CHAPTER X 



At about quarter to five on the morning of De- 

 cember 17, I heard the voice of George at my tent, 

 saying, " Mr. Chanler, the porters have all left camp 

 in a body with their weapons." I leaped to my feet, 

 seized the first gun I could lay hands on, and dashed 

 out of the zeriba. It was quite dark, but I was able 

 to distinguish a mass of forms standing at a distance 

 of eighty yards. I had an instinctive feeling which 

 prompted me to throw away my weapon, and advance 

 toward • them unarmed. It was well I did so, for I 

 afterwards ascertained that the weapon I had seized 

 was an empty shot-gun. I said nothing until I 

 reached a point within ten feet of the men, and 

 then I asked, " What is the matter ? " A voice from 

 the rear of the line said, " We are going to Hamidi, 

 our headman, at the river." I shouted, " Return to 

 camp at once." There was no distinct reply, but a 

 low murmur rose from the mass of the men. 



I looked behind me, and saw standing there George 

 and Ramazan, the chief of the Soudanese. None of 

 us three had so much as a stick in our hands. 



I then asked, " Is this the plan of all of you, or 

 are you obeying the orders of some one ? " A feeble 

 but general shout of " All " escaped them. I then 

 said, " Wait until Hamidi comes for you ; he will 



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