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I 



THE FIRST BLOW STRUCK AT LAST 319 



beliind us, noted that we were well protected in the rear, and 

 that very few natives had followed us. All the danger then 

 was in front, and presently we saw the natives drawing back, 

 and were able to bear our share in the struggle. Count Teleki 

 soon routed the enemy completely, and his assailants fled before 

 him like the wind in every direction. He then gave orders for 

 the camp to be pitched then and there, and, with a few trusty 

 followers, went olf to clear the neighbouring woods of spies, 

 and to set a watch on a body of men, some thousand strong, 

 who had gathered again about a mile off. 



So the first blow had been struck at last, and, of course, 

 the natives had been the aggressors. There had been the 

 usual fuss about paying tribute at the stream, but all the goods 

 offered had been scornfully rejected by warriors whose freshly 

 greased bodies, &c., showed they were prepared for war. One 

 of these warriors at last ventured so far as to let fly an arrow, 

 which wounded Chuma, one of Jumbe Kimemeta's men, in the 

 foot. With a shout of ' The Wakikuyu are shooting ! ' Chuma 

 fired and missed. A second arrow followed the first, but fell 

 short, but one of our men, terror-struck at the attack, fired, 

 hitting no one however. The Count forbade any further firing, 

 but even as he spoke a shower of arrows fell amongst our 

 people, one hitting Count Teleki himself, but, fortunately, only 

 lodging in a fold of his coat. Of course a general volley 

 answered the arrows, although the latter had done scarcely 

 any harm. 



There were now but seven natives with us, and of all those 

 with whom we had lately made blood-brotherhood, but one, the 

 old Samaki who was acting as our guide, remained. We regretted 

 the loss of our other brothers the less, as their influence did not 

 extend beyond their own district, and as a matter of fact we 

 were always able in Kikuyuland to secure faithful guides who 

 would even warn us of the designs of their people against us. 



