288 ACROSS AFRICA. [Chap. 



CHAPTEE XXII. 



My Goat is stolen. — The Xatives heeome Hostile. — We are fired upon. — Preparing 

 for the Worst. — An Exchange of Shots. — Wounding an Important Personage. — A 

 Parley. — Negotiations broken ofif. — Renewal of the Fighting. — Allowed to depart 

 in Peace. — More Treachery. — At it again. — Storming a Village. — The Inhabitants 

 bolt. — My Brave Army. — Fort Dinah. — Barricades. — Prisoners of War. — ^We capt- 

 ure an Angel of Peace. — She makes it. — Leaving Fort Dinah. — An Explanation of 

 my Intentions. — The Cause of the Attack. — Convivial Mourning. — Painted Faces. — 

 My Guide's Craftiness. — Dried up. — Green Water as Refreshment. — My Guide 

 meets his Mother, and forsakes Me. — Reception of a Head-man. — Another Queer 

 Guide. — He also bolts. — Salt-making. — A March in a Marsh. 



October, As we were preparing to start, I missed my goat, which 



IS""*- usually slept at my feet, or was the first to pay her respects in 



the morning ; and, on inquiring where she was, found that she 



had been seen between the village and the camp late in the 



evening. 



I thereupon went to the village with two men and a guide 

 to look for her ; and so confident did I feel of the friendliness 

 of the natives toward us, that we were unarmed. Some men 

 whom we saw I told of my loss, and stated my willingness to 

 pay a reward if she were brought back ; but I could get no an- 

 swer whatever from them. 



It soon became evident that we were in for a row, for all the 

 women had disappeared, and there were far more armed men 

 about than the size of the village would account for. 



Those with whom I had been trying to have some conversa- 

 tion bolted from us suddenly, and immediately others at a short 

 distance commenced shooting their arrows at us. At that mo- 

 ment some of my men with rifles fortunately arrived, and Ju- 

 mah, coming behind me, put my trusty twelve-bore rifle into 

 my hand. 



None of my people were hit in this preliminary skirmish, 

 but I sent orders for the remainder to join me at once with 



