194 THROUGH UNKNOWN AFRICAN COUNTRIES. 
from his shock, that he had been surprised by three Boran, 
who sprang from behind a bush, too close for him to shoot, 
and that he had then fled. The Boran, however, caught 
up to him and speared him; but before they had given 
him the finishing blows they were frightened off by my 
men. Elmi must have been asleep when speared, or else 
he would have fired or shouted. On looking around for 
my Boran guide, I found he had disappeared. This guide 
had told me that he did not know the country ahead, so as 
soon as we camped I sent two parties of six men each in 
opposite directions to hunt for natives to guide us. 
“We were now, consequently, much alarmed for their 
safety. I sent Karsha, with two other boys, to see if he 
could find the three natives who had killed Elmi. It was 
not long before I heard a shot, followed soon after byia 
triumphant shout from Karsha, as he came along bear- 
ing poor Elmi’s bloody shirts. Karsha had seen _ three 
natives crossing an open space among the bushes, and 
after creeping near, recognized the cloth that one of them 
was swinging around above his head as one which be- 
longed to Elmi. He had then fired, dropping his man 
stone dead. We were all delighted to hear that Elmi 
was avenged, but were still more pleased to see both 
parties of six men I had sent out return to camp safe 
and sound. They had secured two natives at a village 
called Gorilla, whom they brought to camp. There is 
war in the air, and we are making all the preparations 
we can to resist the attack. 
“April 7. Plenty of excitement and labor. We marched 
eight hours (thirteen miles N. N. W.) through a bushy 
country, till we reached the open plain of a valley fifteen 
miles wide, and in the middle of which was a curious 
extinct volcano, with a deep crater in it. We pitched 
camp as soon as we had emerged from the dense bush, 
