the steamer to Ismailia （Gondokoro）。 It is heartbreaking work after all
my trouble in having brought her to this distant point。
〃Nothing can be done without camels； and these animals cannot be
brought from Khartoum in the closed state of the river。
〃My original plan included 200 camels； 200 cavalry； and fifteen large
decked sloops。 None of these necessary items have been sent from
Khartoum； thus I am paralyzed。〃
CHAPTER XV。
THE ADVANCE TO LOBORE。
I determined upon a new plan。 I knew the direction of Lobore； as I had
been there during my former expedition； the distance could not exceed
sixty miles。
If the soldiers could draw the carts； I might yet manage to advance； as
I should be able to procure carriers on arrival at Lobore； provided
always that the natives were as friendly as when I left them some years
ago。
It would be impossible to convey the steamer； as I could not expect to
provide 2；000 carriers； but I might be able to penetrate south； suppress
the slave…hunters； establish the government； and open up a legitimate
trade。
The first step necessary was to convey the large herd of cattle across
the river； which was about 400 yards in width； with a very rapid stream。
I fully expected that we should be attacked by the natives in great
force during this operation； which necessitated a division of my force
upon both banks of the Nile。
The sheep were taken across in vessels； but the cows were obliged to
swim。 This passage was very tedious； as the animals were necessarily
taken in small batches； guided by men who swam by their side in the
manner already described at Gondokoro。
Although the natives were avowedly hostile； they dared not face us in
the open。 They made another attempt by night to surprise the cattle
kraal； but Colonel Abd…el…Kader immediately set fire to a few villages
as a response and warning。
We were occupied four days in passing the cattle across the river。
During the passage； we lost one taken by a crocodile； and three cows
were wantonly seized and drowned by hippopotami。 A herd of these
creatures happened to be in the way as the cows were floating in large
numbers down the stream； and several were seen to attack the cattle and
seize them in their jaws。 As the hippopotamus is not carnivorous； this
was an unexpected attack。
My Englishmen had been busily engaged in erecting the carts； greasing
the wheels； and attaching the ropes necessary for hauling。 They were all
loaded； and were arranged to be drawn by fifteen men each。
On the evening of the 5th February； while we were at dinner； I was
astonished by the unexpected mustering of my whole force； excepting the
〃Forty Thieves。〃 The men were without arms or officers； but they marched
to the margin of the river and formed a line two deep alongside the
diahbeeah； which lay close against the bank。
I knew at once what all this meant； but I pretended to take no notice；
and I continued eating my dinner。
I was quickly interrupted by loud cries from the men。 〃We can't draw the
carts！ that's not the work for soldiers； we'll fight； or do anything
else you may desire； but we are not camels to drag the waggons。〃
The 〃Forty Thieves〃 immediately seized their arms； and marching quickly
to the spot； they formed in line upon the bank； between the diahbeeah
and the men who thus mutinously had appeared without their officers。
I at once ordered the bugle call for all officers； and at the same time
I sent for the Englishmen to come to the diahbeeah。
When all had arrived； and the shouts still continued； I rose from the
table and addressed the troops in Arabic； from the poop…deck of the
diahbeeah。
I recalled to their recollection how I had always led them successfully
through every difficulty； and I assured them that the distance to Lobore
was trifling； and that we should find good and willing natives to convey
the baggage； if we could only once reach the desired tribe。
Cries of 〃there are no good negroes…they are all bad；〃 interrupted my
discourse。 I nevertheless continued； but having a thorough knowledge of
the African character； and knowing that if a negro gets an idea into his
head； that idea can only be eradicated by cutting the head off； I was
not fool enough to persist in swimming against a torrent。 The 〃Forty
Thieves〃 now joined the tumult by declaring that 〃THEY would draw the
carts； or do anything that I should command。〃
I took immediate advantage of the occasion； and exclaimed； 〃You SHALL do
all that I command。 I have changed my plans； and I order you to take the
carts to pieces at sunrise to…morrow morning。 All those who are afraid
to follow me shall return with the vessels and carts to Gondokoro。 I
never turn back； and my lady and I will go on alone with Mr。 Baker。 I
only require orderly soldiers； who know their duty； if you have
forgotten your duty； you shall return at once to Gondokoro。〃
This declaration was followed by loud shouts〃We won't let you go
alone； the natives are treacherous； we will follow wherever you lead。
Are we not soldiers of the Sultan？ are you not the Sultan's Pacha？〃
