there are no storms on an inland lake?" - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -Tom looked weary and heavy-eyed when he greeted the missionary about six -o’clock next morning. - -"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." - -"And I slept like a top," said the padre, smiling. "What were the -noises that disturbed you?" - -"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?" - -"That was made by hundreds of cicadas in the reeds." - -"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." - -"That was the jackal." - -"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?" - -"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." - -"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?" - -"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 _Daily Telegraph_, asking for -missionaries to be sent out here?" - -"I can’t say I have." - -"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." - -"But how did you come here?" - -"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." - -"What about the Germans, then?" - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Sorry, I’m sure," said Tom blandly. "Hope you’re not hurt. The path -is narrow." - -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. - -The padre was vexed when Tom told him of the incident. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"What is to be done?" shouted Tom in the padre’s ear. - -"Nothing. We are bound to drift; we are already driving towards the -shore. Heaven send we miss the rocks!" - -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. - -"We are on a sand-bank," cried the padre. "If the storm continues we -shall be broken up in half an hour." - -"Can’t we do anything, sir?" asked Tom. - -"Nothing but trust to Providence." - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -"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." - -"Well done, Mr. Burnaby!" returned the padre. "It is wonderful good -luck that I had such a skilful engineer on board." - -"Well, you see, I had some experience in Glasgow," said Tom modestly. -"And then the chief engineer on the _Peninsular_ showed me all over his -engines, and taught me a lot. Shall we fire up to-night?" - -"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." - -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. - -"The enemy retires in confusion," said Tom, laughing. - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -"Many thanks for all your kindness, Father!" said Tom, shaking hands -warmly. "I’ll look you up, never fear." - -"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!" - -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. - -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. - -Not, however, before Mbutu’s sharp eyes had flashed a glance at it. He -uttered a low cry, and turned to Tom. - -"Dago man, sah!" - -"Where?" said Tom, wheeling landwards with a start. - -"Ober dar, sah. Long canoe, dago man in green coat. Sah knock him -down." - -"Nonsense! You can’t see clearly all that way. It must have been -someone else." - -"Dago, sure nuff," returned the boy positively. "Mbutu know eyes, nose, -coat, kiboko, all berrah much." - -"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?" - -"See Mbutu? Yes. Sah too. Dago see all much. Sah knock him down!" - -"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." - -"All right, sah! Big sah, little sah, all same for one." - - - - - CHAPTER IV - - A Stern Chase - -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 - - -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. - -He looked meditatively for a few moments at Mbutu. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -As Tom approached, Mbutu came towards him grinning. - -"Him say him katikiro," he said. "Him lie; him katikiro not much. Big -chief hab katikiro, little chief no hab." - -"What on earth is katikiro?" asked Tom. - -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: - -"Katikiro palaver man. Chief want eat--call katikiro. Chief want -wife--call katikiro. Want gib bad man kiboko--call katikiro all same." - -"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." - -"Him say chief asleep." - -"Then he must wake him up." - -Mbutu spoke to the negro, who shook his head, looked very serious, and, -pointing to the hut behind, answered quickly and earnestly. - -"Him say chief chop off head," grinned Mbutu. "Chief berrah big, oh!" - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"I don’t understand this," said Tom. "The Ruezi looks a big enough -river. Why couldn’t the launches sail up?" - -The chief explained that the bed was here and there silted with mud, and -everywhere more or less overgrown with reeds. - -"Then I suppose we shall have to tramp after them. Couldn’t we reach -this Lake Mazingo by the river?" - -The chief was sorry to say that they would have to walk through the -forest. - -"Isn’t your river deep enough for a canoe, then?" - -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-- - -"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." - -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. - -"Now, Mbutu," said Tom, "just ask him if he has seen anything of the -Portuguese we caught a glimpse of just now." - -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-- - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"Upon my word, Mbutu," he said, "I shall have to make you my katikiro -right away." - -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. - -"What do they say?" Tom asked. - -"Say you fader and mudder, sah. All belong sah; huts belong sah; food -belong sah; eberyfing belong sah." - -"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?" - -"Me palaver man; me katikiro, sah." - -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. - -"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?" - -"Sah fink; tell Mbutu." - -"Well now, if they are on our track they won’t be far away. Just ask -these fellows if the river bends at all." - -The men declared that the water bent like a bow to south, a half-hour’s -paddling from where they were. - -"Then you and I, Mbutu, will cut across country and meet the canoe by -and by. I suppose there’s a way?" - -Yes; the crew said there was a path through a stretch of thin forest, -which rejoined the river after about five miles. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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-- - - Nsologumba kanpitepite kunyanja - Nsologumba oluilaita kunyanja - Nsologumba lekanpitepite kunyanja. - -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. - -"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?" - -Mbutu turned up the whites of his eyes in the effort to translate, then -chanted solemnly: - -"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--" - -"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." - -"All right, sah! berrah well, sah! Me tell story about uncle and -croc’dile--berrah nice story, sah!" - -"Very well; make it as long as you like." - -"Uncle, sah, in canoe, all alone row up de ribber. Uncle, sah--" - -"Quite so, but you can tell me the story another time. I want you to -keep the crew amused, you understand." - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -"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--" - -At this moment the crew, deprived of their recent amusement, struck up -again-- - - Nsologumba kanpitepite kunyanja - Nsologumba oluilaita kunyanja. - - -"Couldn’t you tell them another story?" suggested Tom. - -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. - -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. - -"Not to-day, thanks! What is it, may I ask?" - -"Berrah nice, sah! Cheese, sah!" - -"Really! And what is it made of? Not milk, judging by the look of it." - -"Mango, sah! Chop mango stone; take out all inside; knock him about, -sah; make cheese. Berrah nice, sah!" - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -Tom ruefully thought of his small stock of biscuits, and in this -alternative diet recognized an additional motive for pressing on. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"What is it?" he said sleepily. - -"Sah nearly gobble up. Croc’dile berrah hungry. Arm berrah nice; soon -all gone, sah." - -Tom shivered. - -"You’re a brick, Mbutu," he said, "and your head’s screwed on right. -But for you!--ugh! it’s horrid to think of!" - -"Uncle, sah--" began Mbutu. - -"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." - -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. - -"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!" - -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: - -"Dago man in canoe!" - -"Bosh!" said Tom, to test him. "You have dago on the brain, I’m -afraid." - -"White man all say bosh!" returned the boy. "No bosh! no bosh! Dago -man in canoe all same!" - -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. - -"Sah, see!" cried Mbutu. "Dago sure nuff." - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -"No, sah! Birds fly up; tell dago canoe in front. Dago know all same." - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"What does he say?" asked Tom, observing this. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"All right, sah!" returned Mbutu. "Me paddle well too much." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -About five o’clock Mbutu, again in his old place in the bow, cried -suddenly: - -"Dago man come close!" