THE WORLD'S WONDERS. 431 



On ihe fti of October Stanley ordered his men to break 

 camp and resume the march ; an ominous silence followed ; the 

 order was repeated in a tone of seventy, and the men moved off, 

 but after proceeding a short distance they threw down their 

 loads and refused to go any further. He saw at once that he 

 was in the midst of a mutiny, and that Bombay was the leader. 

 Shoving some buckshot shells into Lis gun, he walked quicklv 

 toward the head of the column, but was arrested by ob^ervino 1 

 two guns pointed toward him from an ant-hill which partially 

 screened two murderous guides. He thiew his gun into position 

 and threatened to blow their heads off if th^y did not come to 

 him at once. Being too cowardly to shoot and take the chances, 

 they sullenly left their hiding place and walked slowly forward. 

 These two men were Asmar.i and his sworn companion Mabruki. 

 Stanley kept his eye on Asmani, and saw him move his finger to 

 the trigger of his gun and bring the gun to a " ready." Again 

 Stanley lifted his gun, and threatened him with instant death if 

 he did not drop his weapon. 



Asmani came on in a sidelong way, with a smirking smi^e on 

 his face, but in his eyes shone the lurid light of murder, plainly 

 as ever it shone in a villain's eyes. Mabruki sneaked to the 

 rear, deliberately putting powder in the pan of his musket, but, 

 quickly turning, Stanley planted the muzzle of his gun about 

 two feet from his wicked-looking face, and ordered him to drop 

 his gun instantly. He let it fall from his hand, and giving him 

 a vigorous poke in the breast with his gun, sent him reeling 

 away a few feet from him. Stanley faced round to Asmani, and 

 ordered him to put his gun down, pressing gently on the trigger 

 of his own gun at the same time. Never was a man nearer his 

 death than was Asmani during those few moments, and realizing 

 the fact he obeyed. The truth was, they feared to proceed 

 further on the road, and the only possible way of inducing them 

 to move was by firmness and determination. 



The men appeared all the better for this escapade, in which 

 they had gained nothing, but learned that they were governed by 

 a resolute leader. They marched with quick step, and even 