I had them in hand； therefore I at once terminated the scene by
commanding silence。 I then gave an order aloud to the officers： 〃Return
carts and all baggage on board vessels at sunrise to…morrow。 All troops
to be ready for the advance。〃
〃Bugler！ sound the retreat。〃
That peculiar habit of discipline yielded instinctively to the sound of
the bugle。 The officer gave the order； 〃Right； turn；〃 and the late
tumultuous crowd marched quietly to their quarters。 This was ended； at
the same time it was not cheering。
My Englishmen； who had been witnesses of this scene； were filled with
indignation。 They were men who thoroughly represented English
determination； and they at once volunteered to carry their own baggage
if I would only permit them to accompany me。
How often my heart has beaten with pride when I have seen the
unconquerable spirit of the country burst forth like an unextinguishable
flame in any great emergency！
I now had to quell the eagerness of my own good fellows； as I knew that
if 〃the spirit was willing； the flesh was weak；〃 and it would be
impossible for Englishmen to carry loads through a journey in a tropical
country。
I saw the necessity of the occasion at a glance； and I gave the
necessary orders。
The Englishmen； together with the steamer sections； machinery； &c。； must
return to Gondokoro。 They must immediately commence the construction of
the No。 2 steamer of 108 tons and 20…horse power； as this vessel； being
provided with twin screws instead of paddles； would be able to pass
through the narrow channels of the Bahr Giraffe； and communicate with
Khartoum。
I gave the order to prepare to…morrow for a return to Gondokoro。
On 6th February； at sunrise； all hands were at work dismounting the
carts； and returning on board the vessels all material connected with
the steamer； &c。 I altered the loads； and made arrangements for a new
plan of action。
I had determined to push on to Lobore with one hundred men； in heavy
marching order； if I could only engage a few natives to carry the
necessaries for the road。 At Lobore I might be able to engage a few
hundred porters that I should send back to the vessels with an escort of
fifty soldiers； to bring up sufficient ammunition and material for an
advance south。 I knew the route。
It was therefore necessary to assort the baggage： much had to be
returned to Gondokoro with the Englishmen。
I had a small invoice…book that had been carefully prepared by Mr。
Marcopolo； which gave the numbers and contents of every box； therefore
the difficulty of assortment was not great。
All the boxes were of block tin； painted； thus they could be piled like
bricks one upon the other to form a wall。 I arranged about 400 loads
which were set apart for the carriers； should I be fortunate in
procuring that number from Lobore。
On 7th February the carts were shipped。 All the loads were perfected and
ready for a start on the following day。 Some of my men were endeavouring
to train a few oxen to carry their baggage。
On 8th February the Englishmen； in very low spirits； started for
Ismailia （Gondokoro） in two vessels； with ninety urdeps of dhurra
consigned to Mr。 Marcopolo。
I had arranged that twenty…two boatmen should accompany me to Lobore；
carrying such loads as were absolutely necessary for our party。 They
would then return together with the fifty soldiers who would escort the
native carriers to the vessels。
I had given the Englishmen instructions to commence the building of the
steamer immediately； and to confine their work to this vessel until she
should be completed。
Having counted all the loads that were left in charge of Major Abdullah；
I took a receipt for them； and gave that officer both clear and positive
orders for his conduct。
I left with him 120 men； together with the field…piece and eight
artillerymen。 In addition to these men was the crew of the No。 10
steamer； all of whom were trained as soldiers。 Thus with the armed crews
of the different vessels he would have a force of about 145 muskets。 It
was highly probable that the natives would attack the vessels and the
cattle in my absence； as they would have remarked the great reduction of
force。 Although the country was perfectly open； the ground was high and
rocky； and rapidly rose to about 200 feet above the level of the river
within a distance of a mile； thus the natives scattered about the
heights could always observe our proceedings。
Before I quitted the vessels； I made every preparation for their
security。 All the metal boxes were built into a quadrangular breastwork；
that would form a little fort for a dozen people。
I moored the vessels in line close to the mouth of a deep flat…bottomed
ravine； which； although now dry and about thirty paces wide； had formed
the bed of a river during the wet season。 The perpendicular banks of
this fosse would make a grand protection for the cattle； I therefore
ordered a fence of thorns to be constructed across the ravine about a
hundred yards from the river； so as to form a kraal； in which the cows
would be confined below the level of the country。
S