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 _en masse_ 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. - -Not till then did Tom allow his crew to relax their efforts. - -"Easy all; you have done well!" he cried. - -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. - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER V - - A Long March - -Lake Mazingo--Tom’s Talisman--Scenes on the March--In Sight--Tom -Surprises the Doctor--Imubinga - - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -"Berrah well, sah," said Mbutu. "Me sleepy too much, sah." - -"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?" - -"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--" - -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. - -"What--what on earth are they doing?" laughed Tom. - -"Him sick too much in tummick, sah," said Mbutu gravely. "Too much -cheese, sah. Better next time soon." - -"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?" - -"Berrah well now, sah. Him no eat cheese not much no more. Cheese too -much nice." - -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. - -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. - -"Drink, sah, fust; berrah well. Next time, rub hands and face, so; -berrah well. Berrah nice, sah; hurt all go too soon." - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -"Sure nuff, sah." - -"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." - -"All same, sah; me know all ’bout it, sah." - -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. - -"Stop dis place," he said at last. "Sah say by-by to black man; black -man go home now; home to pickin." - -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. - -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. - -"Me want see light, sah," he said. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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". - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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. - -"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!" - -"Leopards did ’em, sah! When dey catch us dey eat us." - -"Really! Then they mustn’t catch us, that’s all." - -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. - -"No leopard, sah; leopard no make nize." - -"What is it, then?" - -"Dere he are, sah! Dat him! Big amalua, sah!" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -Mbutu peered long and earnestly into the distance. - -"Right, sah! I see dem big black man. Dey plenty big, plenty strong. -Soon be dar, sah; see sah him uncle." - -Tom stopped short. - -"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." - -"Berrah well, sah; all same for one." - -"You’re not afraid, are you? I shouldn’t like a wild animal to run off -with my katikiro." - -Mbutu grinned. - -"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." - -"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." - -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." - -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. - -"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." - -"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. - -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. - -"All right, sergeant; I’m Major Burnaby’s nephew. You can let me -through." - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -Dr. Corney O’Brien had just extracted a thorn from a Zanzibari’s foot, -when he looked up and caught sight of Tom. - -"By all the holy powers!" he exclaimed. "It’s you!" - -"Yes--it’s myself, doctor," said Tom, with a feeble attempt to smile. - -"’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." - -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. - -"Now you fellows," he called to the Soudanese, "just rig up a litter. -Come, look alive! Half a minute by my watch, no more!" - -The stalwart soldiers, in less than the time specified, had improvised a -litter out of their rifles and a couple of coats. - -"Now, my dear bhoy, we will hear Ould Blazes’ remarks in ten minutes. -Gently, now." - -"But, Doctor, really I can’t go into camp in a litter," said Tom, whose -fainting fit had lasted but a few seconds. - -"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." - -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. - -"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?" - -"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-- - -"Good heavens, it’s Tom!" cried the major in amazement, which speedily -blazed into wrath. "Well, of all the confounded, impudent, disob--" - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"I told him to wait a couple of miles out, so as not to be seen by your -guide," replied Tom. - -"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." - -The major returned rather more than an hour later. "Hasn’t that black -boy turned up yet?" he asked. - -"Give’m time," answered the doctor. "’Tis two miles out and two miles -in, remember." - -"Well, he won’t be long now. By the way, Tom, what race does he belong -to?--Banyoro, Baganda, or what?" - -"He’s a Bahima," replied Tom. - -"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." - -Mbutu told the story in his long-winded stumbling way, the major -listening attentively, and helping him when he stuck for a word. - -"Well now, did you hear those two men mention any place in the course of -their talk?" - -Mbutu thought for a moment. - -"Imubinga, sah!" he said at last. "I know dat. Imubinga! Oh yes!" - -"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." - -"Hungry, boy?" asked the doctor, turning to Mbutu. - -"No, sah," replied Mbutu promptly. "Berrah nice chicken in pot, sah. -Big black soldier gib some. Oh yes!" - -"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?" - -"Just the least touch in his second glass. ’Twill do the boy good. -Sure ’tis sleep he wants." - -"D’you know, Corney, I’m proud of this nephew of mine." - -"An’ ye ought to be, ye ould martinet." - -"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." - -"Faith, ’tis time I turned in myself. Good-night, Major!" - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER VI - - Unmasked - -Cross Questions--Crooked Answers--The Guide Tells his Story--Rumaliza’s -Plot--The Coming Fight - - -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. - -"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." - -"A fight!" said Tom eagerly; "d’you think Uncle Jack will let me take -part in it, Doctor?" - -The doctor smiled grimly. - -"I don’t know about Uncle Jack, young man, but if you’re not in it there -will be no fight at all." - -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". - -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. - -"Very well," said the major. "You’d better get something to eat now, -Mumford." - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"Do you know a place called Imubinga?" asked the major quietly, when the -man had finished. - -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. - -"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." - -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: - -"Black man talk bosh! All one lie. Him no slave not at all! Him big -awful liar!" - -"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?" - -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: - -"Rummy, eh? What!" - -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: - -"D’you think the pretended slave is a confederate of the guide’s, -Uncle?" - -The major looked dubious. He liked to see every step in the -process--all the working of the sum, so to speak. - -"Fadl," he said, "just order the guide Munta to step this way." - -The major’s orderly, a Soudanese more than six feet high, stalked into -the camp square. - -"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?" - -"I never heard it, Uncle. Mbutu has always called him ’old master’ or -’dago man’ to me. What was your master’s name, Mbutu?" - -"Black man call him debbil, sah." - -"Never mind what the black man calls him, what do the Arabs call him? -What did this guide of ours call him?" - -"Call him señor, padrone; one time call him Castro, one time more call -him Carvalho; him lot names too many." - -"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-- - -"I’m afraid the story must keep, Doctor; here’s the guide." - -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. - -"Have you any reason to give," he said quietly, "why you should not be -taken out and shot?" - -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. - -"I don’t--I don’t understand, master," he stammered at length. - -"Ah! Let us begin at the beginning. Do you know one Castro, a -Portuguese, who was in Kisumu for some days before we started?" - -The man, with a strong effort of will, had mastered the agitation into -which the major’s sudden question had thrown him. - -"He is going to brazen it out," said that observant officer to himself; -and after the slightest perceptible pause, the Arab replied: - -"I do not know him, sir." - -"Very well." - -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. - -"Do you know this boy?" - -Tom saw the Arab’s eyelids quiver. - -"No--I do not know him, master. I never saw him before." - -Major Burnaby turned to the Muhima. - -"Mbutu, is this the man?" he asked. - -"Him sure nuff, sah; him gib me kiboko." - -"The boy lies. I never saw him; I know nothing about him." - -"Very well. I shall have to refresh your memory. Fadl, tell Sergeant -Abdullah to bring up a firing-party." - -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. - -The major took his watch from his pocket and laid it on the table in -front of him. - -"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." - -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". - -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. - -"You have half a minute," said the major suddenly. - -"I know nothing, master, nothing at all," replied the guide, his lips -quivering. - -There was again silence. Then the major rapped his hand on the table. - -"Now!" he said. "What have you to say?" - -"I know nothing about it, nothing about it!" persisted the man. - -"I’ve no time to waste," said the major curtly, replacing his watch. -"Sergeant, take him away." - -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. - -"Don’t take me away, don’t take me away!" he shrieked. "I will tell, I -will tell!" - -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. - -"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!" - -The major dismissed the Soudanese, and the man began in a low faint -voice to tell his story. It was as follows:-- - -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". - -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. - -"Jolly good scheme!" remarked Captain Lister admiringly, between two -puffs, when the man had finished his story. - -"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. - -"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?" - -The Arab shifted his feet uneasily. - -"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." - -Relieved that the major’s interrogation was no longer so uncomfortably -personal to himself, the guide went on with his narrative. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"’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!" - -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: - -"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." - -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. - -"That rings true," said the major. "Has he anything more to tell?" - -"Him say true, all berrah much," said Mbutu, who had interpreted. -"Eberyfing told; know no more." - -"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." - -"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." - - - - - CHAPTER VII - - Ambuscading an Ambush - -Approaching the River--Reconnoitring--The Fight on the Bluff--Checking a -Rush--Timely Help--A Hand-to-Hand Struggle--At Fault - - -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". - -Before giving the order to march, the major beckoned Tom apart. - -"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." - -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: - -"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." - -"All right, Uncle! I’m only too glad to be able to do anything." - -"Very well then; I’ll send for you if I want you." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -"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." - -"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. - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -"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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -[Illustration: Plan of the Battle of Imubinga.] - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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 _hors de -combat_, 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. - -"Couldn’t we try a charge?" suggested Tom to the lieutenant. "My men -are eager to have at the enemy." - -"Yes; now is the moment. It’s touch and go. Men, fix bayonets; -charge!" - -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. - -"Now, my boys," cried Tom, "we’ve not done much to-day. It’s our turn at -last. Come along!" - -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. - -[Illustration: A Mêlée in the Forest] - -"Mbutu," he cried, "and you, Sadi, come with me and capture that big -fellow. Now, one, two, three--with me, boys!" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -The major gave a gasp of relief when he heard that his nephew, though -wounded, was still alive. - -"Thank God!" he exclaimed. ’"Now to find him before it is quite dark." - -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. - -"Not here! not here!" bewailed. - -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! - -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. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - In the Toils - -With the Raiders--The Hakim--Mustapha--A Trap--In a Slave Camp--Man’s -Inhumanity--De Castro Again--De Castro Eloquent - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -"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." - -"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?" - -"Belgians." - -"Oh!" Tom looked glum, and the Arab’s lips wore a queer little smile. - -"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." - -"What am I to expect, then? Better shoot me at once--if they think of -keeping me as a prisoner." - -"You have rich friends, no doubt; they will pay." - -"Ransom! Much I’m worth! What are you taking me right away from my -friends for, then?" - -The Arab shrugged. - -"You can judge," he said. - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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: - -"It is the very man!" - -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: - -"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!" - -("Wonder if he’s telling the chief how I punched him!" thought Tom, -noting the gleam and gesture of anger in his direction.) - -"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!" - -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. - -"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." - -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: - -"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!" - -The taunts, even more than the arguments, of the Portuguese had roused -the cruelty in the Arab’s nature. - -"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." - -The Portuguese glared for an instant, but, too glad to get the -long-coveted prey into his own hands, he pocketed the affront. - -"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." - -The chief nodded. The Portuguese went to the door and called in three -of the usual guard of six. - -"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." - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER IX - - Gone Away! - -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 - - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -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. - -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: - -"Cut; quick!" - -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: - -"Cut, cut; up and down, up and down!" - -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! - -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. - -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. - -"Climb up, sah!" came the eager whisper. - -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. - -"No time fink, sah," said Mbutu. "Must run away!" - -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? - -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. - -Without losing a moment Tom donned the Arab’s burnous and turban. - -"Do you know the nearest way to the forest?" he asked Mbutu. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"All go back, sah!" whispered Mbutu gleefully. "No catch dis night. -All jolly safe now, sah." - -"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." - -"Must go on, sah; black men gone; rest by and by; time fink by and by." - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -"Yes, sah; know lot, sah. Forest ober dar, ober dar, ober dar." - -He pointed successively in three directions--north, south, and west. - -"Then we must go to the east, eh?--the other way, you know." - -"No, sah, nebber do; all Arab dat way." - -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. - -"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?" - -"’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." - -"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?" - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"What is it?" asked Tom in surprise, for the boy had hitherto shown -himself absolutely fearless. - -"Bambute, sah!" he whispered; "little tiny people, berrah tiny small. -Dey shoot poison, sah: one scratch, man dead." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Whew! that was a storm indeed!" said Tom. "What are we to do now? We -can’t go on in this sopping state." - -"I know, sah; climb tree, dry clothes in sun." - -"A novel drying-room!" said Tom with a smile. "Well, let’s try it." - -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. - -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. - -Mbutu heaved a sigh of relief. - -"Bambute!" he said. "No see us dis time; plenty poison dem arrows." - -"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?" - -"All right, sah! No dago man now, sah," he added. - -"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." - -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? - -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: - - "God’s in His heaven, - All’s right with the world". - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER X - - The Land of the Pigmies - -Slow Progress--Forest Life--Hunger--Overtures--A Change of Diet--In -Straits--A Man Hunt--At Bay - - -Tom awoke when the darkness was fading, and a ghostly light showed him -the still sleeping form of Mbutu hard by. - -"Wake up, my katikiro," he said cheerily. "I shall have to teach you -those lines about the sluggard, my boy. Come, what about breakfast?" - -Mbutu was wide awake in an instant. He slid down the tree with the -agility of a cat. - -"Me get breakfast, sah," he said, "jolly good breakfast." - -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. - -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. - -"Soon get used to it, sah," he said cheerfully. "No clothes; all same -for one." - -"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." - -"Berrah soon, sah. I see coney track; rest ober dar." - -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. - -"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?" - -"Oh yes, sah; camp here, must be water." