every position； and utterly destroyed the neighbourhood。
I had made up my mind。 There could be no longer any doubt of the
diabolical treachery of Kabba Rega。 He had only endeavoured to gain time
by specious assurances of good…will； combined with presents； in order to
organize the whole country against us。 The natives who shot arrows must
have come from Magungo； as none of the other districts were armed with
bows。 The arrows that had been shot at us； which my men had collected；
were thickly poisoned with a hard gummy matter。
It was now rendered certain that a snare had been laid for the massacre
of Major Abdullah's party。
Kabba Rega had no doubt ordered the various routes towards Rionga's
province to be ambuscaded。
I determined at once to push straight for the camp at Foweera on the
Victoria Nile； as Rionga's island was about fifteen miles from that
point。
Among the men of the 〃Forty Thieves〃； there was a soldier named
Abdullah； who had an extraordinary instinct for finding his way。 This
man never forgot a path if he had ever travelled upon the same route。
I also depended upon my Baris and Molodi； although they had not long
experience of the path by which we had arrived from Foweera with the
cattle； they were clever as guides。
Unfortunately； the country had changed terribly by the immense growth of
the grass and tangled creepers。
I felt sure that the route would be occupied by the enemy throughout the
whole distance； and that we should have to fight every mile of the path
at a grave disadvantage。
The question of a supply of food was vital。 The men had mostly
exhausted their provisions。
At this critical moment； when every man of the expedition felt the fatal
truth； my wife confided her secret； that she had hitherto concealed；
lest the knowledge of a hidden store should have made the men
extravagant。 She now informed them that in past days of plenty； when
flour had been abundant； she had； from time to time； secreted a
quantity； and she had now SIX LARGE IRON BOXES FULL （about twelve
bushels）。 This private store she had laid by in the event of some sudden
emergency。
〃God shall give her a long life！〃 exclaimed both officers and men。 We
had now enough flour for the march of seven days to Foweera； at which
place there were regular forests of plantains。
My herd of cattle had been reduced to seventy； and I much doubted the
possibility of driving them in a high grass country； as they would
scatter and make a stampede should we be attacked； they would be scared
by the guns。
I mustered my force and spoke to my men； to whom I explained their exact
position； and my plan of action。
I should immediately divide among them； as presents； all the cotton
stuffs that belonged to the expedition。
Each man would carry three pounds of beads in his knapsack； one…third of
which should subsequently belong to him。
The line of march would be thus arrangeda Bari； who professed to know
the path； would lead the advance…guard of fifteen sniders； commanded by
Lieutenant…Colonel Abd…el…Kader； supported by myself with ten sniders in
charge of the ammunition； accompanied by Lieutenant Baker； my wife； and
two servants； carrying double breechloading elephant rifles。 The
rear…guard would consist of fifteen sniders。 The few remaining sniders
would be distributed along the line。
Neither the advance； nor rear…guard would carry any loads beyond their
knapsacks and a small bag of flour。 Five of the sniders with me would
also be exempted from carrying loads； but every other soldier； and every
woman and boy； would carry either one of the metal boxes or some other
package。
I explained to the men that they would be attacked throughout the route
at a great disadvantage； but that success would depend upon the strict
observance of orders for the march combined with the utmost coolness。
Each man was to keep just near enough to be able to touch with his
outstretched hand the knapsack of the man before him； and upon no
account to widen this distance； but to keep the line intact。 Should it
be broken by the sudden rush of the enemy； we should at once be lost。
Should the attack be made simultaneously on both sides； alternate files
would face to right and left； place their loads upon the ground； and
fire low down in the grass； as the natives always crouched after
throwing a spear from covert。
A bugler would accompany the colonel commanding the advance…guard； in
addition to buglers with myself and the rear…guard； thus we should be
able to communicate along the line； which would be concealed from view
by the high grass。
On arrival at water； and in crossing either swamps or streams； no man or
woman was to stop to drink unless the bugle of the advance…guard sounded
halt。
No woman would be allowed to speak during the march； as profound silence
must be observed。
The officers and men received their instructions； merely declaring that
wherever I should lead them； they would follow and obey。
I at once divided the effects that could be carried； into the requisite
number of loads； which were carefully packed in metal boxes by my wife
