154 THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 



claiming an exclusive right to trade there. A big row was the 

 result, in which Mohamed was strangled almost to death by one 

 of Ibrahim's sergeants. Baker's men showed an unmistakable 

 sympathy for Mohamed, though their time had not yet arrived for 

 making an outbreak. 



ANOTHER MUTINY. 



AFTER violent quarreling for some hours, the several parties 

 repaired to their tents and slept, but on the following morning, 

 when Baker called his men to resume the march, they sullenly 

 disobeyed and four of them rose, seized their guns and assumed 

 a threatening attitude. He knew that the mutiny was now about 

 to manifest itself, and acted accordingly. Belaal, the leading spirit 

 of this outbreak, stood near, and upon being ordered to fall in and 

 begin loading the camels, he advanced upon Baker, looking him 

 fiercely in the eyes, and dashing the butt of his gun violently to the 

 ground, said, "Not a man shall go with you! go where you 

 like with Ibrahim, but we won't follow you, nor move a step 

 farther. The men shall not load the camels ; you may employ 

 the ' niggers ' to do it, but not us." 



" I looked at this mutinous rascal for a moment," says Baker ; 

 " this was the burst of the conspiracy, and the threats and inso- 

 lence that I had been forced to pass over for the sake of the 

 expedition all rushed before me. 'Lay down your gun!' I 

 thundered, ' and load the camels ! ' 'I won't ! ' was his reply. 

 ' Then stop here ! ' I answered ; at the same time lashing out as 

 quick as lightning with my right hand upon his jaw. 



" He rolled over in a heap, his gun flying some yards from his 

 hand ; and the late ringleader lay apparently insensible among 

 the luggage, while several of his friends ran to him, and did the 

 good Samaritan. Following up on the moment the advantage I 

 had gained by establishing a panic, I seized my rifle and rushed 

 into the midst of the wavering men, catching first one by the 

 throat, and then another, and dragging them to the camels, 

 which I insisted upon their immediately loading. All except 

 three, who attended to the ruined ringleader, mechanically 

 obeyed. Richarn and Sali both shouted to them to ' hurry j* 