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"What are you about?" cried Tom, horrified at seeing Mbutu lifting a -piece of raw flesh to his mouth. - -"Hungry, sah; coney berrah good." - -"But you can’t eat it raw, surely! Ugh! you’ll make me sick." - -Mbutu put down the morsel with a look in which mingled emotions were -expressed. - -"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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"No! no! no!" said Mbutu vehemently; "sah fader and mudder. Food come -by and by; no die dis time." - -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." - -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. - -"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." - -"Make fire with wood, sah," said Mbutu. - -"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." - -"Me climb tree, sah; see sun den." - -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. - -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. - -"Surely we shall come to a native village by and by," he said hopefully. -"Even the pigmies might take pity on starving men." - -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. - -"Coming to ribber, sah," said Mbutu eagerly. "Perhaps huts; perhaps -catch fish." - -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. - -"Path, sah!" said Mbutu. "’Spect huts ober dar. Huts, food. Plenty -food, oh yes!" - -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. - -"Bambute woman, sah," whispered Mbutu. - -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. - -"She can’t swim!" cried Tom, realizing the situation. - -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. - -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. - -"Put the little beggar down," he said, "and see him run." - -"Want food, sah," expostulated Mbutu; "woman gib food." - -"But she wants her baby first; perhaps she thinks we are cannibals, and -mean to make a meal of both of them." - -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. - -"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." - -Mbutu shook his head. - -"Bambute much bad people," he said. "See white man; no fink; shoot one, -two, three; sah dead." - -"But we saved the youngster." - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -"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. - -"Why, they’re soaked; absolutely useless, Mbutu. You’ll have to make -fire some other way." - -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. - -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. - -"The very place for our night’s rest," said Tom. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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: - -"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." - -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. - -"Where did you get them?" he asked. "Have you eaten some yourself?" - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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: - -"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." - -Tom smiled wearily. His recent exertions had, he felt, precipitated the -inevitable collapse. He was approaching the last stage of exhaustion. - -"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?" - -Mbutu again spoke with his compatriot. - -"Yes, sah," he said at length. "Village five marches ober dar. Say -must go all too quick." - -"Five marches! I can never do it." - -"Try, sah, try; must do it," cried the boy imploringly himself trembling -with pain and fatigue. - -"One more try, then. Can we first knock off the man’s chains?" - -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. - -"I don’t like leaving them to perish. What can we do for them?" - -"Nuffin, nuffin, sah," cried Mbutu. "All too bad lot. Chief kill." - -"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." - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XI - - The Valley of the Shadow - -Barega Tells His Story--Malaria--The Major Writes Home--The End of a -Long Vigil--Mabruki: Medicine-man--A Moving Dialogue--On The Brink - - -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. - -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:-- - -"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. - -"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. - -"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. - -"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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"It’s no good, Mbutu," he said, with an attempt to smile; "I’m done up. -I can’t hold out any longer." - -"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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - -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. - -... "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." - - -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. - -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. - -"Wekaine kenaina? Can you see me?" - -The words, shrilled from Mbutu’s lips, brought the runners to a dead -stop. There was silence for a brief moment. - -"Mesitoka! I cannot!" came the answer. "Who are you?" - -"Ema Mbutu, muzungu katikiro! I am Mbutu, the white man’s katikiro!" - -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. - -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: - - "Yakuba emundu ngagayala - Mukamawange Katabuzi eikyasenga - Amaso zamynka mwenywera omwenge". - - Bravely he fights; no foeman doth he dread; - Never by craven chief will I be led; - Let me drink and drink till mine eyes be red. - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Is it well?" - -"It is well." - -"Ah!" - -"Ah!" - -"Um!" - -"Um!" - -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. - -"Hast thou slept well?" - -"I have slept well." - -"Very well?" - -"Very well." - -"Very well indeed?" - -"Very well indeed." - -"I am thy servant." - -"Thou art my servant." - -"Ma!" - -"Ma!" - -"Mum!" - -"Mum!" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -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. - -"I should like to thank the chief," he said. "Ask that good Msala to -fetch him." - -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. - -"Chief," he said, "I thank you for your kindness. If ever you--" - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XII - - Big Medicine - -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 - - -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. - -"Mbutu!" came a faint voice from the settle. The boy flung down the -grass and ran to his master. - -"I am terribly hungry," said Tom. - -Mbutu looked for a moment incredulous. - -"I am indeed. I think I shall get well after all." - -"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!" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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?" - -"’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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -A day or two after this, Tom said to Mbutu: - -"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?" - -"Sure nuff, sah. Nyanza ober dar;" he pointed almost due east; "chief -send men too; help sah ’long." - -"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." - -"No razor, sah; Bahima pluck hair out. Muzema-wa-taba do it for sah." - -"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." - -"No like medicine-man," said Mbutu hurriedly, looking over his shoulder -at the strange figure departing. - -"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?" - -"Nebber, nebber, sah," returned the boy earnestly. "Sah white man; no -want dem things; sah laugh inside." - -"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." - -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. - -"Perhaps they’ve got poison somehow," said Tom. - -Poison! It was unheard-of. The beasts would not of their own accord -eat anything poisonous, and who should want to poison them? - -"Perhaps someone has a grudge against you and the kasegara." