360 KETREAT FROM ASHANGO-LAND. Chap. XVIII. 



AVe were all tired with our long run over the rugged 

 hilly forest road, and irritated besides at the per- 

 tinacity of our blood-thirsty pursuers. I had wished 

 to escape without causing any further sacrifice of life 

 if possible, but it was plain that unless we killed more 

 than we had done we should be unable to free our- 

 selves from our enemies before nightfall, and then 

 they might surround us and massacre us all. My 

 men and myself agreed that we should here choose 

 a place to make a last stand, and give them a lesson 

 that should put a stop to them. 



We had leisure to look out for a good position, 

 for we knew the district, and remembered every hill. 

 On the slope of one of the hills there was a place 

 where a number of trees grew close together. We 

 stationed ourselves each behind a broad trunk, but all 

 within a short distance from each other, and there 

 waited the arrival of our pursuers. As usual, the bow- 

 men came on first, but we heard the noise of a multi- 

 tude not far behind them, all bellowing forth curses 

 on our heads. As soon as a good number were visible 

 down the broad and tolerably straight road, Igala 

 and Rapelina both fired. One man fell, evidently 

 dead, and another was wounded in the face, to all 

 appearance his jaw broken. Ngoma then took his 

 aim, but his shot fell wide. The fellows seemed to be 

 cowed at this unexpected onslaught, and when we 

 suddenly emerged from behind the trees and showed 

 ourselves, they all beat a retreat. It was our last 

 combat, and although we heard them for a long time 

 afterwards, it was always at a great distance. The 

 forest in this part was not dense, but open, the 



