14 
PICTURESQUE VIEWS ON THE NIGER. 
plain to the southward, I mounted my poney and rode to the top of the eminence previously occupied by the enemy. There I saw, on a beautiful 
plain, two armies drawn up in battle array. The highlanders' line extended along the foot of the mountain, with the right flank reaching to a 
deep ravine, and the left resting on the wood at the foot of the little hill. The flower of the Pandaikian chivalry had for the point d'appui of 
the left flank of their line, the wood which concealed the huts, where their wives and little ones awaited the issue of the conflict which was to 
restore them to their homes, or to consign them to the miseries of a hopeless slavery. Tlie right wing of their line, which was parallel to that 
of the invaders, rested on the narrow pass— a kind of Thermo])yl8e— between the hill and the river, where I had stationed a couple of men. 
There might have been about 150 combatants on either side. It was a curious scene, though hitherto quite a harmless one : as, although tliey had 
been engaged a considerable time, not a warrior was laid low. They ran about, brandishing their weapons, and shouting, as if trying to frighten 
each other from the field. There was no waste of ammunition. Each warrior hoping to make his opponent his property, very justly calculated 
that a poisoned arrow would materially diminish his value ; there was therefore happily a display of mercy on both sides. I know not how long this 
bloodless encounter of fierce looks would have lasted, or who would have claimed the honour of a victory ; but an unforeseen circumstance occurred 
which greatly disconcerted their tactics, and hastened the denouement. A third party entered the field. Jack Smoke and Yellow Will, two of 
the Krumen whom I had ordered to remain by our huts, being tired of inaction, dehouched from the wood on the highlanders' flank, and having 
taken up a favourable position behind some trees, they levelled their muskets, and — contrary to all the principles of warfare hitherto practised in 
the country — shot down two of the mountaineers ! Their comrades, justly horrified at so unusual a mode of procedure, thought it useless to contend 
against such odds, speedily took to their heels, and escaped to their mountains. The gallant Panda'ikians pursued them with — their shouts, until 
out of hearing, when they returned to their joyful spouses, to relate their feats of prowess on the " well-foughten field." I was willing to believe 
that this breach of discipline, and of the neutrality which I had professed, was the means of preventing greater misfortunes. 
The next day, the King of the Mountain sent to deprecate our wrath. A deputation also came in a dancing procession — which reminded me 
of one of Nicholas Poussin's classical pictures — from the village, to thank us for our timely aid, which it was not deemed necessary to attribute to its 
true cause ; especially since both parties were willing to raise statues to Jack Smoke and Yellow Will. 