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -Mbutu returned to the hut in a state of unconquerable nervousness. -After a sleepless night, he gave his master the information he had -received. - -"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." - -"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!" - -"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." - -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. - -"Why should he? What have I done to him?" - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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! - -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. - -"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?" - -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. - -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: - -"I was only finishing my medicine-making, chief. Everything is ready -now." - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -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. - -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!" - -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. - -[Illustration: Tom surprises Mabruki] - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"Put out your torches!" cried Tom. - -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. - -Boom! boom! boom! - -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. - -Boom! boom! boom! - -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. - -B-r-r-rrrrrrrr! - -A tremendous roll from the drum woke rumbling echoes all around. -Pointing dramatically with his drum-stick into the sky, Tom cried: -"Behold!" - -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. - -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: - -"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?" - -"You, the muzungu!" shouted every creature in the throng. - -"And do you, O Barega, any longer believe that I caused the death of -your cattle?" - -"No, no; I do not believe it. If any of my people believes it, he shall -surely die!" - -Barega glared round the circle of his trembling subjects, as if to dare -any of them to confess himself a doubter. - -"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." - -"I will have his head!" cried Barega furiously. - -"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." - -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. - -Tom walked quietly back to his hut. - -"You did it very well, Mbutu," he said. - -Mbutu grinned. - -"Like it berrah much, sah," he said; "jolly good bloony bloon." - -"Yes; and we must never repeat the performance. We will not stale our -big medicine, Mbutu." - -The explanation of the wonderful event was simplicity itself. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - - - - - CHAPTER XIII - - Blood-Brotherhood - -Fortifying the Village--The Enemy at the Gate--An Attack at -Dawn--Bridging the Trench--Fireballs--Invested - - -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? - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -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. - -"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. - -"Your arms are pretty serviceable so far as they go," said Tom. "You -haven’t any guns, I suppose?" - -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. - -"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." - -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 -_chevaux-de-frise_. 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -"You have," was the ready and unanimous answer. - -"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?" - -The assembly grunted approval. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Ah! I think they’ve had enough," said Tom. "Barega, my brother, what -do you think of our morning’s work?" - -Barega confessed himself "pleased too much", as Mbutu interpreted him. -"Say one fing, sah; say no want no more museru wasted!" - -"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!" - -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. - -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. - -"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 _quod erat -demonstrandum_--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!" - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XIV - - The Siege of Barega’s - -The Arab Camp--A Balista--A Vain Appeal--Eureka--Cutting a Channel--The -Eleventh Hour--Barega’s Last Fight--After the Battle - - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -"I’ll have a welcome ready for the Arabs if they return," he thought, -delighted at the success of his experiment. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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! - -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. - -"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!" - -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. - -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. - -"Come, Mbutu," he said, "a night’s work and a day’s waiting and then we -shall be free. Come with me." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -[Illustration: BAREGA’S VILLAGE DURING THE SIEGE] - -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. - -"Dig, men, dig!" he said. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -"Kuboko! Kuboko, my brother!" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XV - - Arms and the Man - -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 - - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -Next morning, before he was up, Mbutu came to him in a state of -considerable excitement. - -"Sah," he said, "katikiro outside; kasegara outside; all big men -outside; want see sah, bad want." - -"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. - -"No, sah, no chief yet; wait one moon; great big cry fust." - -"Dear me! I shouldn’t have thought there’d be official mourning in -savage Africa! So they keep it up for a month, eh?" - -"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." - -"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." - -All this time Tom had been taking his morning tub and donning his -clothes. - -"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." - -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. - -"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. - -"Neyanzi-gé! Neyanzi-gé!" cried Mbutu, clapping his hands. "I praise -too much, sah. I fank too much." - -"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. - -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. - -"Now," said Tom, "just explain in a sensible way what all this -performance means." - -The katikiro looked at his companions as though asking their permission -to speak; then, leading Mwonga by the hand, he stepped forward. - -"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." - -"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." - -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. - -"Do you really think the Arabs will come back?" - -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? - -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? - -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. - -"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." - -The gravity of Tom’s tone impressed the Bahima; even the voluble -katikiro’s voice was silenced. Tom went on: - -"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?" - -"It is well," cried the negroes. - -"Then you will see, Msala, that things are done in due form. You know -all about that; I leave it with you." - -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. - -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: - - "Ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! - Kanwete nga imamba bweyaweta" - (Let me plunge like a lung-fish when it plunges) - "Ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah!" - -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: - - "Ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! - Kanwete nga imamba bweyaweta - Ah! ah! ah! ah! ah! ah!" - -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. - -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. - -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? - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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. - -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 _moral_. 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. - -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 _esprit de corps_, 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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? - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -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. - -"It looks as though a caravan of some sort were making for our village," -said Tom. "Surely it cannot be Arabs?" - -"No, sah; white man, sah. Donkeys; must be white man. Oh yes!" - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"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!" - -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. - -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. - -"Yes," said Tom slowly, "I do know English a little; it will be good to -speak English; business are business." - -"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." - -Tom could stand it no longer. Smothering a laugh, he clapped a hand on -the astonished German’s shoulder, and said: - -"Pig-iron? What about pig-iron, Herr Schwab?" - -"Ach! meine Güte!" exclaimed Schwab, his broad face one startled note of -interrogation, "who ze----who zen are you?" - -He mopped his face with a red handkerchief, still holding his -pocket-book open in the other hand. - -"Don’t you remember Tom Burnaby, on board the _Peninsular_, and your -kind offer of any number of tons of pig-iron?" - -"Goot heafens!" - -"And I saw you at Kisumu, don’t you know." - -"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." - -"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 _Bratwurst_, 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." - -"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." - -"And how many pins in a packet, may I ask?" - -"Hundert, or, because my packetts are particularly fine, perhaps hundert -ten." - -"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?" - -"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!" - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"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!" - - - - - CHAPTER XVI - - The Making of an Army - -An Embargo--Federation--Gunpowder--An Object-Lesson--The Great -Palaver--After Many