A PLOT DISCOVERED. 675 



He noticed them seize their guns as he approached, and when 

 within about thirty yards of the groups he discovered the heads 

 of two men appear above an ant-hill on his left with their guns 

 carelessly pointed toward the road. Instantly he halted, and 

 taking deliberate aim at them, threatened to blow their heads 

 off if they did not come forward to talk to him. These two men 

 were the gigantic Asmani and his sworn companion Mabruki, 

 who the reader will remember were among; the men obtained at 

 Unyanyembe. They were afraid not to obey such an order, so 

 they came; but keeping his eye on Asmani, Stanley saw him 

 moving his fingers to the trigger of his gun and bringing his 

 gun to a " ready," and was obliged again to threaten him with 

 instant death if he did not put his gun down. Asmani then 

 came on in a sidelong way, with a smirking smile on his face 

 and the lurid light of murder in his eye, as plainly as ever such 

 a light shone in the eye of a villain. Meantime Mabruki sneaked 

 to his rear, deliberately putting powder in the pan of his musket ; 

 but wheeling just in time, Mr. Stanley planted the muzzle of his 

 own gun within two feet of the wicked rascal's face, and com- 

 manded him to drop his piece instantly. There could be no 

 hesitation : Mabruki saw that and let it fall, and instantly went 

 reeling back under a vigorous blow in the breast from the muzzle 

 of that which had been levelled in his face, and left the single 

 white man to confront Asmani again. Asmani was of a more 

 stubborn spirit, and in the face of Stanley's gun began lifting 

 his gun to his shoulder. It would have been his last act, but 

 just at the moment when Stanley's finger was coming down on 

 the trigger of his gun a form appeared behind Asmani, and a 

 strong hand swept his gun aside with an impatient, nervous 

 movement, and the voice of Mabruki Speke was heard in horror- 

 stricken accents, saying, " Man, how dare you point your gun 

 at the master ! " Mabruki Speke then threw himself at the feet 

 of his master and endeavored to kiss them, and entreated his 

 forgiveness. " It is all over now," he said ; " there will be no 

 more quarrelling ; they would all go to Tanganyika now, with- 

 out any more noise and inshallah ! " Said he, " We shall find 

 the old musungu at Ujiji." Then turning to the men he said, 

 " Men, freemen, shall we not? Shall we not go to Tanganyika 

 without any more trouble ? Tell the master with one voice." 



