EETURN OF THE VICTORS 



341 



had taken women and children prisoners. Soon the camp was 

 so crowded with cattle, &c., that it seemed impossible it could 

 hold more, and our men, drunk with victory, smeared with 

 their own blood and that of their victims, presented a horrible 

 appearance, as they danced a war-dance opposite the tent of 

 their master, and laid their booty at his feet. 



By five o'clock everyone was back but Qualla and three or 

 four others. Just as we had noticed his absence, another party 



DRUNK WITH VICTORY, 



of warriors appeared on one of the neighbouring heights at a 

 •distance of some thousand paces from the camp, in the very 

 direction from which we ex]3ected Qualla to come. Feeling- 

 pretty certain that our Somal was in the greatest danger if not 

 already lost. Count Teleki sent fifty men to meet the warriors, 

 hoping to turn their attention from Qualla should he be any- 

 where near. One warrior presently advanced from anaongst 