and her black maids。 It was hard and anxious work。 The strongest men
were selected to carry the boxes of snider cartridges； which weighed 64
lbs。 each。
All the rest of the baggage I arranged in piles； and distributed in the
government divan and the various houses。 I spread my large tent over the
luggage in the divan； and poured over it a quantity of nitrous ether；
spirits of wine； lamp…oil； spirits of turpentine； and all the contents
of the large medicine…chest。
I filled up my small chest； and took a good roll of adhesive plaster； a
number of bandages； and a packet of lint。
Upon the tent…cloth； rendered highly inflammable by the saturation of
spirits and oil； I laid about sixty rockets。
My two horses and three donkeys would be loaded with baggage。
I gave orders for the march early on the following morning。 The
rear…guard was to set fire to the station； this was the sad result of
our industry and labour in a land of detestable savages。
CHAPTER XXII
THE MARCH TO RIONGA。
On the morning of the 14th of June； 1872； at 9。30； the advance…guard
filed along the gravel path； and halted at the extremity of the station
at Masindi。 The line was complete； according to the orders for the
march。 Not a word was spoken。 A light； drizzling rain fell； and the sky
was a dull grey。
I looked back； and waited for the destruction of my favourite station。
In our little house we had left pictures of my own children； and
everything that was not absolutely necessary to our existence。 Even the
Queen and the Princess of Wales were to perish in the conflagration；
together with much that was parted with in this moment of exigency。
The smoke now curled in thick； white folds from the government divan and
our own private house。
Lieutenant Baker's new house was ignited。 O ne by one every hut was
fired。 The rear…guard； having done their duty； closed up in the line of
march。
I did not give the word 〃Forward！〃 until the flames had shot up high in
the air； and the station was in the possession of the fire。 At this
moment a loud report announced that all the rockets had exploded。 The
advance…guard moved forward； and the march commenced。
We soon entered the high grass； which was reeking with the light rain；
and we were wet through in an instant。
My wife was walking close behind me with a quantity of spare ammunition
for the 〃Dutchman〃 in her breast。 She had a Colt's revolver in her belt。
Lieutenant Baker was heavily loaded； as he carried a Purdy rifle slung
across his back； together with a large bag of ammunition； while he held
a double breechloader smooth…bore in his hand； with a bag of heavy
buckshot cartridges upon his shoulder。
Suleiman and Mohammed Haroon （our servants） were close by with my two
breechloading No。 8 elephant rifles。 These carried picrate of potash
shells that were immensely powerful。 Very little would have been left of
the body of a man had one of such shells struck him in the chest。
The cattle began to cause much trouble as soon as the march commenced；
and we slowly descended the knoll upon which the station stood； and in
single file entered the extremely narrow path which led down to a small
swamp。
Crossing the swamp； through deep mud； we arrived on firm ground； and
continued to march slowly； on account of the cattle。 I felt sure they
would have to be abandoned。 The cows strayed to the right and left； and
Morgian the Bari； and Abdullah Djoor the cook； who were the drovers；
were rushing about the grass in pursuit of refractory animals； that
would shortly end in being speared by the enemy。
We thus marched for about a mile before a hostile sound was heard。 We
then distinguished the tumultuous voices of the natives in the rear； who
had been attracted to the station by the general conflagration。
The slow march continued； through grass about eight feet high； and
occasional forest。 The rain now descended steadily； and I feared that
the old muzzle…loading muskets would miss fire。
The sound of drums and horns was now heard throughout the country； as
the alarm spread rapidly from village to village。 We could hear the
shouts of natives； and drums that were now sounding in the forest upon a
hill on our right。 These people were evidently in possession of a path
unknown to us； which ran parallel to our route。
For seven hours the march continued with such frequent halts； owing to
the straying of the cattle； that we had only progressed the short
distance of ten miles； when； at 4。40 P。M。； we entered the valley of Jon
Joke。 We saw before us the hill covered with plantain groves where we
had slept when upon the march to Masindi。
The grass was very high； and the path hardly a foot wide； only
resembling a sheep run。 Suddenly the advance…guard opened a hot fire；
and the bugle sounded 〃halt！〃
A few paces in front of me； my favourite sailor and fisherman； Howarti；
was in the line； carrying a metal box upon his head。 In addition to his
musket； which was slung across his shoulders； I had given him one of my
double breechloading pistols； which he carried in his belt