IN DANGER FROM ABOFILATO’S ARMY. 195 
but what a stir there was immediately! Bang — bang — 
went afew rifles that were guarding the camels. There 
was a rush for defence. Boran all around, — many 
mounted and many on foot! Large troops of cavalry 
were rushing about, and an attack seemed imminent. 
The natives my men had fired on were trying to drive 
away the camels, but ran off after the first volley. The 
afternoon has been one constant strain. Dodson and I did 
not have time to eat from 6 a.m. to 5 P.M. when we 
managed to make a cold, hasty meal. Large forces of the 
enemy have been prowling about continually. This war 
against Abofilato’s forces is a most serious affair for us. 
There are between two and three thousand men in the 
field, with more than a thousand ponies. My boys are 
behaving splendidly, although they have good right to fear 
that they may never see the light of another day. I have 
just sent up two rockets. There will be an attack to- 
night, very probably, so every one of us will remain on 
guard the whole time. This affair is most disappointing, 
as I had hoped to make friends with the Boran. 
“ April 8. What a day this has been for us, and how 
thankful we are that our blood is not being used to dye 
the spears and shields of King Abofilato’s savage war- 
riors, — except that of poor Moga! 
“I have had scarcely any rest for three days, and yet I 
cannot sleep until I have written of the events of this 
stormy day. Sleep! not to be thought of while these 
savage hosts might even now be planning another attack 
under cover of night. 
“A few stars shone in the early part of last night, but 
later, rain and darkness combined to make our position 
uncomfortable and dangerous in the extreme. Soaked to 
the skin, and shivering from the cold, we could never for 
an instant relinquish our sharp vigil. 