Years--Pikes--The Call to Arms - - -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. - -"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." - -"Ach!" exclaimed the German with a shrug, "certainly you vill burn your -fingers, my young friend. But now, vat can I do for you?" - -"Fetch in your packages and let me see what you have." - -When the bags were opened Tom at once marked a Colt revolver. - -"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?" - -"Ten pound," said the German instantly. - -"What! Ten pounds for those few things! Why, it’s ruinous! How do you -make out the bill?" - -"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." - -"Business are business, indeed! Well, I want the things. I can do -without the watch and the pocket-books, perhaps. How much then?" - -"Ten pound; I hafe only vun price." - -"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?" - -"Oh yes! ze British officer vat you call pay opp. I vill feel quite -safe." - -"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?" - -"All correct, my young friend. And now, vat more can I do for you?" - -"I hardly like to ask you, but would you mind--pray don’t hesitate to -say so--would you mind cutting my hair?" - -"You hafe done me vell, Mr. Burnaby; I do not mind. I vill cut your -hair, and sell you ze scissors." - -"Fire away, then, and don’t dig into my skin, will you?" - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -"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?" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -There were grunts of acquiescence. - -"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." - -The chiefs again showed by their grunts that they found Kuboko’s -recommendation good. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Nothing now remained but to mix these ingredients. - -"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." - -"Sah no go," said Mbutu. "Me go; make bang stuff; blow up; all same for -one." - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"Ah!" said Tom; "he has come round, has he? Bring him up." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -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: - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -"What is it, Mbutu?" said Tom. "Come along." - -"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: - -"Him my brudder, sah! Him Mboda!" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -"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." - -"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." - - - - - CHAPTER XVII - - Treachery - -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 - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"How far ahead was this?" - -"Master, how should I know when fear came rustling behind me? I ran, -master; my feet carried me as on the wind." - -"Where are the enemy?" - -"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?" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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! - -With Tom thought and action went together. - -"Who brought the message to the katikiro before you started?" he asked. - -"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." - -"Mkinga!" exclaimed Tom. "Was there a man named Mkinga among our -troops, Mbutu?" - -"Yes, sah. Mkinga lazy man, sah; no work, no do nuffin; grumble, -grumble all time, sah." - -"Where is he now then?" - -"Said him sick, sah; him no fight; no, no; him go home and nurse -pickin." - -"Ah! And what was he in the village? I don’t remember the man." - -"Him fink him medicine-man, sah; go pick grass for Mabruki; make Mabruki -him medicine; oh yes! I know dat." - -"Was the medicine-man near when Mkinga arrived in the village?" asked -Tom of the messenger. - -"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." - -"You say the man disappeared, Mbutu. Has he been seen since?" - -"No, sah." - -"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?" - -"Yes, sah;" and Mbutu went away to fulfil his errand. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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". - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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? - -"You can mock the jackal’s cry?" he said. - -"Oh yes, sah! berrah good jackal." - -"Very well." - -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. - -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. - -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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII - - The Great Fight - -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 - - -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. - -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. - -"I cut off his head," said Msala simply. - -Tom started, but the moment was not opportune for a reprimand. - -"What happened then?" he asked. - -"Nothing. I posted sentries as you bade me; nothing happened." - -"Where was Mabruki?" - -"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." - -"And you let him go?" - -"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." - -"Always a moral coward, Msala," said Tom to himself. "Well, what then?" - -"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." - -"I sent no messenger; that man never reached me. Go on." - -"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." - -"No doubt." - -"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." - -"I do not understand it yet. Where is Mabruki now?" - -"I left him burning grass in honour of your victory." - -"Very well. Go back to the village and keep a watch over him. Don’t -let him escape." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"And who is your leader?" he asked the man. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"Well, we are rid of a villain, and I am spared the necessity of -employing a hangman." - -"A hangman!" cried the indignant katikiro. "I would myself have cut off -his head, though all his devils plagued me for ever after." - -"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." - -Msala was silent. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"What is it, Mbutu? You are not afraid?" - -"I am not afraid. I am never afraid." - -"Tell me, then, why you look so strangely solemn?" - -Mbutu was silent for a few seconds. Then he said: - -"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." - -Tom was touched by the boy’s devotion. - -"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." - -"I will do as you say, master," said Mbutu, and hastened away. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -He was under no illusions upon the situation. The first attack, an -impetuous rush _en masse_, 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. - -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. - -"That is Ahmed, I suppose," said Tom to himself. "Who is his companion, -I wonder? Can it be the hakim?" - -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." - -The three figures still advanced. They were now within musket shot. - -"Impudent, not to say foolhardy," thought Tom. "I can’t allow them to -come any nearer." - -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. - -"There’s no want of courage, at any rate," thought Tom. "The real -business is only just beginning." - -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. - -[Illustration: The Zariba and its defences at the moment of the 2nd. -Arab attack.] - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -[Illustration: Tom in the Breach] - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -"Will Mbutu never come?" was Tom’s unuttered cry. - -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. - -"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!" - -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. - -"Mbutu is with us!" he shouted, knowing that the news would act upon -their spirits as a tonic. - -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. - -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 _sauve-qui-peut_. 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. - -"Thank God!" murmured Tom, as he stood still a few yards from the -zariba. "The fight is won." - -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." - -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. - -"Spare all who surrender," he said. - -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. - -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: - -"RUMALIZA IS DEAD!" - - - - - CHAPTER XIX - - Tom’s Armada - -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 - - -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?" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"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?" - -"We will! we will!" cried most of the chiefs. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -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:-- - - "Sing, O friends, sing! - We are all warriors bold, and Kuboko is king. - Aha! Aha! - Strong is his arm and invincible; sing, brothers, sing! - Blithely we march. Ah! what will the enemy say? - On to the fortress; long is the way. - Then we will eat and drink, dance all the livelong day. - Aha! Aha!" - - -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. - -"The enemy’s scouts!" thought Tom. "Well, we could not hope to surprise -them." - -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!" - -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. - -"Mbutu," said Tom, "clamber up that tall tree and tell me what you see." - -Mbutu, agile as a monkey, was soon swarming up a straight trunk. - -"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." - -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. - -"Anything more to be seen, Mbutu?" - -"No, sah, nuffin." - -"Come down, then; we’ll have to do a little scouting." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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?" - -Msala looked doubtful, but at length said that he thought he could if -Kuboko would show him the way! - -"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?" - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"He’s afraid we shall be there first," said Tom with a smile to Mbutu. - -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. - -[Illustration: The Fight on the Lake] - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"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." - -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: - -"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." - -"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." - -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: - -"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." - -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. - -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: - -"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." - -De Castro, who had ill concealed his impatience, here took a step -forward, spat upon the ground, and began to speak in broken English. - -"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!" - -Tom paid no heed to the furious man’s insolence. He turned quietly -towards Mustapha, and with unruffled courtesy said: - -"Have I your final answer?" - -His manner evoked a corresponding politeness from the Arab, whose reply, -as translated by Mboda, was simply: - -"I have sworn an oath. I will not surrender. I will fight you." - -Tom decided to make one more appeal. Addressing the hakim, who had -stood hitherto gravely silent, he said in German: - -"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?" - -The stately hakim looked with kindly eyes upon the young Englishman, -whose earnest and friendly tone had touched him. Then he shook his -head. - -"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." - -"I am sorry," replied Tom, and was about to take leave when De Castro -said suddenly: - -"You speak French?" - -"Yes." - -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: - -"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." - -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. - -"Wait, my men," he cried; "they shall pay to-morrow." And he turned to -examine the hakim’s wound. - -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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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: - -"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." - -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. - -"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!" - -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. - -"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. - -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. - -"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. - -As the space between the stockades filled with the exultant Bahima, -hundreds of the enemy flung down their arms and begged for mercy. - -"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. - -"We must burst it in," said Tom. "Find a stout beam, Mbutu. Quick!" - -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. - -"I’m hit, Mbutu," he said. "Bind this strip of linen tightly round my -leg; there’s the place." - -"Come away, sah, come away!" cried Mbutu pleadingly. - -"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!" - -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. - -"Up the stairs!" cried Tom. "Don’t waste a minute!" - -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. - -"Out, out!" cried the German. "Zey are outside." - -"Cut him loose," cried Tom to one of his men as he passed by, heedless -of further cries from the German. - -Mwonda and Msala were already in the narrow lane beyond the yard. There -was no sign of the enemy. - -"After them!" cried Tom. "Don’t wait for me; I’ll follow as quickly as -I can." - -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. - -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. - -"Let them go in opposite directions, and watch every yard of the shore," -he said. "I will come myself immediately." - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -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. - -"Paddle your hardest, men," cried Tom; "that is our arch enemy." - -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. - -"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. - -"He is a devil," said one of Tom’s men; "shots cannot hurt him." - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XX - - An End and a Beginning - -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 - - -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. - -"Scandalous, ’pon my soul and body, perfectly scandalous!" he exclaimed. - -"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. - -"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." - -"But, Father, I don’t understand what Cicero and Lord Palmerston have to -do with Mr. Burnaby." - -"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!" - -"Wasn’t Lord Palmerston an Irish peer, Father?" - -"Eh! what? Yes, must have been, or he couldn’t have sat in the House. -But what’s that to do with it?" - -"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?" - -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. - -"A telegram, sir, and there’s a shilling to pay." - -"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!" - -He tore open the envelope, stared at the message for some moments in -inarticulate surprise, and then ejaculated: - -"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?" - -"Another telegram, sir, and, if you please, this man wants a shilling -too." - -Mr. Barkworth pulled out a handful of silver, and picked it over. - -"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?" - -Lilian watched him anxiously as he opened the brown envelope, half -fearing it might contain a contradiction of the good news. - -"Eh! what!" he exclaimed. "It’s from Jack Burnaby himself. ’Tom found; -am starting for Mombasa to-morrow; will you come?’" - -"Oh, do take me, Father!" cried Lilian, clasping his arm. "I’m sure you -won’t go without me." - -"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?" - -"Just calling the telegraph man, Father. You didn’t give him a reply." - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -When the boat steamed slowly into the harbour at Mombasa, Mr. Barkworth -was the first of the passengers to cross the gangway. - -"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?" - -"Impossible, sir," said Lister laconically. "How d’e do, Sir John?" - -"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?" - -"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." - -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." - -They were all walking now towards the hotel, and a painful silence fell -upon the group as they heard the brief message. - -"I suppose Corney started at once?" said Sir John. - -"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." - -"Of course he would. And you have heard nothing since?" - -"Not a word." - -"Why Bukoba, do you think? Wouldn’t Entebbe have been a more natural -point to make for?" - -"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." - -"Ah! it is trying, this suspense; but I suppose we shall get an -explanation before long." - -"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!" - -"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." - -"Thanks, Lister," said Sir John. "Yes, I shall go on to-morrow." - -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: - -"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?" - -"What’s that, what’s that?" exclaimed Mr. Barkworth suspiciously. - -"Nothing, Father," said Lilian with a blush. "Monsieur Desjardins is -pleased to be complimentary." - -"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!" - -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. - -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. - -"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? - -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. - -"Uncle Jack!" he whispered. - -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. - -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. - -"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!" - -When the doctor had settled the invalid comfortably for the night, Mr. -Barkworth waylaid him. - -"Will he get over it?" he asked anxiously. - -"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." - -"Where was he? What has he been doing all these months?" - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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." - -"He extracted the bullet," said the doctor; "capitally too. It was an -ugly wound." - -"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." - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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. - -"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." - -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. - -"Thank you, thank you!" said Tom. "Uncle, will you speak to them for -me?" - -Sir John stepped forward and, gripping his coat-collar, began: - -"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!" - -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. - -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. - -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. - -"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!" - -He toddled after the German, who turned as he heard his name thus -travestied. - -"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-- - -"Ach ja!" interrupted Herr Schwab; "I know all zat. I vant to forget it, -nozink else." - -"Naturally, my dear sir. I do hope that you will not suffer -permanently, and that--" - -"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!" - -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: - -"And what have you been doing since you left the fort?" - -"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!" - -His tone was indescribably bitter. He continued: - -"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." - -"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?" - -"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." - -And with that he walked away. - -Three days after this, the travellers left for Mombasa. Father Chevasse -saw them off at the railway-station. - -"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?" - -The padre smiled a strange, almost wistful smile. - -"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." - -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. - -"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!" - -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 _Times_, -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. - -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: - -"Tom going back to Glasgow, sir?" - -"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--" - -"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!" - -"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." - -"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!" - -"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." - -"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?" - -"Put him in the K.A.R.," suggested Major Lister. - -"I don’t think he’d get on with them," said Sir John. "These Bahima are -uncommonly proud." - -"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." - -"Very well; ring for him." - -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. - -"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?" - -Mbutu was silent for some moments. Then he said, stumblingly: - -"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." - -"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." - -"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." - -Mbutu drew himself up. - -"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." - -"There’s no gratitude--" Mr. Barkworth was beginning from sheer force of -habit; but the boy went on: - -"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." - -"I think you are wise," said Sir John. "You can talk it over with your -master to-morrow." - -"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." - -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. - -"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!" - -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. - -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. - -"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...." - -And with his hand on his heart the vivacious little Frenchman made his -best bow, and backed down the gangway. - -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. - -"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!" - -"Monsieur Desjardins has dropped into verse," replied Tom, laughing -outright. "A rhymed valedictory." - -"Read it," said Sir John. - -"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: - - "Ô mon héros si jeune! ô guerrier intrépide! - L’Afrique à ton départ a le coeur triste et vide. - Lea bords du vaste lac résonnent de sanglots, - Et ton nom, ô Thomas, se mêle au bruit des flots." - -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: - -"H’m! Translate, Lilian; why couldn’t the mossoo say what he had to say -in English?" - -Sir John took the verses from her, and after an amused glance at them -put them in his pocket. - -"They’re decent enough Alexandrines, Barkworth," he said with a chuckle. -"Lilian’s thinking of Tom’s blushes, I suspect." - -"Well then, translate, somebody. What’s the fellow say?" - -"Translate ’em in rhyme, a line each, sort of game," suggested Major -Lister. - -"A good idea!" exclaimed Sir John. "Place aux dames; you begin, Lilian; -and it must be heroic measure, of course, to match the theme." - -"How will this do?" asked Lilian after a moment or two. - - "’O youthful hero, warrior brave and bold!’" - - -"Capital! and the right heroic strain. I go on: - - ’Deserted Afric’s heart is sad and cold’. - -Now, Lister, it’s your turn." - -Major Lister puffed solemnly at his pipe for at least a minute before he -said slowly, pausing after every word: - - "’The shores of the vast lake resound with sobs’." - - -"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: - - ’Et ton nom, ô Thomas, se mêle au bruit des fiots’." - - -"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." - -"Gammon! It means: ’And your name, O Thomas, mingles with the noise of -the waves’." - -"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!" - -"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." - -"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. - - ’The shores of the vast lake resound with sobs--’" - -He pursed his lips and rubbed his chin. - - "’The wapping waves exclaim, where’s Thing-um-bobs?’" - -put in Tom quietly, and Mr. Barkworth’s protest that he didn’t call that -translating was drowned in laughter. - - -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. - -"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." - -Tom entered, cut the big square envelope, read the contents, and passed -it to his uncle. - -"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. - -"Another offer? Come, that’s capital. Who is it this time, Burnaby?" - -"The King of the Belgians, by George! His secretary offers Tom a -commission in the Free State forces, with a very prettily-turned -compliment." - -"How proud you’ll be, Mr. Burnaby!" said Lilian. - -"Proud! Not he!" retorted her father. "He won’t accept that, or I’m a -Dutchman." - -"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!" - -"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." - -"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." - -"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 _Figaro_? 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." - -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. - -"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?" - -"Oh, you really mustn’t!" cried Lilian, starting up and flushing. - -"What! what!" said her father. "Another verse of that rubbish! Let me -see it." - -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. - -"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." - -"I’ll read it to you: - - ’Tu vas, comblê de gloire, illustrer ta patrie: - Tu vas briser des coeurs, et provoquer l’envie. - Quel ange te conduit par delà l’ocean?-- - La mer répond tout bas, murmurant "Lilian"’. - -Perhaps Tom will oblige by translating." - -"Not I, sir; I think you’ll do it best. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go -and----" - -"Yes, go and find her, certainly, my boy." - -"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!" - -"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----’" - -"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!" - -"They’re rather young yet, Barkworth, eh?" - -"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!" - -"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." - - - - -_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._ - -_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._ - -"_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!_" - -"_Essalam alekam!_" _says a Somali in respectful greeting to a venerable -seller of sweetmeats_. "_Who is he, O Giver of Delight?_" - -"_Knowest thou not, O Lion of the Desert? He is a mad nebi from the -Great Forest afar._" - -"_Mashallah! And his name, O Kneader of Joy?_" - -"_Men call him Mustapha._" - - - - - * * * * * * * * - - - - - HERBERT STRANG - - _Complete List of Stories_ - - -ADVENTURES OF DICK TREVANION, THE -ADVENTURES OF HARRY ROCHESTER, THE -A GENTLEMAN AT ARMS -A HERO OF LIÉGE -AIR PATROL, THE -AIR SCOUT, THE -BARCLAY OF THE GUIDES -BLUE RAIDER, THE -BOYS OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE -BRIGHT IDEAS -BROWN OF MOUKDEN -BURTON OF THE FLYING CORPS -CARRY ON -CRUISE OF THE GYRO-CAR, THE -FIGHTING WITH FRENCH -FLYING BOAT, THE -FRANK FORESTER -HUMPHREY BOLD -JACK HARDY -KING OF THE AIR -KOBO -LONG TRAIL, THE -LORD OF THE SEAS -MOTOR SCOUT, THE -NO MAN’S ISLAND -OLD MAN OF THE MOUNTAIN, THE -ONE OF CLIVE’S HEROES -PALM TREE ISLAND -ROB THE RANGER -ROUND THE WORLD IN SEVEN DAYS -SAMBA -SETTLERS AND SCOUTS -SULTAN JIM -SWIFT AND SURE -THROUGH THE ENEMY’S LINES -TOM BURNABY -TOM WILLOUGHBY’S SCOUTS -WITH DRAKE ON THE SPANISH MAIN -WITH HAIG ON THE SOMME - - - - - - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TOM BURNABY *** - - - - -A Word from Project Gutenberg - - -We will update this book if we find any errors. - -This book can be found under: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/42017 - -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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