Chap. XII. PLUCK OF MY COMMI BOYS. 245 



came up, and ranging themselves on the flanks of 

 our caravan with their guns pointed at the enemy, 

 protected the train of porters as they filed past. I 

 was glad to see also our Apono companions taking 

 our part ; they got enraged with the villagers, and 

 some of them laid down their loads, and rushed to the 

 front waving their swords. Strange to say, not one 

 of the villagers came near me, or threatened me in 

 any way. I watched the scene calmly, and surveyed 

 the field where war might at any moment break out. 

 Behind us the country was all in a blaze, for the fire 

 had spread with great rapidity. The Apono porters 

 being so resolutely on our side, I had no fear as to how 

 the conflict would end. If we had been travelling 

 alone, without guides and porters, we should have 

 had a serious fight, and it is probable my journey 

 would have come to a termination here in a similar 

 way to that which afterwards happened in Ashango- 

 land ; but it is a point of honour with these primitive 

 Africans that they are bound to defend the strangers 

 whom they have undertaken to convey from one 

 tribe to another. Had I not been deserted by my 

 guides in the village where I was finally driven 

 back, as will be hereafter narrated, I should have 

 been enabled to continue my journey. We went on 

 our way, Nchiengain shouting from the rear to the 

 discomfited warriors that there would be a palaver 

 to settle for this, when he came back. 



I was prouder then ever of my boys after this, and 

 profited by the occasion to strengthen them in their 

 determination to go forward. There was no going 

 back after this, I told them ; they all shouted, " We 



